Help us wrap up our Nebraska state parks summerlong centennial celebration by attending our final signature event Oct. 1-2 at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska City!
In addition to a picnic competition (more details below), we plan a ceremonial tree planting, lawn games, an outdoor viewing of “Adventures in History: Discovering Nebraska’s State Historical Parks”, live music, and a Laser Light Extravaganza between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2, we’ll offer family day at the park, with educational stations throughout the grounds, tours of the lodge, living history reenactments, scavenger hunts, tree tours and much more. Food trucks on site for lunch and snack purchases.
At 2 p.m. that day, we’ll offer a 1860s-style ballgame, featuring the Topeka Westerns.
Baskets and Blankets:
An Evening Harvest Picnic contest
Celebrate an autumnal ode to parks and picnics! Show off your creative talents with a stunning picnic spread for an entertaining evening at Arbor Lodge mansion.
Contest set-up is 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1, with judging to begin at 7:30 p.m. A winner will be announced at 8:30 p.m. and will earn a two-night cabin stay at a Nebraska State Park. All participants will have a chance to win a custom picnic set-up for two courtesy of event sponsor Pic’d on Purpose.
Judges will be looking for tablescapes incorporating natural themes reflecting Nebraska’s great outdoors, as well as creative and innovative ways of using the outdoor space. Find inspiration at Pic’d on Purpose’s Instagram.
Picnickers (and no, you don’t have to compete to attend) may bring their own picnic spread or pre-purchase a boxed picnic dinner from Parker’s Smokehouse.
