What's Going On: Happenings in the Grand Island area (2024)

Saturday, July 20

Platte River Charity Shoot, 31st annual event to benefit Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Heartland Public Shooting Park. Registration opens at 7 a.m.; first shoot starts at 7:30; awards presented at 5:45 p.m.; 308-384-7896 or www.PlatteRiverCharityShoot.com

“We Want a Life Like Yours,” Disability Pride inaugural event hosted by the Arc of Central Nebraska, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 1710 N. North Road. Event includes food trucks, Special Scoops ice cream truck, free hot dogs, and entertainment including karaoke, bingo and a talent show. Disability Pride Month commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990; Teshawna Sawyer, 308-379-8070.

Hall County Fair, through Sunday, Fonner Park. Special events include: Exit 312, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday, US Foods Outdoor Arena; and Indomables del Rancho & La Imparable Banda, 6 p.m. to midnight, Aurora Co-op Pavilion, Saturday; and the DC Lynch Carnival, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday; http://hallcountyfair.com/ .

“In Cold Blood,” by Truman Capote, the Grand Island Public Library Crimetime Book Club, 11 a.m. 1124 W. Second St.; Shaun Klee, 308-385-5333 or shaunk@gilibrary.org

Grand Island Little Theatre annual Appreciation and Awards Night, College Park. Social hours starts at 6 p.m., followed by the annual meeting at 7, and the awards presentations at 8; $5 per person. RSVP by calling the box office, 308-382-2586 or 308-379-2015.

“Mean Girls JR,” presented by HCT Kids, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Hastings Community Theatre, 515 S. Fourth Ave., Hastings (inside Good Samaritan Village). Tickets are $10; www.hctheatre.org.

“Tuck Everlasting,” presented by the Kearney Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 84 Plaza Blvd., Kearney (continues July 24-28). Tickets are $22 for all ages. UNK and CCC students with proper ID can purchase tickets at the door for $10, if available; box office: 308-324-1529 or kearneycommunitytheatre.com

Cruise Week 2024, celebrating 37 years, through Sunday, Kearney. Schedule: Kearney Cruise Nite on Facebook.

Adams County Fairfest, through Sunday, 947 S. Baltimore, Hastings. Entertainment lineup includes: Dustin Lynch, 8:30 p.m. Saturday ($40-$60); and Nebraska’s Roughest Rodeo, 6:30 p.m. Sunday ($20-$30); 402-462-3247 or www.adamscountyfairgrounds.com

Greeley Days and Rodeo, through Sunday, Greeley. Event includes rodeo performances at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday ($10 ages 14 and older; $5 ages 9-13); family activities, pork supper and Logan Mize with Borderline concert (8 p.m. Saturday; $25); and a parade (theme: “50 Years of Greeley Days) at 1 p.m., with a watermelon feed to follow on Sunday; Greeley Rodeo Committee page on Facebook.

Bradshaw Days, last day, Bradshaw. Event includes: petting zoo, car show, hamburger feed (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), ice cream social, dunk tank watermelon feed, music from the Jason Mayer Band (9 p.m., beer garden, $10); Bradshaw, Nebraska page on Facebook.

“Leis Back,” Polk County Fair, through Sunday, Osceola. Special events include: kiddie tractor pull and music from Arcade Radio on Saturday; and a car show, community church service and livestock sale on Sunday; polk-county-fair.com

Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, ballfield parking lot, Taylor Street, St. Paul. Tickets at the gate are $16 for adults and $9 for children 2-12 and seniors; cmcircus.com

Kearney County Ag Society Fair, through Monday, Minden. Special events include a beer garden with live music, 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday; kiddie tractor pull, 3:30 p.m., and ranch rodeo, 6:30 p.m. Sunday; and a livestock auction, 9 a.m. Monday; Kearney County Fair on Facebook.

Sherman County Fair, through Wednesday, Loup City. Special events include a ranch rodeo on Saturday; antique tractor, pickup and machinery display, Family Fun Night on Monday; a free Chamber barbecue and bull riding on Tuesday; and livestock auction on Wednesday; Sherman County Fairground page on Facebook.

Kearney Area Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hilltop Mall parking long, 5011 Second Ave., Kearney.

