NEBRASKA
Patriotic Gnome Hunt July 1—4 at Tree Adventure at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. The hunt is on at Tree Adventure. Visitors can look high and low as they use a map and solve a series of patriotic clues to find forest gnomes climbing trees and hiding in the underbrush. It’s fun for all ages and abilities and free with regular Tree Adventure admission. 402.873.8717
4th of July Flea Market July 2—4 at Fairbury City Park in Fairbury.
Hundreds of vendors attend the flea markets yearly to create this antique paradise. Admission is free, and guest can enjoy fireworks at dusk sponsored by Fairbury VFW Post #3113.
—fairburyfleamarket.com
Seward Fourth of July Celebration July 4 in Seward. Visitors to Nebraska’s official 4th of July city can spend the holiday enjoying the Grand Parade, car show, fireworks display and many more events that are all a part of the city’s award-winning celebration. 402.643.4189
Zoofest July 6—8 at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln. The festival features headliners Charlie Musselwhite, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and Shemekia Copeland. Guests can enjoy these artists and more at the Zoo Bar’s 50th annual music festival in Downtown Lincoln. 402.435.8754
The Wayne Chicken Show July 7—9 in Wayne. Poultry lovers should take a trip to Ye Olde Chicken Show. With several fun contests, a parade and a plethora of food vendors, this year’s medieval-themed chicken show will be provide fun for the whole family. 402.375.2240
Stir-Up Days Celebration July 14—16 in Ashland. This year’s Grease-themed celebration will be fun for the whole family. Friday events include Stir-Up royalty coronation and a balloon glow. Saturday will feature a parade and a carnival, with a street dance capping of the night. The festival wraps up on Sunday the annual car show and craft fair. 402.944.2050
Tim Connell- Give My Regards… To America! July 14—16 at the Brownville Concert Hall in Brownville. Critically acclaimed actor, singer, storyteller, Tim Connell makes his debut concert appearance at the Brownville Concert Series alongside Musical Director James Followed. The evening’s program will invite the audience to take a journey with him as he celebrates his Irish heritage and his ancestors who ventured to America. 402.825.3331
Kearney Cruise Nite: Cool Car Carnival July 15 at the Hilltop Mall in Kearney. The Cool Car Carnival allows families to explore the coolest vehicles in town at this kid-friendly event. Children can climb in the back of police cars, honk the horns of firetrucks, and experience so many other unique vehicles.
The 30th Annual Nebraska Star Party July 16—22 in Valentine. Visitors can learn how to search for the west star in the night sky at the Beginner’s Field School, then spend the rest of the week in the observation field looking at the sky from dusk ’til dawn. The star party offers evening meals and events to help guest get to know their fellow star-gazers. 402.333.5460
Smithsonian’s Voices and Votes: Democracy in America July 19—August 20 at the Thayer County Historical Society and Museum in Belvidere. The “Voices and Votes” exhibit is based on a larger exhibit currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Through its use of historical artifacts and engaging multimedia activities, visitors can explore the story of democracy in America. 402.768.2147
—thayercountymuseum.com
Nebraska’s Big Rodeo July 26—29 in Burwell. For over 100 years, the community in Burwell has hosted visitors from all over the world at their one-of-a-kind rodeo. Visitor can experience classic rodeo events such as Saddle Bronc and the wild and woolly action of the Wild Horse Race and Canadian Chuck Wagon Races. 308.346.5010
Train August 4 at the Pinewood Bowl Theater in Lincoln. With special guest Better Than Ezra. This multi-GRAMMY and Billboard Award-winning band from San Fransisco is bringing their 14 Hot 100 list songs and the rest of their rock repertoire to Lincoln. 402.904.4444
The 2023 Old West Balloon Fest August 9—12 in Gerring, Scottsbluff, and Mitchell. The Old West Balloon Fest has something for everybody. The event kicks off with an opening ‘night glow’ and features a craft fair, a corn-hole tournament, a Weiner dog race and the main event: the “mass ascension,” in which 30 hot air balloons take off at once.
