Lincoln, area set plans for the Fourth

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Lincoln Journal Star

Fourth of July across Southeast Nebraska is a whole lot more than watching fireworks when the sun goes down.

It can, in fact, be a dawn-to-dusk day of red, white and blue activities.

View Slideshow

Lincoln's 2007 fireworks show as seen from Arnold Heights Park. (Jill Peitzmeier and Michael McNamara/Lincoln Journal Star)

For an energetic start, you could take in Lincoln’s 5K run; run a half marathon, 5K or 10K at Brownville;  or choose between 2-mile and 10K runs at Seward. Also on Seward’s calendar: a Great Plains Bicycling Club ride to Brainard/Dwight or a shorter jaunt.

There’s isn’t much you can’t do in Seward — Nebraska’s Fourth of July City. Skateboarding, horseshoe pitching, even pole vaulting are offered, among a multitude of other events.

Several swimming pools will open early, and at Waverly you can even dive for money. (DeWitt has a money dig on Saturday. )

For the less athletic, you can choose chess or bingo at Lincoln’s Oak Lake. Bingo’s on the schedule in some other communities as well. DeWitt also has cow pie bingo.

Want to race?

Gurneys will face off in Brownville and outhouses in DeWitt. Big Wheels will roll in Seward. Tractor pulls — children and adult sizes — are slated in a variety of towns. There’s a mud drag in Diller.

Hungry? Many towns will offer breakfasts. At noon and at night, the menu ranges from chicken to pork to barbecued beef and hot dogs. Keep an eye out for ice cream socials.  Lincoln has food eating contests and Grand Island’s Stuhr Museum has a cherry-pie eating contest.

Among other holiday highlights:

-- Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra concert. 

-- Quilt shows and firefighter competitions are big this year.

--  A pet parade/pet contest in Seward, and a dog show in Brownville.

-- Free movies: “Veggie Tales” and “Young at Heart” in Seward; “Independence Day” outdoors in Geneva after the fireworks.

-- Crowning of Miss Independence and Mr. Firecracker in Seward. Crowning of Miss Alexandra in Alexandria. 

-- Parades.

-- “Spirit of Brownville” boat rides and fireworks over the river in Brownville.

-- Pasture golf in Diller.

-- Ping pong ball shoot and mechanical bull rides in Geneva.

Here’s a list of Lincoln and other community schedules as submitted to the Journal Star:

LINCOLN

Uncle Sam Jam 2008 is a free event at Oak Lake Park.

The party peaks with a free concert by Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra at 9 p.m. Friday, followed by the 10 p.m., 22-minute fireworks show choreographed to the music.

The concert will be aired live on radio stations B107.3 FM and KLIN 1400 AM at 9 p.m. For the 10 p.m. fireworks show, 105.3 Wow-FM and Froggy 98 will join the broadcast.

In case of inclement weather, the concert and fireworks will be rescheduled to Saturday. No other events will be rescheduled.

Uncle Sam Jam 2008 

-- Activities and food concessions, noon-10 p.m., Oak Lake Park, First and Charleston

-- No fireworks or alcohol

-- Pets must be on a leash; pets discouraged during fireworks

Friday

7 a.m., registration for the Lincoln Jaycees’ 5K Fun Run, which starts at 8 a.m., Haymarket Park

Noon-4 p.m., social chess games, open to the public, park shelter

4-7 p.m., bingo, park shelter

7:30-9 p.m., Food eating contests

9-10 p.m., Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra concert (concert broadcast only on B107.3 FM and KLIN 1400 AM)

10 p.m., Fireworks by Zambelli Internationale, choreographed to live music by the orchestra (fireworks show broadcast on B107.3 FM, Froggy 98.1 FM, 105.3 Wow FM and KLIN 1400  AM)

Getting to Oak Lake

StarTran will provide free shuttle bus service from 5 to 11 p.m. between the main entrance at Oak Lake Park and these locations:

Haymarket Parking Garage, Ninth and Q

Gold’s bus stop, 11th and O

County-City building, northeast corner of Ninth and H, or southeast corner of Ninth and K. Free parking in the city lot northwest of 10th and G streets

State Fairgrounds Lot 9, west of the Devaney Center. Enter off of Court Street between 14th and 15th streets

State Fairgrounds Lot 6, west of  Devaney Center. Enter off North Antelope Valley Parkway, north of Military Road

Haymarket Garage, and the Iron Horse parking lot, 7th and Q streets, will offer $2 parking

Handi-Van service available for eligible riders: call StarTran at 441-7109

Neighborhoods:

SOUTHEAST LINCOLN:

-- The Cripple Creek neighborhood goes all out for a “Celebrate America” party on July 4 at Cripple Creek Park. Open to the public, it attracts families from all around eastern Nebraska. Planners expect more than 250 people.

