SUMNER—“Home is always here at Sumner, Nebraska!” Bruce Eberle said. For more than 60 years the residents in and around the Sumner community have been celebrating the 4th of July–Sumner style.
Tub’s Pub owner Bruce Eberle said the annual celebration is one of the great traditions of the area and invites everyone to the parade, car show, rodeo, street dances, beer garden, carnival, fireworks display and more.
“We’re excited about the 4th of July celebration…this is one of the great traditions, you know, of our little rural town. We draw great crowds. The 4th of July parade is unlike anything else you’ll find in the state of Nebraska so we hope everyone comes out,” Eberle said.
The 4th of July includes the 10:30 a.m. “Throwback Thursday” Parade, foot races, S-E-M cheer and dance lunch, car show, carnival, rodeo, karaoke, beer garden, Sumner Fireman’s BBQ at 5:30 p.m. in the park, live music, and of course the evening fireworks.
Members of the Sumner Commercial Club have stayed busy this week organizing events but also work nearly all year long to make the July celebration the best it can be for visitors.
Sumner Commercial Club President Kristen Triplett said the club also sponsors the annual back-to-school picnic, soup and Santa event, Easter Egg hunt, among other events to keep the Sumner community spirit alive and well.
“We’re just trying to continue the family tradition of keeping it going. It’s a great way for us to support the community and make it a great place for our kids to grow up,” Triplett said.
This year’s carnival will be the first time the carnival has returned to Sumner in 18 years. Triplett and Eberle each look forward to four days of the carnival and lots of family fun along with the rodeo, classic/antique car show, alumni banquet, and Independence Day fireworks.
Triplett said the parade usually has more than 100 entries and encourages patrons to come early to get a spot.
“The number of people that come, we expect about 3,000 people to come be here on the day of the 4th. There will be a lot of people, come early if you can,” Kristen Triplett said.
In addition to the activities, multiple raffles will be going on including the Sumner Saddle Club’s raffle of a Henry .22 Long Rifle Golden Boy with funds going toward local scholarship programs.
Eberle and Triplett say the July 4th Celebration is a community effort and appreciate all of the help and donations provided by local businesses, individuals, and volunteers.
Call Kristen at 308-360-0626 or Tub’s Pub at 308-752-9925 to learn more.
“We put a lot of effort into this throughout the year to make sure that it’s a good time for everybody that comes and this is one of the best family friendly, you know, classic 4th of July celebrations that you can find,” Eberle said.
Events kicked off earlier this week with sand volleyball and cornhole, turtle and toad races, ice cream social, a splash run and splash pad fun, and the Calcutta on Tuesday evening.
Friday, July 5: Carnival, beer garden, bingo
Saturday, July 6: Carnival, beer garden, S-E-M Alumni Banquet at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym
