Anselmo’s Big Sky Jubilee features many events starting on Friday, June 19.
The jubilee will begin on Friday at 12:30 with the Mark Wells Memorial BBQ Pitmaster Challenge. Judging will take place at 5 p.m., Calcutta will be at 6, and then the BBQ will start at 7 p.m., and the Calcutta winner will be announced. Pork will be served for lunch, and steak and ribs will be served for dinner. It is bring your own beverage, but there will be a lemonade stand available.
Starting at 5 p.m., the Jump-a-Roo Bounce Houses will be at the ballfield with hot dogs, water, and popsicles provided by Big Sky Jubilee. Then, from 9 to 10 p.m., the ballfield will host the Bison Bubbles Foam Party. Cindy Hempstead, an organizer of Big Sky Jubilee, recommends bringing extra clothes for the kids and towels.
“It’s going to be fun. I’m guessing kids are going to go home wet. So you might want to bring some extra clothes along just in case, or some that you don’t care that they get messy in,” stated Hempstead.
The final event of Friday will be karaoke at the 1886 Good Time Saloon.
Saturday begins with a pancake feed put on by the Anselmo-Merna School Board at the fire hall, starting at 8 a.m. All day, Nebraska Putt Putt Miniature Golf will be available south of the fire hall. Sand volleyball will begin at 9 a.m. To register a team, contact Ben McCaslin at (308) 880-0368. The parade will start at 11 a.m. on Main Street with line-up at 10 at the ball field. At 11:30, food will be served by the United Methodist Church at the library, as well as downtown with Never Fails Burger, and at the old school yard with E&J Eats.
At noon, the Anselmo-Merna wrestling team will host a cornhole tournament fundraiser at 1886 Good Time Saloon. It will be a double-elimination tournament with a $40 entry fee. They will play no matter the weather and will have a tent set up. Also, at noon, the Tractor Pull will start at the old school yard with their new Gunslinger sled. Registration is at 9 a.m. To pre-register, contact Jeremy Fiorelli at (308) 643-7350.
Rock-It Events will be open from noon to 4 p.m. The scavenger hunt, starting north of The Market and Mill, will start at 2:30 p.m. Turtle races will start at 4, and Mid Nebraska Pedal Pullers Tractor Pull will start at 4:30. At 5 p.m., the firehall will host the Fireman’s BBQ and Watermelon Feed and the Newlywed Game. From 6 to 11 p.m., there will be a beer garden.
At 7 p.m. is the goat roping with registration and practice at 6 p.m. on the east side of the park. It will be a three-head progressive team roping with buy-backs available. To end the night is the family-friendly street dance with 80s and 90s covers performed by FinalEyes. Cindy Hempstead emphasises that it is an event for all ages.
“Your kids are welcome in and come in and dance. It’s for the family,” stated Hempstead
To wrap up the jubilee is the Ranch Rodeo at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with the Calcutta at 12:30. 20 teams will compete, and there will be vendors and a professional photographer on site. Kids’ stick horse barrel racing will occur between events. Prime rib sandwiches will be available from noon to 3:30 p.m. to support the Anselmo VFW and Anselmo Community Clean Up.
Big Sky Jubilee events will continue no matter the weather. For more information and updates, go to the Big Sky Jubilee Facebook page.