Market on the Square, 8 to 11 a.m., Hamilton County Courthouse parking lot, Aurora; Aurora Chamber of Commerce, 402-694-6911.

Stolley Park Railroad, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Grand Island. Tickets are $3.50 for anyone age 3 and older; children age 2 and younger ride for free with a paying adult. Punch cards and group rates available. All dates and times are weather permitting; 308-389-0290.

Sunday, July 21 Art in the Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stolley Park. Event includes visual and performing arts, DJ, numerous food booths and more. Art on display and for sale will include paintings, pottery, photography and woodworking/wood carving.

Stolley Park tours, hosted by the Hall County Historical Society, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Stolley Park; free. The historic home of William and Wilhelmina Stolley, who settled in Hall County in 1857, and the oldest public school house in Hall County will be open for tours; free.

Kusi Taki, 7 p.m., an Andean musical group based in Lincoln, Stuhr Museum. Presented as part of the Grand Island Music Series; in case of inclement weather, performance will be moved to College Park; free; 308-850-3307.

Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, 2 and 4:30 p.m., York County Fairgrounds (across from the ag event center), York. Advance tickets are $13 for adults, $8 for children 2-12 and seniors; https://cm-circus.square.site, Tickets at the gate will be $16 and $9; cmcircus.com

100th birthday picnic lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., CHI Health Good Samaritan, south lawn, 31st Street and Central Avenue, Kearney; free. Hot dogs, chips, cupcakes and ice cream will be served.

BD and the Boys, 60s and 70s rock and roll, 7 p.m., Harmon Park Sonotorium, 3100 Fifth Ave., Kearney. Food vendors on site; bring lawn chairs; no admission charge, but donations accepted; www.kearneyarts.org/concerts-in-the-park

Bingo, 2 p.m., United Veterans Club, 1914 W. Capital, Grand Island. Doors open at 1; open to the public; 308-381-1555.

Bingo, hosted by Knights of Columbus, Council No. 1159, 7:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Cathedral Square, 112 S. Cedar.

Monday, July 22

“History of Trick Roping and Wild West Shows,” presented by Joan Wells, a summer reading program Mega Monday event for all ages, 10:30 a.m., Grand Island Public Library, 1124 W. Second St.; 308-385-5333.

“Railside: Your Downtown Parking Oasis.” 5 to 7 p.m., Grand Island Public Library, 1124 W. Second St. Panelists will participate in a moderated discussion that focuses on the significance of free downtown parking and its potential impact on downtown Grand Island; Spencer Schubert at spencers@grand-island.com.

Tuesday, July 23

Henderson Farmers Market, 5 to 7 p.m., 1044 N. Main St., Henderson.

Wednesday, July 24

“Meet Me at the Fair,” Buffalo County Fair, through Monday, 3807 Ave. N., Kearney. Entertainment lineup includes: 38 Special, with War Hippies, 7:30 p.m. Friday, doors open at 6:30 (tickets range from $25 to $50, plus fees); Cole Swindell, with Greylan James, 7:30 p.m. Saturday ($25 to $85); doors open at 6:30; and a Demolition Derby, 5 p.m. Sunday (advance tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for children; at the gate, $15 for adults and $10 for children). Ticket information: www.buffalocountyfairgrounds.com/

Nebraska’s Big Rodeo and Garfield County Frontier Fair, through Saturday, Burwell. Rodeo performances at 7:30 p.m. each day. Other highlights include: Mid-Nebraska Pedal Pullers and Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull on Wednesday; PRCA steer roping, 9 a.m. Thursday; The Pioneer Band, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday (adults only); FCCLA teen dance, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and the fair and rodeo parade, 10 a.m. and Nebraska’s Little Rodeo, 1 p.m. Saturday. Schedule/information: nebraskasbigrodeo.com.

“A Perk and a Prayer,” free drive-thru coffee, 7 to 9 a.m., First-Faith United Methodist Church parking lot, 4190 W. Capital Ave. (weather permitting); 308-384-5620.

Bingo, 1 p.m., Grand Generation Center, 304 E. Third St., Grand Island; 308-385-5308.

