Friday, July 3
6 p.m. — Red, White, KaBoom! at Ag Park in Columbus. The gates to Ag Park will open at 6 p.m. Guests can enjoy concessions, a beer garden, grandstand seating and kids' activities. The fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m. A parking pass is required for all cars entering the park. Parking passes purchased online at kaboom.columbuschamber.org are $10 per vehicle. Parking passes at the gate on July 3 will be $20 per vehicle. Walk-ins will be admitted free. Proceeds will help support the many costs associated with hosting the event, including the fireworks show, venue setup, operations, and post-event cleanup.
10 p.m. — Fireworks display at Twin River Football Field in Genoa.
Saturday, July 4
7:30 a.m. to noon — Columbus Farmers Market on the north side of Frankfort Square on 14th Street in downtown Columbus. Bounce N Lounge will have a Jungle Jumper and Big Bubba Jumpers set up from 7:30 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $1 per jump or $5 for unlimited jumping. Megan Johnson will be playing violin music from 9 to 11 a.m. during the farmers market.
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10:30 a.m. — Fourth of July in the Village at Platte Center. A parade will make its way down Main Street at 10:30 a.m. The Platte Center Rescue Lunch will begin at 11 a.m. in the auditorium. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, baked beans, macaroni salad, chips, drinks and ice cream bars. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 4-10. The proceeds will help purchase lifesaving equipment and classes for the rescue department. A kiddie tractor pull will get underway at noon outside of the auditorium.
2 p.m. — Platte Center Volunteer Fire Department Demo Derby in Platte Center. Check-in will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a pit meeting at 1 p.m. and the demo derby will start at 2 p.m. General admission is $20 with kids ages 10 and under admitted free. A pits (car and driver) ticket is $60 while a pit pass is $30. There will be a lunch stand and a beer stand. After the demo derby there will be music and a beer garden.
10 p.m. — Fireworks display at Lake Socorro near Schuyler.
10 p.m. — Fireworks display north of the intersection of Walnut and Washington streets in Rising City.
10 p.m. — Fireworks display at Creston Ball Park in Creston.
10 p.m. — Fireworks display at Summerwood Resort near Clarks.
Sunday, July 5
1 p.m. — America's 250th Birthday Celebration in Howells. The free pool party will begin at 1 p.m. The Pokorny Brothers will be playing live music from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Howells Ballroom. A freewill donation hamburger feed will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the ballroom. The Proceeds will help fund Wreaths Across America in Clarkson and Howells at Christmas time. A horseshoe tournament will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. while a watermelon feed is set for 4 p.m. and a foam party will start at 5 p.m. A fireworks display sponsored by Brester Auto will begin at 10 p.m.
Monday, July 6
9 a.m. to noon — Mighty Maker Monday at Columbus Public Library. The event will feature come-and-go crafts, allowing children to create projects at their own pace.
Tuesday, July 7
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Crochet and Knitting Club in the Heritage Room at Columbus Public Library. Library Director Jeri Kay Hopkins, who has been crocheting since she was just 4 years old and has many years of knitting experience as well, will be leading the group. She’ll be there to help you unravel any snags you might run into with your projects. Bring your yarn, needles, and enthusiasm.
Wednesday, July 8
9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. — Stars, Stripes and Celebrations Jr. Camp at the Columbus Area Children's Museum, 2500 14th St., Suite 1, in Columbus. Kids will explore red, white and blue fun. There will be festive crafts, sensory play, and a mini parade full of music and movement. Call 531-230-8091 with any questions. Registration is available online at columbuslearnandplay.org.
2 to 3 p.m. — Chocolate malts and magnets in the Creativity Corner at Columbus Public Library. Students in grades 9-12 are welcome to make chocolate malts and magnets.
Thursday, July 9
7 a.m. — 86th Annual Platte County Fair at Ag Park in Columbus. Activities will include a sheep and goat exhibitor breakfast, sheep show, goat show, 4-H and open class rabbit show, free family bingo, and the Battle of the Bands.
10:30 a.m. to noon — Storytime with Ellorie Focht at Columbus Public Library. A half hour of storytime will be followed by snacks and playtime.
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Opening Reception for "Beyond the Familiar" art exhibit at the Columbus Art Gallery, 2500 14th St., second floor. "Beyond the Familiar" invites viewers into a series of imagined landscapes that exist somewhere between reality and possibility. Featuring dramatic skies, otherworldly terrain and scenes inspired by both nature and science fiction, the exhibit explores themes of exploration, transformation and the unknown.
Friday, July 10
7 a.m. — 86th Annual Platte County Fair at Ag Park in Columbus. Activities will include a livestock exhibitor breakfast, beef show, 4-H and open class poultry show, beef exhibitor luncheon, sheep and goat obstacle course show, diary show, open class grand and reserve awards show, and a concert featuring Chase Matthew, LANCO and Tegan Nissen.
10 a.m. — Stomp Chomp and Roar at Columbus Public Library.
Saturday, July 11
7 a.m. — 86th Annual Platte County Fair at Ag Park in Columbus. Activities will include a swine exhibitor breakfast, swine show, kids activities, pork burger luncheon, PeeWee showmanship, kids tractor pull, 4-H round robin champion showman competition, boot kick, mutton bustin, celebrity swine showmanship contest, and concert featuring Dustin Lynch, Kip Moore and Josh Gracin.
7:30 a.m. to noon — Columbus Farmers Market on the north side of Frankfort Square on 14th Street in downtown Columbus. Bounce N Lounge will have a Jungle Jumper and Big Bubba Jumpers set up from 7:30 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $1 per jump or $5 for unlimited jumping. Megan Johnson will be playing violin music from 9 to 11 a.m. during the farmers market.
Sunday, July 12
8:30 a.m. — 86th Annual Platte County Fair at Ag Park in Columbus. Activities will include a pancake feed, worship service, purple ribbon livestock sale, and a concert featuring Nuevo Estilo, Rosendo Robles Y La Gente VIP, and Banda Santa Cruz.
Monday, July 13
9 a.m. to noon — Mighty Maker Monday at Columbus Public Library. The event will feature come-and-go crafts, allowing children to create projects at their own pace.
Tuesday, July 14
2 to 3 p.m. — Archery at Columbus Public Library. Tweens in grades 5-8 are invited to meet in the Creativity Corner at Columbus Public Library and the group will walk over to Platte Valley Archer. Participants will learn the basics on using a bow and arrow.
Wednesday, July 15
2 to 3 p.m. — Archery at Columbus Public Library. Young adults in grades 9-12 are invited to meet in the Creativity Corner at Columbus Public Library and the group will walk over to Platte Valley Archer. Participants will learn the basics on using a bow and arrow.
2 to 5 p.m. — Staffed Makerspace Open Hours at Columbus Public Library. Visitors are invited to use the library's Cricut, laminator, sublimation printer, heat and mug press, VHS to MP4 video conversion, and large format printer.
Thursday, July 16
10:30 a.m. to noon — Storytime with Oscar and Krista Vazquez at Columbus Public Library. A half hour of storytime will be followed by snacks and playtime.
Friday, July 17
10:30 a.m. — Wildlife Encounters Presentation at Columbus Public Library. All ages are welcome.