The public is invited to help celebrate the official opening of the Surf Music Experience Center beginning Friday, September 5. Located next door to the legendary ballroom, the Music Experience Center (MEC) will be open and FREE to the public this weekend only, from Sept 5 through Sept 7 – Buddy Holly’s birthday.
In addition to newly-acquired artifacts, the MEC’s highlight is Not Fade Away: The Surf Ballroom Immersive Experience. More than an exhibit or video, it’s a transformative, multi-sensory journey through the birth of rock ‘n’ roll and the timeless sound that changed American music forever. Through immersive digital storytelling, historic artifacts, restored audio, and original archival materials, guests will walk in the footsteps of legends.
Celebrations to mark the historic occasion will include:
Thursday, September 4, 5:30: Exclusive sneak preview, guided memorial site tour and author Tommy Canale signing his book, Shadows Over Clear Lake: The Tragic Tale of the 1959 Winter Dance Party. VIP tickets for this event can be purchased on the Surf Ballroom website.
Friday, September 5, 12 noon: After local students tour the new MEC, doors will be open to the public until 8 pm, when the Surf Ballroom hosts the Brothers Osborne show. Admission to MEC is FREE all day.
Saturday, September 6, 10 am – 6 pm: MEC is again open all day with FREE admission to the public. Rocker Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s will perform a FREE concert next door at the Surf Ballroom beginning at 6:30.
Sunday, September 7, 12 noon: Official ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of the Surf Music Experience Center. Remarks by family, board members and city officials will be followed by a celebration of Buddy Holly’s 88th birthday this day. MEC will be open 12 noon until 6 pm.
The 10,000-square foot Surf MEC will function as a visitors center for the Surf District, with exhibits of never-before-seen artifacts related to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and the groundbreaking fully-immersive experience, Not Fade Away. The MEC also includes:
- Rooms for private music lessons
- Spacious green room for artists and performers
- Historical artifact exhibits
- State-of-the-art immersive theater
- The Palms Rooftop Cabana cocktail bar
- The Palms Ballroom event space
The legendary Surf Ballroom & Museum is one of only four music venues in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark. Best known as the final performance site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, the Surf has welcomed generations of musical artists and fans since 1933. Today, it is a vibrant year-round venue that amplifies the legacy of music culture, education and performance – it’s where the music lives. The Surf is operated by the North Iowa Cultural Center & Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and will expand its offerings with the new Music Experience Center (MEC), an immersive attraction, artifact exhibit and event space, opening September 2025.