Homestead Days 2019 is coming soon! This will be the 40th anniversary of the annual event and we invite you to Homestead National Monument of America on Friday, June 21, 2019 through Sunday, June 23, 2019 to participate in this weekend full of free events!
This year’s stage presentations will feature music and dance from the various cultures impacted by the Homestead Act. Each of the three days will have a different lineup of performers:
Friday, June 21
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Traditional craft demonstrations
10 a.m. ‘V’ the Cowgirl-interactive children performance
1 p.m. ‘V’ the Cowgirl-interactive children performance
2 p.m. Homesteading Era Fashion Show by Yesterday’s Lady
‘V’ the Cowgirl offers an interactive musical program for children in which they get to try their hands at playing both classic and homemade instruments. V provides an overview of the instrument’s historic origins and leads the group in lively tunes. At 2 p.m. Yesterday’s Lady will put on a fashion show featuring clothing from the homesteading-era (1860s-1980s).
Saturday, June 22
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Traditional craft demonstrations and antique farming demonstration
12:00 p.m. Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal, Soul Music as seen on The Voice
1:00 p.m. Omaha International Folk Dancers
2:00 p.m. Singenden Wanderer, German men’s choir
3:00 p.m. Rebekah Roland, pioneer songs
4:00 p.m. Sharpshooters Woodwind Quartet, 43rd Army Band
Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal is a five-piece American soul band from Lincoln, Nebraska. The band was named 2018 Artist of the Year by the Omaha Entertainment and Arts awards. Lead singer and keyboardist Josh Hoyer was also a contestant on season 12 of NBC’s The Voice. The Omaha International Folk Dancers will perform traditional dances from various countries including Czechoslovakia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland. Singenden Wanderer German Men’s Choir will perform traditional songs in both German and English and always gets the crowd involved in the fun. Rebekah Roland is a former Artist-in-Residence at Homestead National Monument of America and writes her own pioneer-inspired folk music. The Sharpshooters Woodwind Quartet plays both classical and popular music pieces and is a part of the Nebraska National Guard 43rd Army Band.
Sunday, June 23
12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Traditional craft demonstrations and antique farming demonstration
1:00 p.m. Jack Gladstone, Native American music and poetry
2:00 p.m. Star City Kochavim, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun
3:00 p.m. Bill Behmer, songs of Ireland
4:00 p.m. Nebraska Czech Brass Band, traditional Czech music
Jack Gladstone is a citizen of the Blackfeet Indian Nation who illustrates Western and Native American culture through music, poetry, and spoken word. Star City Kochavim is the house band at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun South Street Temple in Lincoln. Bill Behmer, a Humanities Nebraska Speaker, will perform traditional Irish songs. The Nebraska Czech Brass Band will finish out the event with toe-tapping polkas and waltzes.
“Visitors will get to experience an assortment of talents in song and dance. We are excited about the variety of programs included in this year’s stage presentations," stated Superintendent Mark Engler.
During each of the three days, traditional craft demonstrators will showcase their skills from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Craft demonstrations include spinning, weaving, quilting, blacksmithing, dutch oven cooking, and much more.
Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2019. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM), Facebook (HomesteadNM), and Instagram (HomesteadNPS).
Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska and 45 miles south of Lincoln. Current hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Summer hours begin May 25 and will be 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day Weekend. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit http://www.nps.gov/home/.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA TM
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
Tags: music culture dance homestead national monument of america homestead days homestead act craft demonstrations
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
