By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
"Heritage Days" in Alliance returns this week after a year hiatus.
This year's Heritage Days theme is "BEE Buzzing on the Butte".
"We will start off with family night, which will have non-profits at Central Park," Alliance Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Unzicker said. "The Grand Marshal will be crowned at the Pillars (6 p.m. at the fountain). And then 7th Street Dance Studio will perform under the balcony at the Knight Museum (7 p.m.). And then we have Coco, which is the movie in the park."
The annual "Hunt for the Item" will be going on all week until the item is found. You can win up to $300 in Chamber Bucks if you purchase a Heritage Days button; the prize is $50 in Chamber Bucks without one.
Heritage Days continues Wednesday with many events.
"Wednesday, Newberry's has their lip sync and karaoke battle (6:30 p.m.). Frazier Shows of America carnival will be down Box Butte and the parking lot at 4th and Niobrara from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.," Unzicker said. "Wrist bands can be used Wednesday or Thursday night for that. Sidewalk sales will be going on. Thursday, food vendors will be downtown and sidewalk sales. And then Frazier Shows of America will be there from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m."
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are packed with lots of events including live music provided by The Gathering Spot.
Tanner Johns and the Canadian Tuxedos will rock the beer garden at the Ken and Dales parking lot on Friday night. Victory Underground will play at the beer garden Saturday night starting at 9 p.m.
"The Machinist Lodge #602 will have the kids games at the Alliance High School practice field at 9 a.m.," Unzicker said. "Gallery 3 will have a vendor and craft show both Friday and Saturday. And then sidewalk sales and the carnival will be going from 5 pm. to 10 p.m. Saturday, the Band Parents have their fun run. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. The race starts at 7 p.m. And then we have the parade at 10 a.m. The Masonic Lodge #183 will have their BBQ lunch after the parade until 2 p.m. And then the Alliance High School Activities golf scramble will be held for the second year. Frazier Shows of America will be going from 5 p.m. to 1o p.m."
Heritage Days wraps up Sunday.
"Sunday is a little more relaxing," Unzicker said. "We have Sunday in the Park where we have free hotdogs starting at noon until they're gone. Hotdogs and chips are sponsored by Harris Sales. Pepsi will have Pepsi products. WNCC will have water there. First National Bank do the watermelon so lots of good stuff to eat and drink there. And then at 1 p.m. Double L Arena will have their team roping. Carnegie Arts in the park will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. And then we have the 12th annual John Whitecrane, three on three basketball tournament at 1 p.m. (Central Park Tennis court). And then there's a three person scramble out at the golf course at 3 p.m."
The Sunday in the Park music lineup includes: The Jelinek/Johnson Kids, Cross Bell, Across the Border, Grant Robbins and Friends and Keith Reid.
Panhandle Post asked Unzicker how Heritage Days benefits the community.
"It's just a fun way for people to get out and socialize a little bit more and have fun after our crazy 2020," Unzicker said. "I think people are ready to get out and just enjoy everybody's company again."
Unzicker said she enjoys everything about Heritage Days.
"I enjoy our local restaurants, but I also kind of enjoy having some of the different food vendors," Unzicker said. "We did do 'restaurant bingo' this year...trying to tie our local restaurants into Heritage Days. Restaurants participate in it and has the bingo cards. You spend $10 at the participating restaurant and when you get your bingo, you bring your card to the chamber...and then we will draw for $25 gift cards. Sunday in the Park is a great day just to go and relax and take it easy."
