HAIGLER TUMBLEWEED FESTIVAL SHINES

 

   Haigler hosted their 6^th annual Fall Tumbleweed Festival on Saturday, October 19.  Festival organizers had billed the event as “Rain or Shine—It’s Tumbleweed Festival Time.”  With snow the day before and cold wind the day after; the Festival Day had plenty of sunshine, warmer temps, and was an absolutely beautiful autumn day.  How lucky can you get?  Over 250 people throughout the tri-state region of Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado attended the festival activities.

Tumbleweed banners on both sides of town, flag lined streets, balloons, and colorful décor welcomed all driving U.S. 34 (the Golden Rod Hi-Way) to the event. 

     Village garage sale sites and the auction held at the Haigler Elementary School filled the morning hours.  Lunch was served under the tents on the museum grounds.  Everyone enjoyed pulled pork barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, chips, and drinks.  Homemade pies and ice cream were served at the Golden Inn Senior Center.  Ladies from the community had baked 30 pies for the occasion.  They were all gone by the end of the day.

     Music was provided throughout the afternoon by the Garage Bunch Band of Burlington, Colorado.  Afternoon activities included open house at the Haigler Country Schoolhouse and Cornerstone Museums and Haigler Elementary School, treasure hunts, maypole merry-go-round rides, pumpkin decorating, and a spook parade for kids of all ages. 

     This was the second year for the Art Show Exhibits, and the response from area artists and festival goers was terrific.  Pottery, quilts, and crafts were new additions.  All items were displayed in both museums and the Senior Center. 

     The annual Tumbleweed Contest had a record 14 entries of very creative tumbleweed decorating.  It was great fun, and entries were displayed along a fence on the museum grounds.  Though every entry was a winner, the first 3 prizes went to Nancy Freehling, Tecker Family, and Chris MacAfoos.

     Haigler’s Annuall Fall Tumbleweed Festival is a major fundraiser for the Haigler Museum projects.  Local coordinator, LaNeta Carlock, said “This all happens because people in our communities have been so good in their support of both financial and artifact donations.  This year, generous free-will donations from attendees and business donations, contributed almost $2,500.  In addition, there were 63 businesses and individuals from our tri-state area that contributed gifts and gift certificates for door prizes—totaling almost $2,000.”  Carlock also noted “with everyone working together, our small communities will survive and thrive.”

     This year’s Maypole Award, given in recognition of exemplary financial support and service to the Haigler Museums and community efforts, was awarded to the Albert and Bernice Hansen Charitable Foundation.  Board of Trustees members present to accept the award were Robert Roh of Omaha and Jamey Hansen of McCook.  Dr. Bill Palmer of Omaha was unable to attend.

     Plans are already underway for Festival 2014.  Volunteers, ideas, and suggestions are always welcome—with the hope that the Haigler Fall Tumbleweed Festival will continue for many years to come.

PICTURES of Festival

PICTURES of Art Exhibit 

PICTURES of Museum Tour

6th Annual Tumbleweed Festival in Haigler

Art Show at the Tumbleweed Festival

Museum Tour at the Tumbleweed Festival

-- Editor

Coyote Spotted in Haigler

This notice was posted on Facebook this morning.

Haigler, Cornerstone of Nebraska

Haiglerites, beware!!!! A large male coyote was spotted in town yesterday, about 5pm, less than 100 ft. from the park!!!! Small dog owners and cat owners, keep an eye on your pets....

TUMBLEWEED FESTIVAL TIME IN HAIGLER

RAIN OR SHINE---

IT’S TUMBLEWEED FESTIVAL TIME

IN HAIGLER

     Rain or shine—it’s Tumbleweed Festival time again in Haigler, Nebraska…..

     The 6^th annual Haigler Fall Tumbleweed Festival will be held Saturday, October 19, 2013, on the Haigler Museum grounds south of Highway 34 and Porter Avenue.  Tents, tables, hay bales, pumpkins, scarecrows, music, food, and lots of activities await your arrival.  Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and come enjoy this wonderful day of celebration.  There are no admission fees—just free will donations that will help fund the Haigler Museum projects.  The festival committee is hoping for a warm, sunny day—but the event will be held regardless of weather (just moved inside the buildings if necessary).

  

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

     Schedule of events include neighborhood garage sales from 9 a.m.-noon MDT.  Tri-State Auction will also be conducting an auction of Haigler Elementary School contents and other consignor items.  The Elementary School is for sale, and will be open for attendees to tour the facility.  Maps will be available at ‘the station’ on Hwy.34.  Tables filled with pumpkins of all sizes, jams, jellies, canned goodies, and fresh baked cookies, breads, and treats will be available to purchase—and some available at afternoon auction.

     Attendees are encouraged to bring a decorated tumbleweed to be displayed.  Cash prizes will be given.

     Lunch begins at 1 p.m. with pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, pickles, chips, and drinks.  Slices of delicious homemade pies topped with scoops of ice cream will also be served at the Golden Inn Senior Center.   An addition to the festival this year will be sales of cotton candy and snow cones.  Throughout the afternoon, live music will be performed by former Haiglerite LaVoine Smith and The Garage Bunch Band from Burlington, Colorado.

     Other activities include treasure hunts, maypole merry-go-round rides, horseshoe pitching, pumpkin decorating, ticket drawings for many great prizes donated by community businesses and individuals, and the presentation of the Maypole Award.  Homemade pies and goodies as well as other items will be auctioned throughout the afternoon.  New to the festival last year was the art show—which met with such success; it has grown even bigger and better this year.  Attendees can view art work on display—and some for sale-- in the museums and the Golden Inn Senior Center.  Local artists, including area students, look forward to seeing you.

     At 3:30 p.m. the Tumbleweed/Spook Parade for kids of all ages (including adults) will begin in front of the Country Schoolhouse Museum.  People (costumed and plain), bicycles, tricycles, wagons, pull floats are all welcome, but no large motorized vehicles.

OPEN HOUSE AT HAIGLER MUSEUMS

       

     Throughout the afternoon of the Tumbleweed Festival, there is open house at both the completed Haigler Country Schoolhouse 67 South Museum and the developing Haigler Cornerstone Museum .   The first Tumbleweed Festival in 2008 was held as a fundraiser for the Country Schoolhouse Museum.  This project was completed in October of 2010; however, festival attendees will find many new items on display, including an Abraham Lincoln bust from the first Haigler pioneer school of the 1800’s.  This is the second year for the developing Haigler Cornerstone Museum—whose mission is to collect, preserve and display artifacts that reflect the history of our southwestern Nebraska farming and ranching community.  Many wonderful artifacts continue to be donated by individuals, families, and businesses.  Attendees will see many new additions and changes since their last visit, and some surprises.

     The community is invited to come see all the displays in the museums, and enjoy the activities of the 6^th Annual Haigler Fall Tumbleweed Festival.  Anyone wishing to donate dollars and/or items for the museums may contact the Carlocks at 308-297-3226; email:  carlock@bwtelcom.net, or mail:  PO Box 144, Haigler, NE 69030.  All donations are tax deductible through the Dundy County Community Foundation.     

6th Annual Fall Tumbleweed Festival