In addition to a wide variety of museums and attractions, Nebraska City and Otoe County have an impressive list of annual festivals and events. Plan your next trip to celebrate with our communities.
Arbor Day Celebration
As home to internationally-celebrated Arbor Day, Nebraska City takes its beautiful trees seriously, and 2012 will mark our 140th Annual Arbor Day Celebration. We hope you’ll join us for the many festival activities all weekend: Friday, April 27 – Sunday, April 29! The 5/10K Run will be April 21, 2012 (entry form will be available soon).
The annual Arbor Day Celebration begins on the last Friday in April and features children’s educational activities, a parade, free trees, a 5/10K run/walk, plant sale, all-you-can-eat chili cook-off, commemorative tree plantings, special award ceremonies, and, of course, the Discovery Ride at Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure. Don’t miss the live music and tree-climbing demonstrations. Official Arbor Day Celebration Event Page
Independence Day Celebration
Steinhart Park is the hub of activity for the day long celebration. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and lounge for the day in the park. Have a sweet treat at the Jaycees ice cream social. Be awed by the annual Jaycees Fireworks Display (lasts an hour!), set with patriotic entertainment, Color Guard presentation, and includes ground and aerial set to music. The 2012 date is scheduled for Saturday, June 30th with a rain date of Sunday, July 1.
Lemon Days
Lemons Days is Nebraska City’s answer to back-to-school shopping and good old-fashioned bargain hunting. Join us for community-wide sidewalk sales and a very refreshing Lemonade Stand competition where area youth are educated about entrepreneurism and small business ownership/operation. This highly entertaining shopping promotion traditionally coincides with Kimmel Orchard’s Wine Under the Pines Festival and Sidney Iowa’s annual Rodeo. Join us August 2-5, 2012.
AppleJack Festival
Ranked one of the 2006 Top 10 Fall Festivals in North America by the Society of American Travel Writers, Nebraska City’s 40+-year-old apple harvest celebration is fun for the whole family. Take part in the festivities all weekend long with an enormous parade showcasing 30 plus marching bands, a classic car show, the AppleJack Fun Run/Walk, a quilt show, and an array of craft shows. Then head out to Arbor Lodge, Arbor Day Farm, and the Orchards to learn more about the harvest and to pick your own apples and stock up on all of the tasty apple treats! AppleJam Carnival, one of the celebration’s newest highlights, includes mechanical rides, carnival games, face painting, and fabulous food vendors all right downtown. This event is traditionally held the third weekend in September.
AppleJack will be September 16, 17, & 18 in 2012. Official AppleJack Festival Event Page
TRAIL OF TREATS
Traditionally held on or around Halloween Day, Trail of Treats is a scare-free good time for kids to trick-or-treat at all of the downtown merchants. Businesses from other parts of town come down to participate as well – making for a jam-packed festive crowd and no shortage of candy! Contact NCTC for more information about participating.
Home for the Holidays
Holiday cheer, rewarding shopping, and warm memory-making opportunities abound in Nebraska City each holiday season. What better place could there be for “trimming the tree” than the home of Arbor Day? Special events include a "Sip and Stroll" shopping event, pictures at Santas Workshop, and live music performances.