Participants include patriotic speakers, children and  veterans. Politicians attending in past years have included federal representatives.

Friday

9:30 a.m., kids parade and marching band. Decorate bikes or yourselves for an old-fashioned parade. Meet in Fir Hollow Court, head to park at 9:40 a.m., accompanied by a fife and drum group.

10--11 a.m.,  patriotic program. Bring a blanket or chairs. Music and speakers, readings, poetry and prayer. This year’s featured topic: Inalienable Rights.

11 a.m., old-fashioned games: Three-legged race, potato sack hop, relays.

11:30-noon, food at the shelter house: hot dogs, chips, pop and watermelon will be served.

Directions: On Pine Lake Road between 40th and 56th, go north on Beaver Creek Lane. Park is on the corner of Fir Hollow and Beaver Creek Lane.

SOUTHWEST OF LINCOLN: 

-- Cardwell Woods and The Bridges fireworks display, 7200 S.W. 27th St., one block south of Southwest 27th and West Denton Road, starts at 10 p.m. Friday.

SEWARD

“America’s Official Small Town Fourth of July City” has celebrated Independence Day for 140 years, since July 4, 1868.

As usual, the town is rolling out the red, white and blue in anticipation of 40,000 visitors —  including a carful of out-of-state tourists who will be invited off Interstate 80 to serve as the town’s honored guests.

Festivities start early in the week with special holiday lights on the Seward County Courthouse and homes.

On Friday, food and activities are offered all over town. Live music and special programs are offered morning through night.

Free shuttles will be run between the various sites on Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and 5:30-7 p.m. (no rides to and from the fireworks display.) To use the shuttle, park at the high school.

A full schedule can be found at www.julyfourthseward.com. Here’s an abbreviated version:

Thursday

7 p.m., Seward’s “Wissmann Family Singers” and Marlin Bontrager Family of Kolona, Iowa, bandshell

Friday

6:30-11 a.m., buffet breakfast, VFW

7-10 a.m., pancake feed, civic center

7 a.m., 2 mile and 10K freedom runs

7 a.m., Great Plains Bicycling Club ride to Brainard/Dwight, or shorter route. Register outside Hillcrest Evangelical Free Church. Helmets required. Free, open to the public

7:30 a.m., flag raising, community prayer service, anvil firing, bandshell

8 a.m.-3 p.m., exhibits open (antique farm machinery by SunMart; historical displays, art and photos at the Civic Center; quilts, Cattle National Bank; photo tribute to military personnel, VFW)

9 a.m., food and craft sales start; magic show, Civic Center; pet parade/pet contest downtown; all-ages pole vault competition, Fourth Street; horseshoe pitching tourney, fairgrounds. Skateboard competition for pre-teens, teens, adults. Pre-register at Civic Center. Helmets required

9:30 a.m., decorated bike/trike contest, bandshell (ride in 4 p.m. parade)

10 a.m., free movie: “Veggie Tales,” Historic Rivoli Theater

10 a.m., Walking Tour of Seward’s Historic Square; meet at Fifth and Seward

10 a.m., firemen’s water fight, Third Street; women and mixed teams welcome

10 a.m., program on researching relatives and visiting the Czech Republic, Robert Fiala, Jones National Bank

10 a.m., Big Wheel races, Moffitt Park; no rubber wheels

10 a.m., 1860s baseball game, St. John ballfield. Free

10 a.m., Reception honoring area Seward High alumni of 50 years or more, St. John Church. Free. Families and guests welcome. Call Jean Kolterman, 643-3803.

10 a.m.-1 p.m., Postal Station opens for cancellations, free post cards

10 a.m.-2 p.m., pool open

11 a.m., Aerobatic airplane show, Municipal Airport, bring lawn chairs; bubble gum/apple pie eating contest, U.S.  birthday cake giveaway, bandshell. Free.

