CHADRON – Chadron is getting ready to celebrate its 49 th annual Fur Trade Days with a full slate of activities this week.
Brandon Jones and Juliet Motel will headline the street dances Friday and Saturday in downtown Chadron. Jones will take the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, while Juliet Motel will close out Saturday’s festivities. The street dance is free to attend, but those who want to be able to enjoy adult beverages outside where the music is happening need to purchase a Fur Trade Days 2025 cup, which can be used both nights, for $10.
Additional music performances will be presented earlier in the week as well. Bands on Bordeaux will kick things off on Thursday at Railroad Park with Ivory from 6-9 p.m. The Fur Trade Days organization is also sponsoring an appearance by local entertainer Pete Butler at the Dawes County Courthouse on Friday from 6-8 p.m. Admission to both performances is free, so bring the family, your chairs and enjoy.
Other highlights this week include Mac’s Carnival and the Classics in the Park Car Show. The carnival will be open from 6 p.m. – midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Pre-sale tickets are available at the Chadron Chamber of Commerce and all Chadron banks for $25. Tickets can also be purchased online at furtradedays.com for “Will Call” pick-up at the FTD booth at Bands on Bordeaux Thursday or at the Traders Market Friday and Saturday. Each ticket allows the holder one night of unlimited rides. Prices will go up to $30 at the gate, so get yours early and save! The car show will cruise town Friday from 5-7 p.m. and have its Show and Shine event at Wilson Park all day Saturday.
Friday is family day with a slew of activities at the Dawes County Courthouse and the Chadron Public Library, including Black Hills Raptor Center, nerf blaster wars, inflatables, a historic walking tour and more. While the adults head down for the street dance that evening, youth under the age of 20 can enjoy free bowling at Hilltop Lanes.
Saturday kicks off early with the Rob Brown Memorial softball tournament and the Chadron Rotary Colter Run, followed by the parade down Main Street at 10 a.m. Darrel Draper of Nebraska Humanities will present “Nebraska: Crossroads of the Western Fur Trade” at the courthouse gazebo immediately following the parade, and the Chadron Rotary World Championship Buffalo Throw will also kick off as soon as the parade ends.
Grab a bite to eat or shop for a unique souvenir at one of the many Traders Market vendors. The Traders Market will be open Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Chadron Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors will once again host a barbecue after the parade Saturday, and the First Congregational Church will serve up dessert at its annual ice cream social.
The Dawes County Ag Society will present its Bump ‘n Run event Saturday at 3 p.m., and the Greenwood Historical Cemetery Tours are back at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission for the Bump ‘n Run is $10/adults and $5/teens. 12 and under is free. Cemetery tour admission is $10 each, but 15 and under are free.
For the full schedule of events, visit https://discovernwnebraska.com/fur-trade-days/.
