Nebraska Food Festivals & Fairs, Food & Wine Events, Food Shows, Wine Tastings, etc.

2013 NEBRASKA 2013
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
(See also: 2012 - 2011 - 2010)

February 5-6, 2013  Mid-America Alfalfa Expo & Conference
Kearney, Nebraska
Designed especially for alfalfa producers, livestock/dairy producers and others involved in alfalfa production, purchasing, hay feeding or processing. Two days jam-packed with information, education and innovation—all focused on helping hay and livestock producers improve production, performance and profitability. A trade show featuring some 100 exhibitors and a fundraising auction are included. The Expo & Conference is sponsored by the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association (NAMA).

February 14, 2013  Valentine's Day
Most of the more than 1/2 million restaurants in the U.S. have special events scheduled for today. They are too numerous to list

February 15-16, 2013  Annual Healthy Farms Conference
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Nebraska
Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society.  NSAS is a non-profit, grass-roots membership organization. Initiated over 30 years ago by farmer members, NSAS has grown into a dynamic organization with members from all across Nebraska. We welcome farmers and non-farmers alike...everyone eats!  Our mission: To promote agriculture and food systems that build healthy land, people, communities and quality of life, for present and future generations.

February 15-24, 2013  Omaha Beer Week - Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha's breweries and beer bars have teamed up to give you a weeks worth of beer events all leading up to the Extreme Beerfest.
 

February 23, 2013  7th Annual Beertopia Extreme Beerfest 2013 - Omaha, Nebraska
Unlimited samplings of over 300 of the most extreme beers the world has to offer!

March 4-8, 2013  National School Breakfast Week 2013 - Nationwide
National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to all children. Each year, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) helps schools to celebrate NSBW with a fun theme – this year it is School Breakfast--Go For The Gold.

March 6-7, 2013  47th Annual Triumph of Ag Expo - Omaha, Nebraska
This annual farm event, regarded as one of the largest indoor short line Farm Machinery Shows in the Midwest, is a diversified presentation of agricultural products and services. The timing of the Show, before the planting season and spring fieldwork begin, has been ideal for the Show’s success each year. A partial listing of categories indicates the spectrum of agricultural needs of area farmers on display at the Show.

March 19, 2013  'AgDay' National Agriculture Day - Nationwide
National Ag Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless other across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

April 22, 2013  Earth Day - Worldwide
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network (EDN) works with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

May 31-June 2, 2013  Taste of Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
Showcasing Omaha's great foods and live entertainment

June 9-16, 2013  Homestead Days - Beatrice, Nebraska
Celebrates the importance of the 1862 Homestead Act to the settlement of Nebraska.

June 22-23, 2013  Duncan Ribfest - Duncan, Nebraska
Duncan Ribfest is a fundraiser for the Duncan Volunteer Fire Department & the Duncan Wrestling Club. 5 BBQ Companies, Beer Garden and 6 Bands. A Family Affair.

JULY 4, 2013 - There are so many events on this day that they are too numerous to list. Virtually every community in the U.S. has a 4th of July celebration.

July 12-14, 2013  The Wayne Chicken Show - Wayne, Nebraska
The Chicken Show is a fun event held annually on the second Saturday in July. Worlds Largest Chicken Dance, Egg Roulette, Cement Chicken Auction, Hot Wing Eating Contest, Chicken Parade, Live Rooster Crowing, Chicken Feed, Ice Cream Social, Arts, Crafts Fun and Food.  All things Chicken!

July 19-20, 2013  Riverfest: Red, White & Que - Bellevue, Nebraska
What’s Red,White and Que all over? The Nebraska State BBQ Championship and Music Festival. Now in its 11th year, this is a significant regional event, attracting more than 40,000 people to Bellevue. The schedule includes the BBQ cook off, RiverFest 5K run, Kid Zone, car show, Iron Chef Competition, and live music.

August 9-10, 2013  Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival 2013 - Omaha, Nebraska
The unique celebration features hot air balloon launches and glows, the Midwest's most delicious foods and barbeque, some of the area's best bands and musicians, arts & craft displays, and activities for kids. Enjoy tastes of Nebraska wines or your choice of beers with festival admission.
 

August 23-Sept 2, 2013  Nebraska State Fair - Grand Island, Nebraska
Offering insights into the unique culture of Nebraska, the Fair is built on 144 years of tradition. It showcases the talent, products, and people of Nebraska. Nebraskans come together to experience the latest technological advancements in agriculture, first-class entertainment, and the most delectable and extraordinary food the state has to offer. Highlights include a competitive livestock exhibition, a farming equipment trade show, and competitions in other fields, such as handmade crafts and baked goods.

September 10-12, 2013  Husker Harvest Days 2013 - Grand Island, Nebraska
The largest totally irrigated working farm show in the United States. 80 acres of exhibits and 700 acres of field demonstrations. (also:  farmprogress.com/husker-harvest-days/main.aspx ) Attendance: 50,000.

November 28, 2013  Thanksgiving Day - Nationwide
All StatesThere are so many events on Thanksgiving Day they are to numerous to list.  (4th Thursday in November).
 