10-point pitch party, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Tabitha at Prairie Commons, 3490 Ewoldt St.; winners will receive prizes. Parties usually offered the fourth Wednesday of each month; Jessica, 308-833-6112.

Kearney Area Farmers Market, 3 to 6 p.m., Hilltop Mall parking long, 5011 Second Ave., Kearney.

Thursday, July 25

The First and St. Joe Band, with special guest Gracie’s Uncles, downtown Hastings summer concert series, 119 N. St. Joseph Ave., Hastings (outside). Gates open at 5 p.m., performances start at 6. Free; bring lawn chairs; www.facebook.com/hastingsnesummersounds

“Flip Flops, Leis & Hula Our Way,” the 153rd Hamilton County Fair, through Sunday, Aurora; www.hamiltoncofairgrounds.org

“The Olympics,” Pawnee Days, through Sunday, Genoa. Complete schedule: Genoa Area Chamber page on Facebook;

Tabitha’s Closet, free clothing giveaway, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stolley Park Church of Christ, 2822 W. Stolley Park Road, Grand Island. Clothing donations accepted; no housewares; 308-384-2613.

Bingo, 7 p.m., United Veterans Club, 1914 W. Capital, Grand Island. Doors open at 6; open to the public; 308-381-1555.

Friday, July 26

Hear Grand Island week nine, in partnership with the Nebraska State Fair, featuring the top five bands from Fairest Showdown competing for two spots to open for headliners at the State Fair, Amur Plaza. Lineup includes: Downtown Nowhere, 7 to 7:40 p.m., Kevin McClure, 7:50 to 8:30; No Drinking on Grounds, 8:40 to 9:20; Paisty Jenny, 9:30 to 10:10; and the Kyle Sayler Band, 10:30 to 11 p.m. Concert series runs every Friday through Aug. 2. No admission charge; www.facebook.com/HearGI/

Bands on the Bricks, featuring Soca Jukebox, 6 to 9 p.m., downtown Aurora; Aurora Chamber of Commerce, 402-694-6911 or auroranebraska.com

Beaver Valley Days, through Sunday, St. Edward. Complete schedule: St. Edward Beaver Community Club page on Facebook.

Coloring with Friends, 2 p.m., the Chocolate Bar, 116 W. Third St., Grand Island. Adult coloring get-together led by Trinity United Methodist Church most Friday afternoons; 308-382-1952.

Saturday, July 27

St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 112 S. Cedar. Event includes live music and entertainment, a dunk tank with local celebrities, bouncy house, games, raffle, information booths, and more. Food offerings include pupusas, tacos, hamburgers and more; 308-384-2523 or www.stmarysgi.org

Hall County Sheriff’s Posse Horse Show, Saturday and Sunday, Thompson Arena at Fonner Park.

Central Nebraska Amateur Radio Club ham fest and steak fry, 63rd annual, 10 a.m. Saturday and 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Bader Memorial Park south of Chapman. Park permit required ($7 daily/$28 annual), available at the park office; Jeremy Smith, 308-850-1745; or the Central Nebraska ARC, cnarc.club

Merrick County Fair, through Wednesday, Central City; Merrick County Fair page on Facebook.

Sunday, July 28

“Summer Fun,” Valley County Fair, through Saturday, Ord; Valley County Fairgrounds page on Facebook.

Bingo, 2 p.m., United Veterans Club, 1914 W. Capital, Grand Island. Doors open at 1; open to the public; 308-381-1555.

On Display

Grand Island Art Club exhibit, through July 27, Grand Island Public Library, 1124 W. Second St. Library hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; 308-385-5333 or www.gilibrary.org

“On the Homefront: WWII in Nebraska,” taking a look the impact World War II had on Nebraska, through Aug. 25, Stuhr Museum. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission for nonmembers is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors and $12 for children 6-12; 308-385-5316 or www.stuhrmuseum.org

“A Tribute to My New Hometown,” featuring “a collection of people, places and things found in Minden,” from artist Taylor M. Majerus of Minden, through Aug. 31, Minden Opera House Gallery, 322 E. Fifth St., Minden. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 308-832-0588 or www.mindenoperahouse.com