The parking lot in front of Younkers at the Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge just happened to be a hot spot on this wet and damp Sunday afternoon in the city. The American Idol Small Town Auditions Tour Bus stopped in the Crossroads Mall parking lot which quickly became a spectacle for the many residents of Fort Dodge.

The American Idol Bus is making a small towns tour this year which started on August 2nd to find new contestants for the upcoming season this January. The Small Towns  tour started in Idaho Falls, but also stops in Billings, MT; Dodge City, Kan.; Rock Rapids, IA; and Clarksdale, Miss. The furthest east they venture is Bowling Green, Ky. Those interested in trying out or simply attending the auditions are directed to the "American Idol" Facebook page or to the "American Idol" Twitter account for tour update information.

Traditional auditioning for Season 12 began at the major venues on June 5 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and wrapped up in Oklahoma City on July 18. In all, auditions were held in seven big cities, including San Antonio, Tex., Newark, N.J., and New Orleans, La.

All submission rules and requirements for the various audition methods can be found at AmericanIdol.com.