Gretna Days 2021

GRETNA DAYS

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FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS INSIDE JULY 28, 2021 | SUPPLEMENT OF SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC.

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July 28, 2021

Welcome to Gretna Days 2021

We are back!!

After last year’s virtual Gretna Days, our 2021 event will return to a more typical Gretna Days. Our board is excited to get back to all the fun and popular events that you have all become accustomed to.

Most events are back this year: all of the events sponsored by the Gretna Days Foundation return and we even have a few great surprises this year! While we are excited, we do encourage people to follow all CDC guidelines and particularly ask that you stay home if you are sick to avoid any spread of COVID at Gretna Days events.

While we want to get back to a more normal Gretna Days, we also want to keep Gretna safe and healthy.

New this year is a free movie on Thursday, July 29. We will be showing the movie “The Sandlot” at Werner Park starting at 7:30p.m. Admission is free and we encourage you to bring the whole family. Concessions will be available to purchase.

We have also made some changes to

Brad Stauffer, Gretna Days Foundation President

the beer garden, which will take place on Saturday, July 31, in Village Square starting at 6 p.m. We added a second band — Tyler Anthony and the Shipwrecks — and they will be opening the event at 7 p.m. before Lemon Fresh Day again takes the stage later in the evening.

Tyler is a local Gretna resident and we are excited to see them perform.

We are also configuring the bars differently this year and will be having more bars and more bartenders. We hope this will cut down on wait times and get people through the lines faster so they can enjoy more time with their friends.

The fireworks show is back and will be in the same location as last year, just northwest of the soccer fields in Leo Royal Park. We also have a brand new shelter to use for the Sunday FREE picnic in Peterson Park. The Gretna Days Foundation donated a portion of the funds for the new shelter, funds that came from the cover charge at our dance and matching grants obtained from the Gretna Community Foundation and the Midlands Community Foundation. We are excited to use the new shelter and will be doing a ribbon cutting on Gretna Days weekend.

We are also excited to have the carnival back in town and look forward to two annual favorites: the Grand Parade,

sponsored by the Gretna Area Chamber, and the car show, sponsored by the Roadburners.

There are too many great events to mention but you can find them all online at www.GretnaDays.com and you can keep up to date on all the information by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

I want to say a special thank you to all the Gretna Days Foundation board members and associate board members, as well as all our sponsors and donors, and a special shout out to all the local groups that sponsor events throughout the Gretna Days weekend for making the weekend possible.

As for the public, we are excited to see you back at our events, having fun and getting to know your neighbors. Please take some time to look at the event schedule, follow us on social media and come out and join us for all the fun.

See you there!!

Brad Stauffer Gretna Days Foundation President

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Auxiliary raises funds through prize raffle

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The Gretna Days Foundation will provide a new offering this year: a free family movie night showing of “The Sandlot” on Thursday, July 29, at Werner Park.

Family movie night added to Gretna Days offerings

By Rachel George Suburban Newspapers After efforts to host a socially distanced event in 2020, the Gretna Days Foundation has added a major family event for Gretna Days 2021.

Gretna Days Free Night at the Mov-

ies, a family movie night, will be held Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, in Papillion.

Doors will open an hour before and concessions will be available.

In recent weeks, the Gretna Days Foundation polled the community, seeking input on movie selections.

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Options included “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “The Sandlot,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Field of Dreams” or the option to add your own recommendation.

“The Sandlot” was the clear winner and will be shown in the ballpark to kick off Gretna Days festivities.

The Gretna American Legion Auxiliary Unit 216 is sponsoring a Gretna Day’s raffle. This fundraiser is vital as it funds programs such as scholarships for Gretna seniors, Cornhusker Girls State and several veterans programs.

One first-place winner will receive $500 cash. Ten second-place winners will receive a $100 Scarlet Highway Boutique at Nebraska Crossings gift certificate and 25 third-place winners will receive a $25 Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh food only certificates, 192nd Street and Highway 370 location. One fourth-place winner will receive a $40 Fareway Meat & Grocery certificate.

One ticket is $1 or a book of 10 for $10.

Must be purchased before Saturday, July 31, at 4 p.m.

Drawing will be held Sunday, Aug. 1, at 3 p.m. at the Gretna American Legion Post 216. Need not be present to win.

Tickets can be purchased through Auxiliary members or by contacting member Cindy Moore at 402-672-2040.

Besides cash or check, Cindy can accept Venmo or PayPal.