2012 NEBRASKA 2012
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
events still waiting for new dates

July 13-15, 2012  The Wayne Chicken Show - Wayne, Nebraska
The Chicken Show is a fun event held annually on the second Saturday in July. Worlds Largest Chicken Dance, Egg Roulette, Cement Chicken Auction, Hot Wing Eating Contest, Chicken Parade, Live Rooster Crowing, Chicken Feed, Ice Cream Social, Arts, Crafts Fun and Food.  All things Chicken!

July 20-21, 2012  Riverfest: Red, White & Que - Bellevue, Nebraska
What’s Red,White and Que all over? The Nebraska State BBQ Championship and Music Festival. Now in its 11th year, this is a significant regional event, attracting more than 40,000 people to Bellevue. The schedule includes the BBQ cook off, RiverFest 5K run, Kid Zone, car show, Iron Chef Competition, and live music.

August 2-5, 2012  Lemon Days - Nebraska City, Nebraska
Join us for a very refreshing lemonade stand competition where area youth learn about entrepeneurism and small business ownership/operation. Coincides with the Wine Under the Pines community festival and local sidewalk sales.

August 9-12, 2012  Capital City Ribfest - Lincoln, Nebraska
The Nebraska Pork Producers' Capital City Ribfest is a 4 day summer street festival featuring award-winning BBQ and music.  Award-winning BBQ pit bosses from around the country gather to showcase their talents and serve up award-winning barbeque to southeastern Nebraskans. This festival is unique to Lincoln in that barbeque is the focal point of the event - offering the public a chance to sample a variety of barbeque recipes from across the nation and even Australia. Attendance: 25,000.

August 10-12, 2012  Kool-Aid Days - Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is Kool-Aid's original home. In 1927, Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in Hastings, Nebraska. Kool-Aid Days includes world's largest Kool-Aid stand, $2 mug gets you all the Kool-Aid you can drink and admission to Koncert Kool-Aid.

August 25, 2012  Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Competition - Albion, Nebraska
BBQ competition with live bands, beer garden, children's activities, street dance and more.
 

September 6-9, 2012  Plattsmouth Harvest Festival - Plattsmouth, Nebraska
The oldest continuous harvest festival in Nebraska, with four days of activities for the entire family. The theme for this year's festival is "Corn...in the USA".

September 10-12, 2012  Watermelon Days - Thurston, Nebraska
Family movies, street dance, softball and volleyball tournaments, watermelon feed and more!

September 14-16, 2012  44th Annual AppleJack Festival - Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City’s 40+-year-old apple harvest celebration is fun for the whole family! Take part in the festivities all weekend long with an enormous parade showcasing 30 plus marching bands, a classic car show, the AppleJack Fun Run/Walk, a quilt show, and an array of craft shows. Then head out to Arbor Lodge, Arbor Day Farm, and the Orchards to learn more about the harvest and to pick your own apples and stock up on all of the tasty apple treats! AppleJam Carnival, one of the celebration’s newest highlights, includes mechanical rides, carnival games, face painting, and fabulous food vendors all right downtown. New this year we are having a Street Concert.

September 29-30, 2012  Pork Days and 125th Anniversary Celebration
Stamford, Nebraska
Parade, arts and crafts, food, street games, free pork BBQ and entertainment.

November 3, 2012  World Beer Festival Ralston-Omaha - Ralston, Nebraska
Presented by All About Beer Magazine, the World Beer Festivals are among the premier beer events in the country, with sampling of beers from over 100 breweries, education, and the best local music and food. Part of the proceeds will benefit a local cause.

December 4-6, 2012  Nebraska Power Farming Show - Lincoln, Nebraska
The largest indoor farm show west of the Missouri River with over 750 companies represented.

2011 NEBRASKA 2011
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
events still waiting for new dates

July 9, 2011  Bands, Brews & BBQ's - Cozad, Nebraska
The 9th annual street fair will include a car show, live bands, talent show, golf tournament, crafters in the park and children's activities.

August 6, 2011  Wine Under the Pines Festival - Nebraska City, Nebraska
(Domain expired: www.wineunderthepines.org/ )
A celebration of southeast Nebraska's vineyards and breweries. Grape stomp, apple wood smoked BBQ, live music and cooking demonstrations. All proceeds from this year's Festival benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, supporting our friends and neighbors affected by the 2011 Missouri River flooding.

September 10, 2011  Bread 'N Jam Festival - Neligh, Nebraska
Enjoy country gospel music, bake off contests, vendors, children's activities, demonstrations, cookie baking contests and more.

2010 NEBRASKA 2010
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
events still waiting for new dates

September 16, 2010  Nebraska's 3 Shows in 1 - Omaha, Nebraska
Food & Drink Expo; Convenience Store Show; Bar & Night Club Show.

September 18, 2010  The Godfather Wine & Food Tasting - Stanton, Nebraska
A tribute to Francis F. Coppola, his wine, his food and special guest appearance by David Gates, wine expert of Coppola Vineyard in Napa, CA.

October 2, 2010  Applefest - Orleans, Nebraska
Craft show, games for children, entertainment and buggy rides.