Callaway’s annual Pioneer Picnic starts Friday, June 26, celebrating 250 years together.
Friday evening begins with mutton busting at 6:30 p.m. and then the Seven Valleys Rodeo at 7. Only Friday’s rodeo performance will feature the wild horse race. Admission costs $10 per person, but children 5 and under are free. Starting at 9, Borderline is performing at Sand Creek Bar.
Saturday kicks off with breakfast at the Callaway Community Center, and the fun run starts at 8 a.m. The Bloody Mary bar opens at 9 a.m. at Sand Creek Bar. Registration for the car show starts at 9 and will continue until noon, when the show begins. Those registered can still drive through the parade. At 10:45 a.m., the parade starts with the theme “From Pioneer Days to Today: 250 years together.”
For lunch, go to Mrs. Robinson’s Cook Shack, enjoy a walking taco in Morgan Park to support the elementary playground fundraiser, or enjoy a sweet treat with the dirty soda station and scotcharoos from FCCLA.
At noon, Rock It Event Pros will set up with $2 wristband all-day passes, the swimming pool will open, and South Loup 4-H Cow Pie BINGO will be in Morgan Park. Competitions start at 1 p.m. with kids’ races and 3-on-3 basketball in Morgan Park, a cornhole tournament at Sand Creek Bar, and duck races in the pool.
Saturday concludes with burgers and brats at the community center, and at Sand Creek Bar, Jackson Wayne will open for Kiley Barwick Band at 9.
A biscuits and gravy breakfast starts Sunday’s events at 9 a.m. At 11, Mrs. Robinson’s Cook Shack opens, and there is church at Morgan Park. At noon is the kids’ and adults’ pedal tractor pull. Kids will compete for the chance to compete at the state pedal tractor pull while adults cost $10 to enter and will compete for a payout. At 1 is dodgeball, and at 2:30 is the toad and turtle boogie.
The final events of the Pioneer Picnic are mutton busting at 4:30 and the Seven Valleys Rodeo at 5. Seth Pearson from the Seven Valleys Rodeo Association invites people to be early for the mutton busting and to check out the SVRA Rodeo Slack.
“So, another thing we’re having this year, we’ve done it in the past, is the mutton busting. We do limit that, so make sure if you want your kid to ride a sheep, be there plenty early because that list fills up pretty quick. A lot of kids like to do that. Then the other thing is if you are a big rodeo fan and just like to watch kind of some of the roping events come out Sunday morning for Slack, it starts at 10,” stated Pearson.
For more information and details on events, visit the Callaway, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. Stacey Guthard, treasurer of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, says that they are excited to see everyone and have a weekend full of fun.
“It’s really a family fun weekend. We invite everyone to come over and just relax with your family and friends and create memories,” stated Guthard.
