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Area summer festivities set to begin |
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 |
 The smell of barbecue in the air, the squeals of laughter of children on carnival rides, the colorful pageantry of a small-town parade, all mean one thing - summer is here! This weekend those sights, sounds and smells will come to life, as Oconto hosts its annual Blowin’ the Doors Off BBQ, and Sargent hosts the Sargent Fair & Chokecherry Jamboree.
Now in its eighth year, the Oconto barbecue serves as an annual fundraiser for the Oconto Volunteer Fire Depart-ment. The event derived its name and origin from an October 2000 storm, in which a tornado nearly wiped out the entire Custer County community.
Each year the barbecue has grown, as people all across the state hear through the grapevine of the excellent food and all-around good time Oconto offers. This year will be no exception, as 10 cookers will vie for the title of BBQ champion.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday, and features an all-you-can eat sampling of all 10 teams for just $10 ages 12 and up, and $5 ages 6-11. Hallel, a Christian music group, will kick off the live entertainment at 5:30 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. the cookers and judges will be introduced. South Loup Sunrise will continue the entertainment as they play from 7-9 p.m., followed by a dance and performance by Mohanna with Red shoes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
There will also be a raffle drawing at 8 p.m. for prizes, including a Bubba’s BBQ oven grill, and cash. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and plan on spending the evening, with lots of good music and great food.
From one end of the county to the other, everyone can find something to do June 6. On the northern edge of the county is the community of Sargent, known as Nebraska’s “Chokecherry Capital.”
Slated for June 7, 8 and 9, the Sargent Chokecherry Jamboree marks its 126th year in 2009 with the theme “Reality Shows.” The Jamboree and Sargent Fair begin Sunday at 8 a.m. with sand volleyball in the park.
The Little Miss Choke-cherry Pageant will take place in the park at 11 a.m., and the mud drags will get underway at 1 p.m. at Sandhills Motorsport Park.
Fair highlights Monday include a ladies salad luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the community center, kid’s pet show at 5 p.m., and the parade gets started at 7 p.m.. A ‘reality show’ will conclude the day at 8 p.m.
Tuesday will round out this year’s fair & jamboree with kid’s events beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Golden LivingCenter, the chokecherry pit spitting contest at 6 p.m. at the park, and a barbecue at the park also beginning at 6 p.m.
Entertainment will be provided by “The Country Ramblers” from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m., and a talent contest sponsored by Sargent Women in Action Team (SWAT) will cap off the fair at 8 p.m. Children of all ages can also enjoy “Richard’s Amusements on the Midway” all day Monday and Tuesday. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 June 2009 )
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Huskers.com
