Bands, pigs, dance history to highlight Old Settlersby Nathan Arneal The 102nd year of the Old Settlers Picnic will be here at the end of next week. Many of the old favorites return, like the Friday night barbecue and beer and wine tasting, the beer garden, the Loving Cup, the parade and more.
Here are some events new to 2025 and other highlights of the June 20-22 weekend: Glory Days greased pig rodeo: Last year this spot was filled by the Glory Days tug-of-war. The Old Settlers planning committee decided to keep the Glory Days theme with a throwback event reminiscent of decades gone past. This year will be a greased pig contest Saturday evening at 6:30. There will be four age divisions from ages 10 through adult. Winners of the youth divisions win a choice of a carnival bracelet or $30 cash. The 21-and-over division will win beer garden drink tokens. There is a $10 entry fee to prove you have the agility to track down and pick up a greased pig. Sign up at the event near the beer garden. Kids water fights: This year there will be a miniature version of the fire department water fights that have been held in recent years. Kids are welcome to take their turn at the hose and battle to push the can their way on Locust Street by the pool starting Sunday at 3:30. Downtown Saturday: Several events will be held downtown Saturday morning and afternoon. A new event is the Haynes Mobile Military Museum exhibit at the VFW Hall showing uniforms and artifacts from military history. Veterans will be offered free doughnuts and coffee. At and around the city auditorium returns the Grad Passage Outdoor Expo which continues to grow each year. There will be games, exhibits and vendor booth to peruse outside while the state duck calling contest goes in inside. The Old Settlers Car Show, sponsored by the North Bend Fire Department, will also be going on on Seventh Street. Sunday’s featured entertainment will be a dance exhibition from North Bend’s own Studio A in the park at 4 p.m. The Heritage Trail debuted at last year’s Centennial Old Settlers returns. Signs detailing the history of North Bend’s buildings, historical sites and people will be set up around town and at Woodland Cemetery. Guided historical tours will be led by Judy Kleopfer, with the bus loading from the west side of the park at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (or after the parade) Sunday. Unlike last year, advance tickets are not required, though each free tour will be capped at about 35 people. Woodland Cemetery is not included on the tour, but a self-guided tour to meet the original old settlers is encouraged. A map of all the signs can be found by scanning a QR code on one of the signs.
Do you like food? The eating begins at Friday night’s Welcome Home barbecue in the beer garden. Saturday morning, the Cub Scouts will be cooking breakfast in the park, while the scout concession stand and its famous cobbler will be open all Saturday and Sunday. The Chamber Philly Pheed will serve up Philly cheesesteak sandwiches from the park pavilion Saturday evening. Sunday starts with the Eastern Star waffle feed at the Masonic Lodge by the park. After the community church service, St. Peter Lutherans will be dishing up lunch in the park pavilion. While you watch Sundays’ dance exhibition, enjoy a free slice of watermelon, which will be dished up by Frontier Coop in the park. The full Old Settlers schedule can also be found, along with information and updates on events, at NorthBendNE.com.
<<Back to the front page |
