Numbers up for Heritage Days

McCOOK, Neb. — The lineup for Heritage Days is set, and the McCook Chamber board of directors excited about the annual celebration. The level of participation is up, according to Chamber Executive Director Jamie Mockry.

Although not an official Heritage Days event, the Christian concert on Sunday will kick off a busy week of fun, food, and celebrations. According to the band’s Facebook page, Sidewalk Prophets from Nashville, Tenn. Plays a genre of Christian, pop, and rock. “This journey isn’t about rock n roll, music or entertainment. It’s about love, hope and finding a place to truly belong. It’s about each of us.” The concert will be at the McCook City Auditorium and advance tickets are available at the chamber office.

Following tradition, Heritage Days officially kicks off next Wednesday with the MNB mixer and the naming of the Honor Family, Parade Marshal, Grand Marshal, and Royalty.

“We had 11 really good applicants this year for Royalty, so we were really pleased with that,” said Jamie.

Family Feud — McCook Style, is slated for Thursday night, again at the City Auditorium. Eight teams have signed up to participate in the game. Each team is made up of four members plus an audience member who will be randomly drawn to be part of each team. Admission is $5 per person, or $10 if you want to have your name in the hat to be drawn as a team member.

Friday morning will be the traditional Norris Institute Prayer Breakfast with guest speaker Wallis Marsh at 7 a.m. at McCook Christian Church. On Friday evening, “Blindside” will be shown outside at the McCook High School Track. Movie-goers are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and bug spray. A freewill donation will be collected. If the weather turns bad, the venue will move to the City Auditorium.

Saturday will kick off a myriad of activities at Norris Park including vendors, food, and entertainment at the bandshell. The parade begins at 10 a.m. An unveiling of a monument to Harry Strunk will occur at 1:30 p.m., and a kids’ firemen’s challenge will happen from 2-4 p.m.

The Dixie Geihsler Memorial Coed Adult & Child Basketball Tournament will begin at 1 p.m. at McCook High School. And from 7-11 p.m. there will be a street dance in the parking lot of Citta’ Deli.

Sunday morning will include the Heritage Days Worship service conducted by the Church of Christ in Norris Park, followed by entertainment at the bandshell, vendors and food throughout the park.

A full line-up of Heritage Days events will appear in Wednesday’s Gazette.

Looking forward to October, the chamber is partnering with the McCook High School Interact Club to conduct a raffle. Tickets will be $20 each, but only 250 will be sold. From that, six winners will receive $250 in chamber bucks. The drawing will be October 12.

On Oct. 28, the chamber is hosting Flight Basketball at McCook High School. According to Mockry, this is a version of the Harlem Ambassadors that have performed in McCook in the past.

The chamber board also chose Horizon Bank as the fourth quarter Honor Business.