By Kalin Krohe
Panhandle Post
Dobby's Frontier Town in Alliance will be have its 30th annual fall festival on Sept. 21 and 22.
Nestled on the Northeastern edge of Alliance is a recreated sandhills village of 100 years in the past. Every year the volunteered based group puts on an annual festival.
This year people will be able to tour 27 buildings, witness a cowboy fast draw, take old time photos, enjoy a wagon ride, live music, and much more.
"When people drive by Dobby's they usually see the three buildings in the front and assume that's it's a very small facility," said Lori White, President of Dobby's Frontier Town Board. "We have 27 buildings full of educational, historical artifacts, and lots of stuff for people to see."
Dobby's Frontier Town is an interactive museum. "That's the way Dobby set it up. He didn't want it to be a no touch museum. We have honored his memory with keeping it that way."
Dobby’s began as one mans quest to save a vanishing piece of history before it was lost. Kenneth Dobby Lee’s personal journey helped save nineteen buildings from a bygone era and allowed several generations of his family to grow up to appreciate the rich history of western Nebraska.
White said you can see the original Robert Ball Anderson cabin. Anderson was an ex-slave from Kentucky that ended up homesteading west of Hemingford. At Dobby's you can also witness the Alliance 1912 German Evangelical Lutheran Emmanuel Church. You can also see the 130 year old District 100 Sheridan County School, among many more buildings.
White also said there's amazing entertainment lined up this year for the festival.
"Nebraska Humanities sponsored by Great Western Bank will feature Dan Holtz Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Dan tells of Nebraska's early settlers, Pony Express, Buffalo hunters, and much more...and accompanies himself with guitar and harmonica," White said. " Both Saturday and Sunday are packed with live entertainment. Kalin Krohe Reference, St. Johns Brass, Edison Red Nest with Native American Dancers, and Ed and Kathleen Jesse will be there."
There's also numerous new vendors including bake goods, honey, jams, foods, and arts and leather goods.
"Arlo and his food truck is suppose to be there with peaches, pears, apples, and possibly plums. Steph's Studio will be selling buttons, t-shirts, and wanted posters. There will be wagon rides, fast draw competitions, Mama Rita's baked goods, Dutch Oven Jones will have samples of dutch oven cooking, and the Lions Club will be in the Saloon selling sarsaparilla," said White.
White said the volunteers with Dobby's are very excited to have the Candy Snap back this year with homemade candy.
"Jeff Schmidt and his family have agreed to do the Candy Snap this year. People don't realize the Candy Snap actually started in 1914. The Candy Snap has been here forever. People just associate it more in the 1950's then they did in the 1900's."
There will be a cowboy church service on Sunday at 10am. The firefighters bucket brigade will end the festival at 3 p.m. Smokey Bear will also be hanging around throughout the weekend celebrating his 75th birthday.
White said everything at Dobby's is done by volunteers and donations, and welcomes everyone to come out to have a good time.
"Please bring your cash or checkbook and take care of the vendors while you are there this weekend and we'll have donation jars out. Your donations matter because that's what keeps us open," White added.
