ALLIANCE, Neb. — Heritage Days has been bringing the Alliance community together for generations, and organizers are looking forward to another year of celebrating the people, history and traditions that make Box Butte County special.
In the first episode of The Box Butte County Briefing, Panhandle Post's Olivia Hasenauer sat down with Alliance Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sarah McCaffrey and Jennifer Dumlao of the Box Butte Development Corporation to discuss this year's Heritage Days celebration and what attendees can expect.
Sarah explained that Heritage Days was created to celebrate the community's heritage while providing an opportunity for residents and visitors to come together for a weekend of family-friendly activities and hometown pride.
"Heritage Days is about celebrating Alliance, honoring our history and creating memories for future generations," she said.
This year's event, scheduled for the week of July 13, will once again feature many of the traditions attendees have come to expect, including community events, entertainment and activities for all ages.
Rather than making major changes to the event, organizers focused on building upon the traditions that have made Heritage Days successful over the years.
"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel," Sarah said during the interview. "People love Heritage Days because of the traditions, and we want to continue building on those while looking for opportunities to grow in the future."
She also highlighted the many businesses, organizations, sponsors and volunteers whose support makes the annual celebration possible.
"Events like Heritage Days simply wouldn't happen without our volunteers and sponsors," she said. "Their support allows us to continue offering events that bring our community together."
Looking ahead, organizers hope to continue expanding Heritage Days while maintaining the community atmosphere that has made it one of Alliance's signature events.
For those who have never attended, Sarah encouraged everyone to experience Heritage Days firsthand.
"If you've never been, this is a great opportunity to see what Alliance is all about," she said. "There's something for everyone, and it's a wonderful chance to connect with friends, neighbors and the community."
A full schedule of Heritage Days events and additional information is available through the Alliance Chamber of Commerce.
This interview is part of The Box Butte County Briefing, a new video series produced by Panhandle Post featuring conversations with local leaders about community events, economic development and issues impacting Box Butte County.
Watch the full interview below, and be sure to check back for future episodes of The Box Butte County Briefing.