Summerfest 2024 This Weekend

O'Neill's annual Summerfest celebration is right around the corner, with it starting on Thursday, July 18. The day is a warm-up for what is to come later.

The celebration officially kicks off at 9 a.m. on Thursday with a duck hunt downtown. Shortly after, at 10 a.m. the Artfest will open to the public at the Economic Development Office. 11 a.m. hosts Meals on Wheals at the corner of 6th and Douglas. 

Starting at 2 p.m. Country Lane Retirement Village will have live music open to anyone. From 8-10 p.m. Neon Lights will be performing at Handlebend parking lot. Great Plains Drive-In Movie Night will end the night.

This Friday, July 19 will be an important date for the town going forward, as the O'Neill Airport hosts the area's first Fly-In and Air Show. The day begins with the Artfest gallery reopening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by at the Community Center at 10 a.m. to see a wide variety of unique vehicles. Also at 10 a.m. the Lions Club holds Jail and Bail at the corner of 4th and Douglas. 

At 6 p.m. the Cycle Group departs from Handlebend to Harte's Pub in Inman. Get some free refreshments from Churches of O'Neill at 6:30 p.m  at the corner of 2nd and Douglas. 7 p.m. kicks off the Summerfest Rodeo at Carrol McKay Arena as well as O'Neill Hall of Fame Presentations during the Rodeo. From 7-9 p.m. the Irish Capital Feline Foundation Freewill Donation Bake Sale and Raffle will  be open at the Airport vendor fair. At 9 p.m. participate or listen to Karaoke at Good Timin' Bar.

At 9:30 the nighttime Air Show will be held for the first time in O'Neill. This event is open for free to the public and will be at the O'Neill Airport.

Saturday, July 20 hosts the bulk of the Summerfest weekend events. The day begins with Handlebend opening at 6:30 a.m. with a Beer Garden and yard games in the parking lot. The Feline Foundation will open their Bake Sale and Raffle booth again at 8 a.m. The O'Neill Airport will serve breakfast, there will be Inside Sidewalk Sales in downtown O'Neill and the Kinkaid Museum will be open - giving people the opportunity to see the treasures recently unearthed in the Time Capsule, all at 8 a.m. An hour later, at 9 a.m. head down to the Economic Development Office for outdoor chalk drawing. From 9 a.m. to noon the Artfest will open once again and the Car Show Registration will be available. A history tour of O'Neill will be given four times throughout the day; once at 10 a.m., again at noon, once again at 2 p.m. and finally at 4 p.m.

Starting at 11 a.m. the legendary Fly-In and Air Show will return for the second and final time. It will be about a four hour show, lasting until about 3 p.m. 

Starting at noon, the Car Show will open for the next four hours. Good Timin' Bar will host it's Rib Feed at 5 p.m. Carney Park will again present the Mid-States Rodeo at 6 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. the gates will open at the O'Neill Community Center for the Summerfest Concert.

Only one hour later, at 8:30 p.m., B.J. Jamison will hit the stage, kicking off the Summerfest Concert. At 10 p.m. , headliner Parmalee takes center stage, delivering a never-before-seen experience to the area. 

Bringing an end to Saturday's events is I Don't Care Bar who will be hosting The Twisted Twenty band to perform.

Sunday, July 21, wraps up this year's Summerfest with just a few more places to visit. Handlebend will be open from 6:30 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. At 10 a.m. there will be Church in the park at Ford Park, featuring a live performance from The Triumphant Quartet. Ending out Sunday will be a BBQ Lunch at Ford Park at 11:30.

This year's Summerfest will have so many fun events to hit, so make sure you visit as many as you can!

(0) COMMENTS

Welcome to the discussion.