Open Frontier events
Discover small town charm
Toss a buffalo chip. Dance the night away or immerse yourself in Native American history through film. The Open Frontier Creative District offers several annual events, as detailed below.
The Northwest Nebraska Calendar of Events also features other pop-up events in the creative district, as well as events from across the entire Northwest Nebraska region.
Bands on Bordeaux
Sponsored by the Chadron Chamber of Commerce and various business partners, Bands on Bordeaux is a free summer concert series that takes place in the 100 block of Bordeaux Street in Chadron in July and August. The series is designed to be family friendly, with kids’ games, vendors, food and the opportunity to dance and listen to live music while catching up with old friends or making new ones.
The current year’s complete schedule can be found here as it becomes available.
Trading Stories Native American Film Festival
Each October, the Chadron Public Library and the Library Foundation sponsor the Trading Stories Native American Film Festival.
For three days, the library screens documentaries and films, hosts speakers and offers traditional Native American food to pay tribute to the often-forgotten stories of the people who called this region home before European settlement. Films such as “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” and “Tiger Eyes” and the discussions that accompany them provide opportunities to connect across cultures. Other films have depicted the contributions of mothers and daughters during the American Indian Movement of the 1970s and the important influence Native American musicians. There also are activities and movies for children.
The current year’s complete schedule of events can be found here as it becomes available.
Fur Trade Days
Fur Trade Days in Chadron has been the region’s historic celebration of buckskinners, traders and Native Americans for more than 40 years. Named the state’s 2014 Nebraska Outstanding Event for communities with populations less than 10,000, Fur Trade Days honors the area’s pioneer history with a Buckskinner’s Camp east of town and Cemetery Tours at Greenwood Cemetery with a cast of characters in period dress. The Museum of the Fur Trade’s exhibits and special speakers and presentations during Fur Trade Days also recall the contributions of those early settlers.
But you’ll also want to take part in the World Championship Buffalo Chip Throw and the Colter Run. Take a seat along Main Street to view the parade, browse the Traders Market or head across the street for homemade ice cream. Bop over to the Chadron Public Library for additional activities and entertainment. Zip down the block with the kids to take in the carnival rides, and once the young ones are in bed dance to live music at a street dance in Downtown Chadron.
You can find the current year’s schedule here as it becomes available.
Halloween Events
Love Halloween? Check out the Trick-or-Trails event sponsored by the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association. Bring the family to trick-or-treat on the trails at Chadron State College. The local Kiwanis Club also hosts an annual Trunk or Treat on Main Street each year. Grab your costumes for fun and games, prizes and candy!
A Country Christmas in Northwest Nebraska
Celebrate the holidays and check off your gift list in Northwest Nebraska. From family-friendly activities to shopping opportunities that feature unique items, look no farther for a charming holiday experiences. More information on the various holiday festivities in Northwest Nebraska can be found here.
A schedule of events for A Country Christmas can be found here.
Mary Sandoz Wacipi
Every November, the Chadron State College Native American Club and the college’s Diversity Committee host the Mari Sandoz Wacipi, complete with multiple drum groups, inter-tribal dancing, various dance competitions and storytellers. Wacipis are a traditional part of Native American culture, which played an important role in Northwest Nebraska’s development. The annual Wacipi at CSC pays tribute to the heritage of the region’s original population.
Photo courtesy Chadron State College
Chadron State College
As the only four-year college in western Nebraska, Chadron State College serves an important role in bringing enrichment and entertainment to the Chadron community and the Northwest Nebraska region. Theater and musical performances, special guest appearances, lecture series and athletics are all available to residents and visitors.
Nearby Events
Chadron Festival of Quilts
The Chadron Festival of Quilts takes place each April at the Dawes County Fairgrounds and the talent and creativity displayed by the quilters is second to none. The largest quilt show in Northwest Nebraska, the event brings together vendors, demonstrations and three days of quilting bliss, all revolving around a specific theme each year. Be sure to check out the stunning of examples of textile art!
The current year’s complete schedule of events can be found here as it becomes available.
Harvest Moon Fall Festival
The annual Harvest Moon Fall Festival each October is a family-centered day of fun at the Dawes County Fairgrounds in Chadron. Sample home-brewed beer and wine or judge entries in the chili, salsa and BBQ contests for yourself while kids enjoy lacrosse, stick horse races, a haunted maze, lawn mower races, a petting zoo and more. With more than 80 vendors on site, the Harvest Moon Fall Festival is a great spot to find unique gift items, sample great food and enjoy performances by regional bands, dance and choir groups.
Started in 2013 in Hemingford, the Harvest Moon Fall Festival organizers moved the event to Chadron in 2020 to provide more opportunities to grow the event.
Dawes County Fair
Sponsored by the Dawes County Agricultural Society, the Dawes County Fair has been the place for friends and family to have fun for over 130 years. Each summer, the fair offers free events for visitors, including 4-H exhibits and judging, special events and activities for children, great food, and display of local arts and crafts.
