A state packed to the rafters with corn and perceived banality, Nebraska has surprises in store for residents and travellers alike, with lots of wide open spaces and even wider grins. Its often-sparse landscape hides many interesting, unusual and quaint attractions and offerings, including a wealth of enticing festivals, with loads of fun waiting to be had.
The traditional Omaha SeptemberFest has been entertaining for almost forty years, with four great days of events and attractions. It features Omaha’s biggest parade in addition to entertainment, education, music, carnivals and loads of family-friendly fun. These attractions typically include traditional fayre, with car shows, live performances, fights, dances, games, mechanical bulls, fireworks, circus attractions, competitions, local bands, tribute acts and enough to keep you and your folks more than occupied! It’s broad, it’s varied, it’s award-winning, and it’s waiting for you to show up! Similarly, Brown Country Fair also offers a traditional program of activities, with some rodeo thrown into the mix.
There are many events in Nebraska dedicated to the hunt for junk, with lots of festivals offering antiques, second-hand treasures and ample opportunities to pick up a bargain or two. These include the Nebraska Junk Jaunt, with almost 500 miles (yes, you read that right!) of second-hand offerings, and Lexington’s Antiques and Crafts Extravaganza, with lots of varied crafts and collectibles to peruse, purloin and purchase.
Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival also offers a slice of history, though in verbal form. This brings together a wealth of national musicians and storytellers to celebrate and glorify the simple and astounding stories of everyday people and everyday things. If you like spoken word, folk music, thoughtful tunes and poetry – or if you’re simply seeking something a little bit different – this might just be exactly what you’re looking for.
The Wayne Chicken Show is a slightly more erratic and eccentric affair, and is indeed dedicated to everyone’s favourite feathered friend. It’s a self-consciously silly event full of chicken dances, cluck-offs, chicken-flying competitions, egg-eating contests, egg-throwing, chicken-based storytelling and loads more. If you’re looking for something daft, then you need look no further.
Nebraska also hosts festivals to celebrate films, music, food and more, with some held in honour of things as specific and strange as stars, Kool-Aid, corn, groundhogs, Czech culture and cranes. Come and see for yourself why Nebraska is anything but barren!