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Region ready for fun-filled Fourth of July weekend
  
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By TONYA WIESER
Staff Reporter
As the Fourth of July approaches, families across the Panhandle are gearing up for the most anticipated holiday of the summer.
It is a day for picnics and cookouts, and some may hit the area lakes for boating, fishing and camping. Festivals and events offer something for everyone.
Alliance will once again hold the Historic Main Street Alliance sixth annual Lunatic Cardboard Boat Races at Laing Lake, with races scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Board member Gary Watkins said they have implemented a new event this year called “Build It & Race It.” Each individual or team will have one hour to build a craft with materials provided and then race it.
“We kept the course short because we don’t anticipate the boats will last very long,” Watkins said, “but it should prove to be a very entertaining event.”
In addition to the races there will be food, drinks, vendors and souvenirs.
“It is always a lot of fun and the crowd continues to grow each year,” Watkins said. “But the number of participants tend to stay the same, so we encourage individuals to come out and give it a try.”
The committee has supplies for seven crafts and there is no entry fee required. However, organizers encourage freewill donations to help with the costs of the supplies and insurance.
Bridgeport hosts the longstanding traditional Camp Clark Stampede Rodeo, with slack starting at 1 p.m. and nightly performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday. Nebraska State Rodeo Association Secretary Deanne Bilby said the event draws contestants from all over the United States.
“It fits nicely in conjunction with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeos at Crawford and Greeley. We get a lot of those PRCA Rodeo contestants on their way through,” Bilby said.
She currently has 350 contestants entered for this year’s performance, and in addition to the regularly scheduled program there will be a wild horse race and fireworks display both nights.
“And back by popular demand, Terry Tinney of North Platte, better known as Thunder, will be entertaining the crowd as the rodeo clown,” Bilby said. “It is always a lot of fun, and every year we draw in thousands of spectators.”
For those in search of a fun-filled day Crawford Chamber of Commerce Director Phyllis Clark said the community will be kicking off Saturday with a 5K run at 7:30 a.m. followed by the annual parade at 10 a.m.
“The parade is always a huge success and the theme this year is ‘Land of the Cowboys and Indians,’ featuring several local cowboy and Indian grand marshals, so we are really excited for this year’s event,” Clark said.
Right after the parade will be numerous activities including music in the park with special appearances by performers from the Consuming Fire Dance Studio out of Chadron, a taste of the Fort Robinson Post Playhouse musical, entertainment by the White River Jam Band of Crawford as they play a variety of music and other events from noon to 6 p.m.
In addition to the live music, there will be food, vendors, crafts, a sand volleyball tournament and kids games.
“We encourage everyone to bring their lawn chairs and just relax, eat, visit and enjoy an afternoon in the park,” Clark said. “It is a lot of fun for the whole family.”
Crawford will also once again be home to the Old West Trail Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeo with an 8 p.m. start Friday and Saturday.
Clark said following Saturday night’s performance, local firemen will be providing the crowd with a fireworks display.
“The rodeo always draws in a large crowd and the firemen puts on a grand fireworks show,” Clark said.
Just down the road Fort Robinson will be hosting the 36th annual Western & Wildlife Art Show at the Veterinary Hospital.
“The art show is always such an amazing display involving such remarkable artists,” Clark said. “I encourage everyone to take the time sometime throughout the day and run out for a viewing.”
It is a day for picnics and cookouts, and some may hit the area lakes for boating, fishing and camping. Festivals and events offer something for everyone.
Alliance will once again hold the Historic Main Street Alliance sixth annual Lunatic Cardboard Boat Races at Laing Lake, with races scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Board member Gary Watkins said they have implemented a new event this year called “Build It & Race It.” Each individual or team will have one hour to build a craft with materials provided and then race it.
“We kept the course short because we don’t anticipate the boats will last very long,” Watkins said, “but it should prove to be a very entertaining event.”
In addition to the races there will be food, drinks, vendors and souvenirs.
“It is always a lot of fun and the crowd continues to grow each year,” Watkins said. “But the number of participants tend to stay the same, so we encourage individuals to come out and give it a try.”
The committee has supplies for seven crafts and there is no entry fee required. However, organizers encourage freewill donations to help with the costs of the supplies and insurance.
Bridgeport hosts the longstanding traditional Camp Clark Stampede Rodeo, with slack starting at 1 p.m. and nightly performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday. Nebraska State Rodeo Association Secretary Deanne Bilby said the event draws contestants from all over the United States.
“It fits nicely in conjunction with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeos at Crawford and Greeley. We get a lot of those PRCA Rodeo contestants on their way through,” Bilby said.
She currently has 350 contestants entered for this year’s performance, and in addition to the regularly scheduled program there will be a wild horse race and fireworks display both nights.
“And back by popular demand, Terry Tinney of North Platte, better known as Thunder, will be entertaining the crowd as the rodeo clown,” Bilby said. “It is always a lot of fun, and every year we draw in thousands of spectators.”
For those in search of a fun-filled day Crawford Chamber of Commerce Director Phyllis Clark said the community will be kicking off Saturday with a 5K run at 7:30 a.m. followed by the annual parade at 10 a.m.
“The parade is always a huge success and the theme this year is ‘Land of the Cowboys and Indians,’ featuring several local cowboy and Indian grand marshals, so we are really excited for this year’s event,” Clark said.
Right after the parade will be numerous activities including music in the park with special appearances by performers from the Consuming Fire Dance Studio out of Chadron, a taste of the Fort Robinson Post Playhouse musical, entertainment by the White River Jam Band of Crawford as they play a variety of music and other events from noon to 6 p.m.
In addition to the live music, there will be food, vendors, crafts, a sand volleyball tournament and kids games.
“We encourage everyone to bring their lawn chairs and just relax, eat, visit and enjoy an afternoon in the park,” Clark said. “It is a lot of fun for the whole family.”
Crawford will also once again be home to the Old West Trail Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeo with an 8 p.m. start Friday and Saturday.
Clark said following Saturday night’s performance, local firemen will be providing the crowd with a fireworks display.
“The rodeo always draws in a large crowd and the firemen puts on a grand fireworks show,” Clark said.
Just down the road Fort Robinson will be hosting the 36th annual Western & Wildlife Art Show at the Veterinary Hospital.
“The art show is always such an amazing display involving such remarkable artists,” Clark said. “I encourage everyone to take the time sometime throughout the day and run out for a viewing.”
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