‘Little House' cast returning for Homestead Days

A return visit by cast members of the television show Little House on the Prairie as well as a battle of the bands, a triathlon and an all-schools reunion are among the highlights of this year's Homestead Days celebration June 12-17.

The summer celebration is held at a variety of venues in Beatrice, including Homestead National Monument of America.

“This will be one of our best lineups ever,” Homestead National Monument Park Ranger Susan Cook said of the activities planned at the monument.

She said that lineup will include six to 10 Little House on the Prairie cast members, possibly including some of the same cast members who were a part of Homestead Days in 2005 as well as some others.

Also included in the lineup at the monument are Native American singer-songwriter Jack Gladstone, writer William Anderson who did a biography on Laura Ingalls Wilder, German-American dancers Die Heimat Taenzer: Homeland German Dancers as well as a variety of traditional craft and farming demonstrations.

New to this year's community celebration will be a battle of the bands on Thursday evening, held in the Alco parking lot, at the same stage and location where the Friday night street dance will be held again this year, Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Marian Borland said.

“That will be something for the young crowd to go to,” she said.

Borland said the competition among local bands will be held Thursday with the winner opening for Groove Puppet, who will return to play at the Friday street dance this year.

Also new this year is an all schools reunion for all alumni from the schools in Beatrice. The reunion will be held in conjunction with the Friday street dance.

A change to Sunday's lineup this year will have a new event, the Queen City Triathlon, which is replacing the 10 K/two-mile run.

“We wanted to try to do something to generate a little more interest,” Borland said, with numbers dropping off some in recent years for the runs.

She said the plan is for the event to begin with archery shooting at the Big Indian Archery course, followed by biking and then running, with the event finishing in Chautauqua Park. People can compete in the event either as individuals completing all three events or as three-person teams.

“Along with those we'll have all the old favorites,” Borland said.

Those old favorites include a talent show on Sunday night, a concert by Homestead Harmonizers and fireworks on Saturday evening. The Jayhusker swap meet and flea market will be held through the weekend.

Thursday night will feature the annual car racing promotional event in downtown Beatrice. Borland said that night will also see the addition of a three-on-three basketball tournament.

“That will be a fun event and give us something for the youth to get involved in,” Borland said.

Friday will see the return of the children's events in east Beatrice, planned to be held at the high school again.

Also returning are the children's fun run before the parade and the car show on Sunday.