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., sloppy joe/yum yum feed, Civic Center

Noon-4 p.m., 18-foot inflated slide, Cattle National Bank parking lot

Noon, Seward Kiwanis KiTones, Civic Center

1 p.m., nationwide bell ringing

1 p.m., Free movie: “Young at Heart,” Historic Rivoli Theater

1 p.m., Program on the first Nebraska Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., by George “Babe” Kreifel Jr., VFW Club

1 p.m., A Century of Fashion 1870-1970, mini fashion show and talk by Sue McLain, Civic Center

1 p.m., City Municipal Band “Salute to Sousa,” bandshell

2 p.m., magic show, Civic Center

2:30 p.m., governor’s community reception honoring Sam Koch, football player for Baltimore Ravens, at St. John Church Fellowship Hall

3 p.m., Old West Shootout, on the bricks of Seward Street

4 p.m., grand parade

5 p.m., beef barbecue, north of bandshell, advance tickets at Seward banks, also sold on site

6 p.m., crowning of Miss Independence, Mr. Firecracker; Seward County Community Service Award; Nebraska’s Friend Award to Sam Koch, bandshell

7 p.m., concert by Tunafish Jones Classic Horn Band, Plum Creek Park

8 p.m., parachute jump, Plum Creek Park

10 p.m., giant fireworks salute, Plum Creek Park. Bring a blanket and chair. No private fireworks allowed

ALEXANDRIA

Activities will be held a day early:

Thursday

6-7:30 p.m., meal served by the Presbyterian Church. Freewill donations.

6:30-7:30 p.m., kids obstacle course

7:30 p.m., Redneck Tractor Pull

8:15 p.m., fireman’s water fight

9 p.m., crowning of Miss Alexandria

9:15 p.m., accordion music by Jeff Hammer

Dusk, fireworks show

A raffle will raise money for future community and youth activities.

BEATRICE

Fourth of July campfire program, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Homestead National Monument of America, behind the education center (the old visitors center). Free. “Thomas Jefferson and the American West,” by Todd Arrington. Guitar music by Milford Smith of Odell.

BROWNVILLE

Brownville 4th of July Freedom Celebration will be Friday. For details, or to register for races, see www.Brownville-ne.com.

Friday

7 a.m., half marathon, 5K and 10K freedom race/walk (for registration info, call 825-3091)

8 a.m., Pledge of Allegiance at flag pole in Boettner Park

8-9:30 a.m., continental breakfast in Town Hall

8:30 a.m., dog show, east of the Lyceum (call 883-2690)

9:30-10:30 a.m., gurney race (825-6021)

10 a.m., parade, including antique cars and tractors; pet parade; ugliest pickup contest. (To register for parade, 825-3091)

10:45 a.m., patriotic service in Boettner Park

11:45-1 p.m., lunch in Town Hall, Crowning Miss Independence and Mr. Firecracker, introduction of “Celebrities for the Day”

Noon, children’s tractor pull registration, pull at 12:30 p.m. To register, (641) 333-2642 or e-mail Kenwillo@frontiernet.net

1 p.m., Southeast Community Band Concert

2 p.m., Village Theater Production

3 p.m., Spirit of Brownville boat rides (call 825-6441)

3:30-5 p.m., “Recycled” (old-fashioned string band)

5:30 p.m., barbecue in Town Hall

Dusk, fireworks over the river

DeWITT

DeWitt will celebrate with a weekend of activities. Most, including the fireworks show, will be Saturday.

Friday

Noon, 75 rock event, gun club

5:50-6:30 p.m., poker run, start at RJ’s, end at Red Zone

Saturday highlights

9 a.m., car show, downtown

11 a.m., farmers market; food stands; cow pie bingo; bean bag toss

11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., bounce house at bank; kids games and money dig start at noon in park

1-4 p.m., free swimming, pool

1-5 p.m., quilts, senior center

2 p.m., firemen’s water fight

3 p.m., Yesterday’s Lady vintage fashion and Victorian Christmas program, library

4 p.m., chicken barbecue

7 p.m., parade, themed “Christmas in July”

8:30 p.m., outhouse races

10 p.m., fireworks show

After fireworks, free dance with music by “Open Range”

Sunday

9:30 a.m., community church service at the Lutheran Church; followed by coffee and doughnuts

DILLER

A Fourth of July tradition, the 112th annual Diller Picnic, will be July 3-5. The carnival, food stands and bingo run all three nights. For a full schedule, see www.diller-ne.com

Thursday

6:30 p.m., Nebraska Bush Pullers Tractor Pull

After 7 p.m., Dollar Night at the carnival features $1 rides

10 p.m., KUTT/KWBE fireworks show

Friday

11 a.m., Mid-States Mud-Draggers mud drag. The group seeks ATVs, 4x4s and snowmobiles. Registration 9:30-10:30 a.m., or register in advance by calling Derek at 793-5544.

