IOWA INDEPENDENCE DAY July 3 at Living History Farms in Urbandale. Celebrate America’s birthday with a family-oriented day of pieeating contests, foot races, a town parade, and more. The celebration will also include the Walnut Hill Bluestockings playing baseball according to 1875 rules. 515-278-5286. —lhf.org IOWA CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL July 2-3 in downtown Iowa City. This two-day event brings a weekend of live jazz performances, food vendors and fireworks displayed over the University of Iowa Pentacrest to close out the festival. 319-337-7944. —summerofthearts.org
NEBRASKA UNCLE SAM JAM! July 3 at Oak Lake Park,
Lincoln. This family-friendly event is Lincoln’s official celebration of Independence Day, featuring food, music, fireworks, and more. 402-441-7547. —lincoln.ne.gov
festival will feature all-day performances from national and local musicians along with food, drinks, and merchandise for sale. 402-435-8754. —zoobar.com
CORNHUSKER STATE GAMES July 16-25, varying
RED, WHITE, KABOOM! July 3 at Ag Park
in Columbus. The biggest Independence Day celebration in Columbus brings event goers a day of live music from Barrel House, activities, a bouncy house, and more. Fireworks starting at dusk. 402-564-2769. —thecolumbuspage.com in Fairbury. This annual event features more than 215 vendors, where everything from dishes to clothes will be available for purchase, along with great food. A Fourth of July Celebration will take place the first day. 402-729-322. —fairburyfleamarket.com
1890S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4 at
Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island. This summer tradition includes a parade, a concert, pie-eating contests, games, and more. Runners should be sure to check out the annual Firecracker 5K, which kicks off at 7 a.m. 308-385-5316. —stuhrmuseum.org
OREGON TRAIL DAYS July 8-11 throughout Scottsbluff. This annual event is one of the oldest community festivals in Nebraska. The celebration includes a kickoff barbecue, a hill climb bicycle ride to the top of Scotts Bluff National Monument, a chili cook-off, horseshoe tournament, and more. 308- 632-2133. —oregontraildays.com JOHN C. FREMONT DAYS July 9-11 throughout Fremont. Held every second week of July, this event celebrates John C. Fremont, and includes free activities, historical tours, car and bike shows, vendors, antiques, and live entertainment. 402727-9428. —johncfremontdays.org event celebrating German culture brings eventgoers a grand parade, ribfest, tractor pulls, live music, entertainment, and more. 402-269-3242. —gosyracusene.com
ALLIANCE HERITAGE DAYS July 13-18 throughout Alliance. Celebrating 4o years of Alliance heritage and history, this five day event brings carnival rides, various vendors, live musical entertainment, a parade, games, and so much more. 308-762-5400. —cityofalliance.net
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49TH ANNUAL FLEA MARKET July 3-5 at City Park
GERMANFEST July 13 throughout Syracuse. An
SATURDAY IN THE PARK July 2-3 at Grandview Park in Sioux City. On July Fourth weekend, Sioux City hosts a free music festival. This event is free admission, but you will need to reserve a ticket to attend. Friday’s headliner is indie pop trio AJR and the legendary John Fogerty will be the headliner on Saturday. 712-277-2575. —saturdayinthepark.com
ZOOFEST TBD at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln. This
locations in Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding communities. This amateur sporting event offers participants the opportunity to compete in Olympic contests like gymnastics, track and field, and swimming, as well as more relaxed events like horseshoe pitching and chess. 402-471-2544. —cornhuskerstategames.com
FLIGHT NIGHT July 17 at Strategic Air Command
& Aerospace Museum in Ashland. Stargaze with the Omaha Astronomical Society or view planetarium shows at this after-hours event. Enjoy free simulator rides and guided tours of the HU-16 Albatross, Black Holes Exhibit, Space Humanities Longest Journey Exhibit, and more. This is a 21 and over evening out, with a cash-only bar. 402944-3100. —sacmuseum.org
NEBRASKA STAR PARTY Aug. 1-6 at Merritt
ANIMEIOWA 2019: POST-A-PIG-ALYPTIC
July 30 to August 1 at Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Des Moines. The biggest anime convention in Iowa is back for another year of cosplay, guest appearances, panels and more. —animeiowa.com
CHRISTMAS IN JULY July 10 in downtown Oskaloosa. Celebrate Christmas in the summer with fun and festivities for the whole family! From 2-8 p.m. on the Square, there will be games, activities, and a Christmas movie outdoors. Funds raised will benefit the Painting with Lights display. 641-672-2591. —mahaskachamber.org/mainstreet TOUR DE BREW July 17 at Millstream Brewery
Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine. This week-long event dedicated to nature and the stars will entertain children and adults alike. Guests can learn how to explore the night sky and take educational tours July of the surrounding area. 402-333-5460. —nebraskastarparty.org
in Amana. Millstream Brewery brings a unique twist to this event that allows goers to bike to different breweries for a beer tasting. Food will be available at the end of the tour. 319-6223672. —millstreambrewing.com
WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR July 18-23
at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington. This annual county fair includes rodeo and motocross events, a talent show, demolition derby, and more fun for the family. 319-653-2552. —washingtoncountyfairia.com
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COLUMBUS DAYS Aug. 13-15 throughout Columbus. Attendees can spend the weekend listening to live music, enjoying food, a cornhole contest, bed races, a parade, and more. 402-564-2769. —thecolumbuspage.com/events/columbus-days KOOL-AID DAYS Aug. 20-22 throughout Hastings. Celebrate America’s beloved powdered drink mix, which was created in Hastings, with this weekend festival. Events include Kwickest Kool-Aid Drinking Contest, Jammers Boat Races, a fun run/ walk, and more. 402-461-8405. —kool-aiddays.com NEBRASKA STATE FAIR Aug. 27-Sept. 6 at the state fairgrounds in Grand Island. Participate in traditional fair activities like livestock exhibits, a midway, and lots of fried food. Concerts include Theory of a Deadman, Trace Adkins, Cody Jinks, and more. 308-382-1620. —statefair.org
SOUTHERN IOWA FAIR July 18-23 at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds in Oskaloosa. This yearly event brings six days of rides, food vendors and more, with musical guest Lonestar. 641-673-7004. — southerniowafair.com RAGBRAI July 25-31 in multiple cities across Iowa. Thousands of bicyclists will converge upon Iowa for one week for this annual ride. This year’s event travels the state from Council Bluffs in western Iowa to Keokuk in eastern Iowa. Come for the ride, stay for the homemade pie found in each town along the route. 515284-8341. —ragbrai.com
