There’s Nothing To Do In North Iowa – I Beg To Differ!
One of the best parts of being a mom is getting to watch my son play college football on Saturdays. I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything! But I’ll admit, sometimes I’m a little sad when I see all the fun things happening back home in our community while I’m sitting in the stands cheering him on. This past Saturday was one of those weekends!
Main Street Mason City hosted Oktoberfest, and from the pictures I saw, it looked like an absolute blast! I can’t wait to attend. There was also a Home Business and Craft Extravaganza at the mall, along with hockey games at the arena. And that was just a sampling of what was happening around our area!
Thankfully, I was able to make it back on Sunday for the Mason City Fire Department’s Open House, which has always been one of my favorite annual events. When our kids were little, we took them every year, and they were always so excited to go. Now that they’re grown, it’s still fun to attend, see the firefighters, and show our support for the people who do so much for our community. And let’s not forget that we were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous fall weekend here in North Iowa!
I often see comments on Facebook about how there’s “nothing to do” around here. Honestly, I couldn’t disagree more. This past weekend was a perfect example of just how many opportunities we have to get out, have fun, support local organizations and businesses, and enjoy the place we call home. I’ve also seen people complain that the only activities available in our area revolve around alcohol. It’s simply just not true. There really is something for different ages, interests, and families.
I think it’s worth remembering that just because we don’t know about an event, or an activity doesn’t appeal to us personally, doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening. If you think there’s nothing to do in North Iowa, maybe it’s time to look around a little more. Check the community calendars. Follow local organizations. Support the businesses putting on events. Invite a friend and try something new. You might just discover something you love!
And here’s another thing I think we sometimes forget: events like these do so much more than give us something fun to do for a few hours. They bring people into our communities. Maybe someone comes to town for the day, enjoys an event, grabs something to eat, does a little shopping, and spends money at our local businesses. Maybe someone visits, sees all the things happening here, and starts thinking, This might be a great place to call home. And for those of us who already live here, these events add to our quality of life and make our communities better places to live. That’s a win for everyone!
We shouldn’t just want these things to happen in our communities. We should promote them, attend them, support the people who work hard to organize them, and brag a little about how great our communities are! These events take time, effort, and people who are willing to step up and make things happen. They deserve our support. We have so much to be proud of here in North Iowa. Let’s make sure we’re talking about it, showing up for it, and helping others see it, too!
I’d much rather be one of those people out enjoying what our communities have to offer than sitting online complaining about what we don’t have. We have wonderful people, creative businesses, dedicated volunteers, and communities that continue to find ways to bring people together. That’s something worth celebrating. So here’s your friendly reminder to get out there, enjoy the season, support something local, and love where you live!