7:30 p.m., free music in the park by the McClellan Sisters.

Saturday

10 a.m., Pasture Golf Tournament; pre-register with C&C Processing

5 p.m., Bill’s Chicken Barbecue at the Diller Opera House

7 p.m., parade

After parade, Homestead Harmonizers concert at the park.

9 p.m., Street dance with Dustin Evans and Goodtimes.

DORCHESTER

Dorchester will celebrate Friday:

11 a.m.-7 p.m., pork feed meal at the American Legion Building.

9:30 p.m., martial arts demonstration at the football field.

10 p.m., community fireworks show, football field.

FAIRBURY

37th Annual Shriners Flea Market, Friday and Saturday, city park. Fourth of July parade, 10 a.m. Friday; fireworks at dusk. Click on the link at www.fairburychamber.org

FRIEND

Friend’s celebration on Friday will include softball, sand volleyball and golf tournaments and much more.

Some of the scheduled events:

7-9:30 a.m., Warren Memorial Hospital breakfast and tours to celebrate hospital’s 75th anniversary; everyone welcome

10 a.m., parade

11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Friend Faces and Places Show at the Gilbert Library

Noon-5 p.m., free swimming at the Friend Pool

1 p.m., Friend Volunteer Firemen water fight for all ages

1-5 p.m., activities at the park

3 p.m., registration for the Rotary Club pedal pulling competition

4:30-6:30 p.m., Friend Chamber grilled chicken dinner at the park

5:30 p.m., Vern Wirka, ventriloquist act, park

6:30-7:30 p.m., Lions Club talent show and 2008 Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Resident for 2008 Award

Dusk, firemen’s fireworks show

 

GENEVA

Geneva’s celebration is Thursday through Sunday. More than 20 events are free, including a teen dance, street dance, parade, five concerts and fireworks.

Art displays, veterans’ photos, food stands and more start on Thursday. Inflatables for children are available after 5 p.m. Thursday, and noon-5 p.m. Friday.

Events are mostly downtown.

Thursday

1-7:30 p.m., free swimming, pool

5-9 p.m., food stands, inflatable area for kids on courthouse lawn

5 p.m., pork feed, fire barn; ping pong ball shoot, Ninth and G

5 p.m.-1 a.m., beer garden, Ninth Street

8-11 p.m., teen dance, gym

8 p.m.-midnight, mechanical bull, food concessions, Ninth Street

9 p.m.-1 a.m., free dance with the “City Limit Band,” Ninth Street

Friday

7-10 a.m., Boy Scout pancake feed, Fire Barn

7:30 a.m., 18-hole golf tournament,  Hidden Hills

8 a.m.-4 p.m., flea market

8:30 a.m., fun run/walk/bike

10 a.m., patriotic parade

10 a.m.-6 p.m., food vendors

10 a.m.-4 p.m., quilts on the courthouse lawn

After parade, military support rally, downtown

11 a.m.-5 p.m., courthouse tours

11 a.m.-7 p.m., beer garden, west side of courthouse

Noon, poker run registration, VFW Club, for 1 p.m. run

Noon-5 p.m., living history displays, inflatables for kids, courthouse lawn; 1 p.m. start for ping pong ball shoot, cake walk

1-3 p.m., free kids carnival games

1-5 p.m., bingo, courthouse lawn; free concert

1-7:30 p.m., free swimming, pool

2 p.m., free water fights, 11th and G streets, volunteer fire department.

2-3 p.m., ice cream social, Methodist Church

2:30 p.m., register for 3 p.m. Little Tuggers pull, Ninth Street

3 p.m., nine-hole fun golf, Hidden Hills Country Club

3 p.m., free Americana concert, Methodist Church

5 p.m., ping pong ball shoot

5-7 p.m., Knights of Columbus barbecue, west of courthouse

7 p.m., kids program, Rialto Theater

9:30 p.m., fireworks, fairgrounds

After fireworks, free outdoor movie, “Independence Day,” at the fairgrounds, with concessions

 Sunday

1 p.m., trophy shoot, Gun Club

GENEVA — Patriotic poker run, “Miles for Maddie,” will be Friday.

