Surf Ballroom

Something you have to love

I loathe winter. I mean, I have a burning hate for the season that falls between December and February. This, however, all changed two years ago. I am an avid fan of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. Some might say I was born in the wrong generation. Two years ago, I decided to buy tickets to go to the "Winter Party", also known as "50's In February", knowing that it's main point was to commemorate the tragic plane crash that took the lives of those three miraculous musical talents. This festival would be held in the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. I had no idea what this po-dunk town had in store. My best friend and I made the 6 or 7 hour drive from Chicago, with our wiggle skirts, chiffon scarves, saddle shoes, and bobby socks safely tucked in our duffel bags. The Winter Party takes places from January 28th through February 2nd. We got a cheap motel, changed out of our sweat pants, and drove down the street for about 10 minutes to the parking lot of the Surf Ballroom. We were the only people under 50 that we could see as we walked up to the doors, but as soon as we got into the ballroom area, we saw the stage. There were people dancing all over the place, jitterbug-ing, swing dancing, and twisting to the Buddy Holly Impersonator (whom is the ONLY impersonator Buddy's widowed wife endorses). They had Big Bopper's son there to MC the show on the first night, and later in the week, they had the one and only Peggy Sue Geron signing copies of her book. It was surreal to be in the same room with the offspring of the Big Bopper, and the very woman Buddy Holly's song "Peggy Sue" is about. We danced our hearts out, met the most fabulous people, and went on the hayride of our lives. The hayride took us to the field, where the plane carrying Buddy, Ritchie, and Big Bopper crashed. We heard sobbing, and sniffles on our car, and it broke my heart. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame pairs together with the Surf Ballroom to make this week of winter something you have to love. This week makes my winters so much better, I actually have something to look forward to aside from blizzards and shoveling, and all because of the Surf Ballroom and it's magical Winter Party.

Michelle, - 14 September 2009