[an error occurred while processing this directive] Ethnic festival, cranes among attractions 06/30/05
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Web-Posted Jun 30, 2005
Ethnic festival, cranes among attractions


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Central Nebraska Ethnic Festival

Many thousands of visitors converge on downtown Grand Island for the annual three-day Central Nebraska Ethnic Festival in late July. The event will be July 22-24 in 2005.

During this festival, Grand Island celebrates its vast ethnic population with a variety of entertainment, foods from several different cultures, artists' creations and a number of information booths at the event.

Music is also a central factor in the festival. The event features non-stop live music and cultural dance performances, as well as street dances Friday and Saturday nights.

Platte River Bird Observatory at Crane Meadows

Just eight miles west and a few miles south of Grand Island at Interstate 80 Exit 305 is the Platte River Bird Observatory at Crane Meadows. The 240-acre facility is located along the Platte.

The center is devoted to educating the public and preserving the unique ecosystem of the Platte River. Heidi Hughes is the observatory's director, taking over leadership in early 2005.

In spring 2003, the nature center opened a new and expanded main building. The building offers indoor exhibits and space for educational seminars. Several meeting rooms are included in the 12,000 square feet of space at the center. The rooms are available for rental for meetings and social events.

The main activity at Crane Meadows happens occurs from mid-February through mid-April when hundreds of thousands of greater sandhill cranes stop along the river during their annual migration.

The cranes have been stopping along the river for millions of years. The migration is a spectacular natural event viewed by people from all over the world.

Special tours are available throughout the migration season.

From Crane Meadows' towers and bridges, the public can observe a variety of wetland wildlife. Ducks, geese, wild turkey, deer, coyotes, bluebirds and other species can be seen. Tours, special programs, and educational events are available for both students and the general public all year round. New in 2003 is a butterfly garden.

The center offers a gift shop featuring items like souvenir T-shirts, original photographs, lapel pins, wildlife prints, candle holders, handcrafted items and kids' toys.

For more information on the observatory, call 382-1820.

Sandhill crane migration

From mid-February to mid-April, the skies over Grand Island come alive with one of nature's greatest spectacles: the annual migration of the greater sandhill cranes.

Over a quarter-million of these creatures stop off along the Platte River during their trip north to Canada, Alaska and Siberia. Crane Meadows Nature Center and the Audubon Society's Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon offer tours of the cranes from river blinds.

Occasionally endangered whooping cranes are spotted among the throngs of sandhill cranes. Massive flocks of geese and ducks make this time of year wonderful for viewing a wide variety of waterfowl. Each year, Hall County draws thousands of birdwatchers from around the world to view the migration.

For more information about the annual spring migration, call Crane Meadows Nature Center at 382-1820.

Harvest of Harmony

Over 115 high school bands compete in street marching and field marching competitions at this annual festival of music, held on October 1, 2005.

For over 60 years the event has featured a large parade through downtown Grand Island, which includes floats by area participants and other accompanying activities.

For more information contact, Diana Kellogg at 382-9210.

Husker Harvest Days

Husker Harvest Days is the country's largest irrigated farm show.

The annual event is held just northwest of Grand Island. This agricultural extravaganza -- set for Sept. 13, 14 and 15 in 2005 -- features the latest in farm machinery and crop production technology. Demonstrations, informational exhibits, a wide variety of food vendors and other farm-related exhibits are also offered during Husker Harvest Days.

The event attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the 900-acre site.

Island Oasis

Beat the heat in the cool waters of Island Oasis water park, open Memorial Day through August 22.

Located at 321 E. Fonner Park Road, the park includes twin six-story slides that propel the rider down at speeds close to 25 miles per hour. In addition there are a quartet of 250-foot slides, two innertube slides, a lazy river innertube ride, a wave pool, a children's area with a smaller slide, a sand volleyball court and a souvenir stand. Dressing rooms are also available.

The water park is located northwest of Grand Island's Fonner Park. A snack bar is available with a full menu. Also, lockers, inner tubes and life jackets are available for rent.

Fully-certified lifeguards are on duty at all times.

For more information, call the water park at 385-5381.

Sandhill crane migration

From mid-February to mid-April, the skies over Grand Island come alive with one of nature's greatest spectacles: the annual migration of the greater sandhill cranes.

Over a quarter-million of these creatures stop off along the Platte River during their trip north to Canada, Alaska and Siberia. Crane Meadows Nature Center and the Audubon Society's Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon offer tours of the cranes from river blinds.

Occasionally endangered whooping cranes are spotted among the throngs of sandhill cranes. Massive flocks of geese and ducks make this time of year wonderful for viewing a wide variety of waterfowl. Each year, Hall County draws thousands of birdwatchers from around the world to view the migration.

For more information about the annual spring migration, call Crane Meadows Nature Center at 382-1820.

Wings Over the Platte Art Show and Sale

Like the sandhill cranes that it honors, this annual festival will return in spring of 2006.

The event, which features art from regional artists, celebrates the nature and the wildlife of the Platte River and surrounding area.

Artwork is on display for the duration of the annual sandhill crane migration, (typically from late February through mid April).

For additional information, contact the Stuhr Museum at 385-5316.

Stuhr Museum

Ranked as one of the top historical museums in the nation, the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer on the outskirts of Grand Island brings alive stories.

The 200-plus-acre natural history museum, features two-year-round exhibit buildings that encompass Nebraska and Native American history exhibits. Three historic homes grace the town's residential area, including the cottage where actor Henry Fonda was born.

A huge Pawnee earth lodge takes visitors back to when the first Native Americana tribes built homes from cottonwood logs.

Also popular is the Museum's traditional 1890's Fourth of July Celebration. In October a 1890's celebration of Halloween is planned.

From May to October, Railroad Town comes alive with old-fashioned celebrations, horse and buggies along Main Street and real townspeople -- merchants, a blacksmith, a marshal, housewives and others who tell stories of the past.

Other features include the main museum building, where exhibits introduce visitors to the culture and times of prairie pioneers; a rail yard exhibit, which includes a train and an antique farm machinery and auto exhibit; a 200-piece display including a threshing machine, steam engines, tractors and horse- and tractor-drawn farm implements.

For more information, call the museum at 385-5316 or check out its Web site at www.stuhrmuseum.org.
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