Part of the IAGenWeb Project
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa May 23 - 25, 2015
Globe Gazette
by Peggy Senzarino
Lawn chairs were filling up Central Park as visitors waited for Dave Herzog's Island Time Band to the take the main stage downtown around 6 p.m. The Dweebs were set to play a little later.
The dinner choices were many from the food stands placed around the park. There were hot dogs, brats, cheese curds and lemonade. But don't forget about kettle korn, caramel korn and pork skins.
The carnival's merry-go-round and Ferris wheel were twirling slowly. The car show had everything from a
1940s hot-rod to a sleek charcoal gray Impala to a two-tone red and white Bel-Air. "It's a 1940 Ford coupe. It is 75 years old this year. I started on it almost three years ago," said Randy Johnson, Clear Lake.
He purchased the midnight black beauty from a friend. "I completely redid it from ground up. We finally got it on the road. We're still working on a few items yet. It's been a fun car so far. They are kind of a classy looking old car. It's kind of an icon. I just liked the looks of them." Bob and Sandy Powell of Clear Lake were showing off their fire engine red 2005 Saleen Mustang.
"It's made out in California by Steve Saleen," Bob explained. Saleen Automotive, commonly known as Saleen, is an American manufacturer of specialty high-performance sports cars and high-performance automotive parts. "There's not a lot of Saleens around this area," Bob said when asked what he hears from people about the Mustang at car shows. "They just drool, I guess." "It's a beautiful car," Sandy said.
When asked why he decided to buy the car Bob simply said, "Well, just look at it. That's it."
Globe Gazette
by John Skipper
 Kelby Schultz, Central Springs High School and Britta Becker, West Fork High School MASON CITY -- Britta Becker and Kelby Schultz reigned over festivities in downtown Mason City Saturday after being named queen and king of the North Iowa Band Festival. "I'm just excited and honored," said Becker as she posed for pictures taken by family and friends after the ceremonies. "I never expected it. I am honored." She is a recent graduate of West Fork High School. Schultz, a graduate of Central Springs High School, paused between hugs from family and friends to say, "I was shocked and I am honored to represent my school and North Iowa." For the first time in several years, a North Iowa band took the sweepstakes award. Lake Mills High School was awarded the Meredith Willson Award, presented to the marching band with the overall highest score. As host schools, Mason City High School and Newman High School marching bands do not participate in the marching competition, and their royalty do not compete to be crowned festival queen and king. To encourage participation in the marching band competition from area schools, the North Iowa Band Festival Committee provided travel stipends to each participating band.
 with "76 Trombones"
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Globe Gazette
by John Skipper
"I love it," said Nancy Rockman of Mason City. "I just think it's nice that we can bring all of these people downtown so we can show it off.
"I know some people don't like it because they liked it in East Park, but I think it's great," she said.
Lori Wisner of Mason City said she, too, likes the change. "I remember watching the Band Festival when I was growing up and there have been a lot of changes. When they built Southbridge Mall, a lot of things changed. "One thing about the festival that hasn't changed," she said, "is that I always gets tears in my eyes when I hear the band play `76 Trombones.'"
She had more than one reason to cheer and tear on Saturday. Her son, Joel, was the Mason City High School Band Festival king.
Gary Lindgren said business was good at the Kiwanis food stand in Central Park. "I really like it downtown," he said. "It's clean, it's bright, especially at night when all the lights are on."
Bill Foster of Mason City said he liked it when the festival activities were in East Park.
"It's all right to have it downtown, but it's a little crowded, a little cramped," he said. "In East Park there was more space, more room to move around. But this will work."
Several people expressed concerns that having the festival activities downtown might hurt downtown businesses more than it will help them. Some even closed for the day because of the festival, they said.
But Rockman pointed out a potential long-range benefit. "Think of all the people coming from out of town who will see our downtown and want to come back," she said.
Festival activities were moved from East Park where they have been held since 1993, to Central Park and the surrounding area downtown, partly because of the success of RAGBRAI festivities last summer, according to Robin Anderson, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the Band Festival. Fun Continues -
The Band Festival carnival and concessions continue Sunday and Monday beginning at noon. The carnival will hold wrist band day both days, providing unlimited rides for $20 each day.
Globe Gazette
by John Skipper
Traditionally a showcase for high school musicians to display their talents, Saturday was no exception as the bands marched and played to the delight of thousands of spectators who lined the streets to watch them.
Tim Fleming of KGLO Radio, this year's grand marshal, admitted he is usually not at a loss for words, but was surprised and moved by being selected as grand marshal.
"It is humbling and I am so honored," he said.
As he awaited the start of the parade he decided to express his thanks once again — by posting on Facebook. "I do this, but I don't text," he said with a laugh.
Spectators, ranging in age from about 8 months
to 80-something, had the benefit of great weather as they watched more than 100 parade units go by.
And they saw quite a variety. Sonny and Cher — or a couple who looked and sang like them — were a big hit on the Farmers State Bank float.
Kevin Hardy, the tree cutter, was riding high in his boom truck, and Bob Ray of KCMR Radio waved his hands in rhythm to the sound of the Big Band music emanating from his vehicle.
All types of transportation were on display, including vintage and classic cars, a trolley, a 1939 ambulance and a 1939 fire truck.
The two units that got the biggest crowd reaction were one carrying Vietnam War veterans and another with members of the Marine Corps League. Spectators rose to their feet and applauded as each of these vehicles passed by. Parade watchers got an early start Saturday morning. Many people were already sitting in lawn chairs on curbsides
between 7 and 8 a.m., nearly three hours before the start of the parade. Keith Hall was busy at 7:30 a.m. setting up 22 chairs in two rows on East State Street.
"It's a family tradition," he said. "It started with me and my wife and then with our kids and now with our grandkids. We come to this same spot every year."
Hall said he didn't mind the entertainment being moved downtown. "Particularly the carnival. They work so hard to keep East Park nice, and the carnival kind of tore it up every year.
"I don't like the carnival anyway. It seems like if you look closely, you'll see the same dirt in the same place this year that you saw it last year."
Entertainment in Central Park began at noon and will continue into the evening. Check back at this website for more on the North Iowa Band Festival and read Sunday's Globe Gazette.
Marching Bands:
Floats: First place, Farmers State Bank; second place, Rib Crib.
Mr. Toot Award (presented to the entry with the most originality, artistic quality, and well-crafted design based on a theme of their choice) —
Photographs courtesy of The Globe Gazette
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MASON CITY -- The celebration of Mason City's musical heritage, The North Iowa Band Festival, kicked off Friday night with a carnival, food stands, live music and a car show.
MASON CITY -- The bands played, crowds cheered and the carnival rides went round and round Saturday as hundreds of North Iowans enjoyed the festivities of the North Iowa Band Festival.
The entertainment, carnival and concessions, which actually started Thursday night, were downtown for the first time in decades and festival goers seemed to enjoy the change.
MASON CITY -- There was a ripple of excitement throughout the crowd up and down State Street on Saturday as the Mason City High School Band played "76 Trombones."
It meant the 77th North Iowa Band Festival parade was officially underway.
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