Registration, noon-12:45 p.m., VFW. Stops in York, Aurora, Clay Center, Shickley, Geneva. Prizes at 5:30 p.m. $10 per hand. Fundraiser for the Down Syndrome Association for Families. Contact: Diane, 759-3934 or jdailey@galaxycable.net.

GENEVA — Auction of quilts and handmade items, 11 a.m. Friday, in front of courthouse. The group makes quilts for Quilts of Valor, donating time and fabric for more than 30 quilts given to wounded military personnel and those coming home from the war. For details, call 759-3545.

GRAND ISLAND

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 1898 Independence Day Celebration will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.

Named “One of the Top 10 Places to Spend the 4th of July” by the Wall Street Journal. Most activities are in the museum’s Railroad Town, a recreated pioneer town.

Admission: adults, $8; children, $6. www.stuhrmuseum.org or (308) 385-5316 ext. 208.

Friday

10 a.m., German language church service, Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (on museum grounds), featuring a German choir. Printed English translations provided; refreshments served.

10 a.m., lecture for a one-day trunk show of Jo White’s miniature quilts, inside the museum

Noon-4 p.m., wagon rides through Railroad Town for $1

2 p.m., “Mammoth” parade

After parade, patriotic concert by the Railroad Town Silver Cornet Band; then a patriotic program

After program, cherry pie eating contest, kids games.

5 p.m., museum closes

HOLLAND

Red, White and Blue Celebration on Sunday, July 6, free lunch, noon-1 p.m., Holland Reformed Church, South 96th Street and Panama Road. Brass band, patriotic songs.

WAVERLY

WaverlyFest, sponsored by the Waverly Jaycees, will be Thursday through Friday.

The fireworks stand on the east side of Waverly Plaza already is open; hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Thursday

6-9 a.m., Hometown Handshake, 96KX live remote, Ampride

7 p.m., beer garden and street dance featuring the Chad Lee Band

Friday

7-9:30a.m., Kiwanis/Methodist Men’s pancake/french toast breakfast, First United  Methodist Church

8:30 a.m., Kids Parade, sponsored by Waverly Kiwanis, Waverly Care Center

11 a.m., Adult Parade, sponsored by Waverly Jaycees (concession stand  after parade, Super Foods parking lot)

After parade, Lunch and Ice Cream Social, First United Methodist Church

Noon-3 p.m., Family Barbecue, kids games and adult fellowship, Peace Lutheran Church

1:30 p.m., Money Dive, (sponsored by the Waverly Jaycees and Waverly City Council), Waverly Swimming Pool

4-8 p.m., Bingo (sponsored by the Waverly Community Foundation), Waverly Community Foundation Building

6 p.m., community barbecue, Community Foundation Building

Dusk, Fireworks, (sponsored by the Waverly Jaycees), Jaycee Park

WAVERLY — Family FunFest at Peace Lutheran Church, noon-3 p.m. Friday, 145th Street and Amberly Road.

All activities are free. Free hamburgers and hot dogs, ice cream, carnival games, music by Virgil and Kathleen Remmers & Friends, large inflatable obstacle course. A large tent will provide shade.

WYMORE

Fourth of July Chicken Barbecue, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Wymore Legion. Cost: $7.50.

York

Firecracker Frenzy will be Thursday at the York County Fairgrounds.

Thursday

5:30-8:30 p.m., kids activities, food vendors, show by Revival

9 p.m., Black Hawk helicopter from the Nebraska National Guard will arrive with dignitaries, including World War II veteran Wally Junge and Veterans Service Officer Don Sandman.

10 p.m., 20-minute fireworks show, set to music on KTMX 104.9 FM

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

Old-fashioned Fourth of July at the Historic Gen. Dodge House, 621 Third St., occurs every four years. Activities start at 10 a.m. Friday with the raising of the Union flag. “Abraham Lincoln” will address the crowd. Mock election, games, contests, speeches, music, food, High Noon Shootout, pie eating contest. At 3 p.m., Lincoln will announce election winners; day ends with a gun salute. Admission is $1.