Celebration time on the Golden Plains

Get ready, get set, go! Celebration season has begun in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas.

After a red-hot start in McCook last weekend with the storytelling festival and pro-am golf tournament, the festive-filled season spreads throughout the Golden Plains this weekend with Medicine Creek Days in Cambridge, Pioneer Days in Palisade and the Stearman Fly-In in St. Francis.

All three celebrations are action-packed.

At Cambridge, the theme for the Medicine Creek Days festival is "Aloha, Cambridge." While most usually associated with Hawaii, the endearing term, Aloha, fits well for all occasions. It means love, and is used as both a greeting and a farewell.

In keeping with the theme, there undoubtedly will be entrants wearing grass skirts and leis in the parade which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

While the parade will be the highlight, those taking part in Medicine Creek Days will find plenty more to do during the three-day celebration. Activities will be nearly non-stop, starting with the Health Fair at the Community Building beginning at 7 a.m. Friday, and ending with the midget and junior baseball games, which could go until 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Meanwhile, in Palisade, the always popular Pioneer Days celebration will be taking place. Once again, the people of Palisade have chosen a very appropriate theme for their festival. Linked to the times we live in, the theme will be "Palisade -- Proud and Patriotic." The red, white and blue will wave for the parade, scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, and for other events throughout the weekend.

To open Pioneer Days, a fun time in the park is planned Friday evening, beginning at 7 p.m. As a highlight of the opening event, the Palisade kids will play the Hayes Center youngsters in a Dad's Pitch game. This will be followed by an adult softball game.

A full slate of events is scheduled for Saturday -- starting with a one-mile fun run and walk at 7 a.m. -- and concluding with a dance in Krotter Park between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Sunday's events include church services, a community potluck in the park, a songfest at the Church of Christ and a pancake feed at the fire hall.

Another traditional event -- the Stearman Fly-In -- returns to St. Francis Saturday and Sunday. Much anticipated by area residents, the fly-in features the launch of hot air balloons, as well as Stearman rides and tandem skydives.

The celebrations this weekend -- and the festivals to follow this summer in the Golden Plains -- are an excellent opportunity to renew area acquaintances and enjoy good, old-fashioned entertainment.

Our hats are off to all the dedicated volunteers who combine to make the celebrations possible. Together, they are making the good life of the Golden Plains even more full and fun-filled.