Nebraska Official State Travel Guide - The Official 2025 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide
CULTURE
2024-11-05 11:23:49
MORE THAN AGRICULTURE
WE'VE GOT ARTS, MUSIC & SPORTS TO BOOT
When you pick a unique destination like Nebraska, you’re in for a truly unique cultural experience. You already know about our cowboy lore, pioneer stories and Native American history. Now it’s time to learn about our scenes in the arts, music, sports and cultural festivals that make Nebraska … well, Nebraska.
SPORTS
Ready to visit Nebraska’s third-largest city? That’s Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium on game day. Join The Sea of Red, nearly 90,000 Husker fans, in cheering on the University of Nebraska football team throughout the fall. This is a bucket-list experience for many college football fans. Don the Scarlet and Cream and gear up for a day of tailgating, tradition and Husker football.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of baseball fans descend on Omaha for the NCAA Men’s College World Series. Cheer on your school’s squad as they compete for a national championship at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
Cowboys aren’t a thing of the past in this state. From ranches to rodeos, you’ll find some of the world’s most skilled cowpokes in Nebraska. Watch bull riding, horse shows, roping, wild horse races and more at events across the state, including the 104th Nebraska’s Big Rodeo in Burwell.
MUSIC
Nebraska venues host world-famous musicians and internationally acclaimed acts year-round. Don’t miss the summer concert series surrounded by striking views of natural landmarks at the open-air Five Rocks Amphitheater in Gering. If you’re near Kearney, see who’s playing at the Viaero Center.
A former vaudeville house, Orpheum Theater brings Broadway performances, live music, opera, plays and more performing arts to downtown Omaha. Silversun Pickups, Coldwar Kids, Lucinda Williams and The Mars Volta are just a handful of the recent acts to perform at The Admiral in Omaha.
Enjoy an outdoor concert in Lincoln at the Pinewood Bowl Theater, which featured John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, CAKE and more in 2024. Home of the Huskers Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, Pinnacle Bank Arena is another excellent concert venue in Lincoln.
ART
The Joslyn in Omaha recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion. Visit the museum’s brand-new 42,000 square-foot pavilion. Browse over 5,000 years of art from across the globe. See more than 12,000 fine art pieces throughout museum exhibits and surrounding sculpture gardens.
In Lincoln, see almost 13,000 American artworks, ranging from minimalism to geometric abstraction to American impressionism, at Sheldon Museum of Art. The International Quilt Study Center & Museum features the world’s largest publicly held quilt collection. Tour this Lincoln treasure to see quilts from around the world, some even dating back to the early 1700s.
Peruse more than 5,000 stunning works showcasing the culture and heritage of Nebraska at the recently renovated and expanded Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney. Discover a mix of visual artworks from local, regional and national artists at Columbus Art Gallery before exploring the Columbus Sculpture Walk.
On Seward’s Concordia University campus, the Bartels Museum houses dozens of rocks, fossils, agate and minerals from around the world, while the Marxhausen Gallery of Art features rotating exhibits, speakers and performances, as well as a world-class permanent collection of contemporary art.
ONLY-IN-NEBRASKA EVENTS
The Buffalo Bill Rodeo, the Summer Jam Concert Series, a kid’s costume parade — you’ll find all that and more each June in North Platte during NEBRASKAland DAYS, an annual celebration of all things Nebraska.
Mark your calendars for Sidney Gold Rush Days on the second weekend in June. Discover the history of the Sidney to Deadwood Gold Rush Trail with wagon rides, crafts, interactive gold panning and quick draw competitions.
In July, stop into Chadron for the 49th annual Fur Trade Days. This four-day festival is packed with carnival rides, fireworks, live music, a Traders Market, historical reenactments and tons of family fun.
Celebrate everyone’s favorite kids’ drink in Hastings at Kool-Aid Days. Visit in August for a fun-filled weekend of face painting, fireworks and exciting games and contests, like the Kool-Aid Kardboard Boat Races and Kwickest Kool-Aid Drinking Contest. Can’t make it to the festival? Visit the Hastings Museum to explore the Kool-Aid exhibit and learn more about Nebraska’s unique heritage.
Find treasures by the truckload at Nebraska’s Junk Jaunt. Visitors from near and far visit Central Nebraska each September for this 500-mile-long garage sale.
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CULTURE
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