Cache Is Not At The Posted Coordinates
Mr. Toot is the mascot not only of the North Iowa Band Festival, but also for Mason City as a whole. His image has appeared on everything from T-Shirts to business cards to city light poles. Now his image also appears on the geocaching map just south of Mason City Iowa. Each of these puzzles will include a fact or story in theme with the art series. Some may also include a question or two for you to answer correctly to find the coordinates.
Band Fest
Another change in the festival was the parade route. In 1984 bands could no longer march straight down Federal Avenue Southbridge Mall had been built smack in the middle. This prompted the parade to shift slightly, but only on concrete- not in spirit.
Also, in 1984 Meredith Willson, the very life and breath of music in "River City", passed away. He died in California but fittingly; his funeral and burial were in his beloved Mason City. At his funeral, Mason City Mayor Ken Kew remembered Willson's fun times in his hometown's Band Festival when he eulogized the musician.
"From this day forward, whenever I hear thunder rolling across the sky like timpani and bass drums, I'll say to myself, 'There's Meredith. He's leading another big parade.”
N 43 01.654 W 93 10.919