Making the Most of Summer in the Good Life
There is nothing quite like summer in Nebraska. Long days in the hayfields give way to evenings at the ballpark with family and friends. Weekends offer opportunities to float our winding rivers, spend hours outside fishing, or simply gather with neighbors to celebrate the season.
No matter how you choose to spend it, Nebraska’s Third District is the perfect place to enjoy summer. This year is no exception, with community celebrations and hometown traditions filling calendars across our great state.
The season gets underway with NEBRASKAland Days in North Platte. Beginning June 18th with the Buffalo Bill Rodeo and concluding June 27th with the finale of the Summer Jam Concert Series featuring Zack Topp. This yearly celebration captures the spirit and pride that defines the Nebraska summers we all know and love.
The excitement continues on July 4th as communities across the Third District come together to celebrate both Independence Day and our nation’s 250th anniversary. From the Chamber of Commerce parade in Crawford to the Junior Rodeo in Ericson, live music at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds to fireworks in Fairbury, Nebraskans will honor America’s birthday with patriotism, tradition, and hometown spirit.
Just days later, my childhood favorite summer tradition returns: Oregon Trail Days in Gering. This year’s celebration includes a special visit from the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum on July 7th and 8th. My family and I are excited to join fellow Nebraskans as we all have the unique opportunity to experience a traveling piece of American history right here at home.
Mid-July brings one of Nebraska’s premier rodeo events as Nebraska’s Big Rodeo celebrates its 105th year in Burwell from July 22nd through the 25th. Whether it’s chuckwagon races, team roping, the Dinner Bell Derby, or bull riding, there is something for every member of our families to enjoy.
As summer begins to wind down, the Panhandle skies will come alive during the Old West Balloon Fest, August 10th through the 16th. Visitors from across the region will gather to watch colorful hot-air balloons rise above the prairie and take part in a week of unforgettable activities.
The Nebraska State Fair will provide a fitting finale to another memorable summer, August 28th through September 7th. The fair brings together Nebraskans from every corner of the state with livestock shows, static exhibits, concerts, carnival rides, food trucks, and more, all while showcasing the very best of who we are. I look forward to the State Fair every year and cannot wait to see all of the incredible projects Nebraska’s next generation of leaders will showcase in a few short months.
Summer in the Good Life is always special, but this year promises to be especially memorable. I look forward to celebrating our communities, our traditions, and our nation alongside fellow Nebraskans in the weeks ahead.