Kool-Aid Days Festival August 18—20 at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings. The annual Kool-Aid Days Festival is celebrating their anniversary with 25 flavors for 25 years. Visitors and fans of the soft drink can celebrate with the Grand Parade, 5K Run, the Kool-Aid drinking contest and many more events. 402.463.8669
Nebraska State Fair August 15—September 4 at The State Fair Grounds in Grand Island. Participate in traditional fair activities like livestock exhibits, dirt competitions, and lots of fried food. The fair also includes The Nebraska Lottery Concert Series with live performances by Oak Ridge Boys, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, TobyMac, Bush (with special guest Pop Evil), Lee Brice, and Banda Maguey. 308.328.1620
IOWA
Southeastern Iowa Kennel Club Dog Shows July 8—9 at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. American Kennel Club licensed All Breed Dog Show. Conformation, Junior Showmanship, and National Owner Handler Series competitions are to be held on both days, and a pee Wee competition will be held on Saturday only. Entires from all over the USA will compete for Best in Show each day. 641.684.4303
Snake Alley Film Festival July 13—16 at the Capitol Theater in Burlington. The Snake Alley Festival of Film is dedicated to showcasing the best short films from around the world. Prized will be awarded for Best of the Fest, The Audience Choice, Best Iowa Film, and The Directors Award for outstanding performance.
The Accel Crawfish Crawl July 22 at the River Place Plaza in Cedar Falls. The Accel Group is bringing something different to the Cedar Valley. They are hosting the first annual Accel Crawfish Crawl in downtown Cedar Falls. This will be a family-friendly event with a festival and celebration feel. With a riverside 5k run for adults, a race for kids, a delicious meal, and a live band, the Accel Crawfish Crawl is the perfect summer event.
Hinterland Music Festival 2023 August 4—6 at the Avenue of Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles. Bon Iver, Zach Bryan, and Maggie Rogers headline this 4-day indie rock festival in St. Charles, with local vendors providing food, drinks, and merchandise. Festival-goers can bring a tent and camp on the festival grounds (camping pass required), with shuttles available from Des Moines.
Summer Celebration August 12 at Starr’s Cave Nature Center in Burlington. This free family event will let guests have fun while learning about the natural world. They can hike, play, catch critters, make s’mores- all while learning from conservation officers and naturalists about Iowa’s wildlife habitat, insect species and more. 319.753.5808
Festival of the Arts August 13 at the Amana Colonies. Set beneath a historic Amana barn complex, the juried Amana Festival of the Arts showcases handmade works of art with 30+ vendors, demonstrations, food trucks, children’s activities and more. The festival will be celebrating its 45th year this summer and serves as a fundraiser for the Amana Arts Guild, a local nonprofit. 319.6223678
KANSAS
Osawatomie’s Lights on the Lake July 1 at the Osawatomie City Lake & RV Campground in Osawatomie. Attendees can spend the afternoon at Osawatomie City Lake with fun acuities including all-ages bounce equipment, face painters, balloon artists and more. The lakeside party also includes a variety of food trucks and hours of live music. 913.755.2146
123rd Kansas Wheat Festival July 11—15 at the Wellington Visitor’s Center in Wellington. The Kansas Wheat Festival has been a Kansas tradition since the year 1900 when Sumner County came together to celebrate a bumper wheat harvest that earned Wellington the title of “Wheat Capital of the World.” This festival features a carnival, food trucks, contests, baseball, a cowboy action shootout contest, a beer garden, The Kansas Wheat Festival Parade, and nightly free outdoor concerts. 620.326.7466
Theatre Under the Stars July 21–22, 28—29 at Swenson Park in Lindsborg. The 2023 production of the musical Brigadoon will be held in Swenson Park on the Band Shell under the stars. Audience members can grab their lawn chairs and lemonade for a shady evening in Swenson Park to enjoy the musical produced by Broadway RFD, the longest-running outdoor theatre in Kansas. 785.227.8687
MISSOURI
Pickin’ on Picknic 2023 July 6—9 at Lost Hill Lake Wedding & Events in St. Clair. This event will include camping and music for three days, food and craft vendors, workshops, main stage events, large late-night bonfires with collaborative Picking’ Jams, and Sunday Morning River Revival.
Friday Flamingle- Christmas in July July 14 at the Kansas City Zoo in Kansas City. The Kansas City Zoo invites guests 21-and-over to get in the holiday spirit for their Christmas-themed night. They can show off their competitive spirits in Reindeer Games and may get the chance to see the jolly man himself. 816.595.1234
Innovation Festival August 3—5 at Crown Center Square in Kansas City. The convergence of music and innovation is headlined by national touring and breakout alternative rock artists. Taste the biosciences in the Midwest as flights from everyone’s favorite bio manufacturers —breweries—are served. 816.274.8444
Prison Break Race August 27 at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. The Prison Break is not a typical fun run. Runners will set out on a 3+ mile course that will test every facet of their athleticism. Participants will face wall climbs, mud pits, army crawls and more. Breaking out of prison isn’t easy, and this course won’t be, either. 573.632.2820
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
