The Nebraska State Fair opens Friday and runs through Sept. 7 (Labor Day). Daily gate admission is $8 ($2 for children ages 6 to 12). Gate admission does not include grandstand admission. The fair will feature several new or returning events this year:
Oral histories Husband-and-wife team Scott and Vicki Clarke will videotape oral history interviews with fairgoers on Sept. 1, 3 and 5. The interviews will become part of a museum exhibit at the new Grand Island fair headquarters.
Midway Belle City Amusements will offer at least 30 new rides in addition to eight to 10 old favorites purchased from the former operator, who retired.
Paid concerts Daryl Hall & John Oates, 8 p.m. Saturday, and Montgomery Gentry, 8 p.m. Sept. 6, will be the first concerts requiring additional admission ($12 above gate fee) in seven years.
Fireworks First fireworks display in many years, following Hall & Oates concert.
Festival de Las Americas 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 30; Lincoln’s Hispanic community center stages its annual festival.
Honor Flight Veterans 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 4; parade, memorial service, ice cream social and music by Bobby Layne will honor World War II veterans who participated in Honor Flights to Washington, D.C.
NASA Driven to Explore Sept. 4-7; visitors will have opportunity to touch moon rock brought back by Apollo 17.
Draft horse pulling contest 5 p.m. Sept. 5.
Hot Air Balloon Glow Following Montgomery Gentry concert.
Grand Celebration Parade Noon Sept. 7; 90-minute parade featuring all fair entertainers.
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