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Gretna Days 2021 Schedule of Events Thursday, July 29

The Gretna Days Carnival will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Angus Street, east of Highway 6, near North Park. Allyou-can-ride wristbands will be available for $20.

There will be a free showing of the “The Sandlot” at Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way, Papillion. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Friday, July 30 The Gretna Days golf tournament will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at Tiburon Golf Club, 10302 S. 168th St., and will consist of 4-man teams. A meal will be provided. To register online visit gretnadays.com/golf.

The Antique Tractor Pull will be held from 4 to 10:30 p.m. at the field west of the Dollar General in Gretna. Sign-in and weigh-ins for the tractor pull will be from 2 to 4 p.m. The Gretna Knights of Columbus will be serving food.

For more information on classes and rules, visit WhitmoreSled.com.

Bags, Beer and Brats will be available for the community from 5 to 10 p.m. at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church parking lot, south side of Angus Street across from the church. This event is held in conjunction with the Gretna Knights of Columbus and the Gretna Optimist Club.

The community is invited to bring their own lawn chair as there will be a polka band for entertainment for the whole family. There will be a food truck on site making brick oven pizza, plus the Optimists serving a variety of brats, hot dogs and burgers from 5 to 8 p.m. The Knights of Columbus will have a beer garden along with a variety of pop/water from 5 to 9:30 p.m. The Gretna Optimist Club will be running its third annual Cornhole (“Bags”) tournament, which will start at 5 p.m. To register, email GretnaOptimistClub@gmail.com.

The Gretna Days Carnival will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Angus Street, east of Highway 6, near North Park. Allyou-can-ride wristbands will be available for $20.

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Helicopter Rides will be available at 216th Street and Highway 6, near Gretna Middle School, starting at 6 p.m. Rides will go until it gets dark. Rides are $40 per person. Minimum of two persons per trip; maximum of three persons per trip.

Rides are first come first serve.

The Gretna community can enjoy a fireworks show just northwest of Leo Royal Park, north of Lincoln Place, from 9:45 to 10:15 p.m.

at 8:30 a.m. and the parade/contest will start at 9 a.m. Categories this year as follows: 1) Storybook Characters. 2) Super Heroes. 3) Sports Stars. 4) Bikes, Trikes, Wagons and Wheels. The event is sponsored by the Gretna Optimist Club and Edward Jones — Lori Blum.

The sixth annual Gretna Days Craft Show has moved. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gretna High School, 11335 S. 204th St.

Saturday, July 31

This year’s Grand Parade theme is “Hometown Grooves.” Parade route begins at the Gretna Public Library and follows McKenna Street north to Angus Street east, ending at the Gretna Public Pool. This is the same route as previous years. Lineup is from 9 to 10:30 a.m., depending on your place in line, at Gretna Middle School, 11705 S. 216th St. Cost is free for Chamber members, Grenta civic organizations, Scouts and school groups; $25 for nonprofits and individual residents; $50 for commercial businesses; $250 for politicians and political parties.

There will be a men’s slow pitch softball tournament at North park large and Gretna Middle School from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ASA or USA softball rules will be observed. Contact Dana Janssen to register at 402-659-2932. This will be a double elimination tournament. Rules meeting and brackets will be set Thursday before the tournament.

The Gretna Optimist Annual Kiddie Parade will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at McKenna Avenue, in front of Resurrection Lutheran Church. Registration opens

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Gretna Days 2021 Schedule of Events

Continued from Page 4

The community is invited to a hot dog feed after the parade at Hillcrest Silver Ridge, 20332 Hackberry Drive. Complimentary hot dogs, chips, lemonade, tea and ice cream.

Lunch will be available at the Gretna American Legion Leonard Conley Post 216 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., or until food is gone. The menu features authentic Czech pork loin with sauerkraut and dumplings for $10, or a Sloppy Joe with chips for the kids for $5. Kolaches are also available separately for $1.50 as dessert or $15 a dozen for take home.

The Gretna Days Dance and Beer

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The Gretna dance team will host a lunch at Peterson Park with pizza and baked goods after the parade from 11 a.m. to noon. The lunch in the park supports the team’s fundraising efforts for competition season.

The Gretna Days Carnival will be held from noon to 11 p.m. at Angus Street, east of Highway 6, near North Park. Saturday hours are all-you-can-ride wristbands for $20 from noon to 5 p.m.; evening will be

tickets only.

Helicopter rides will be available at 216th Street and Highway 6, near Gretna Middle School starting at noon. Rides will go until it gets dark. Minimum of two persons per trip and maximum of three persons per trip. Rides are first come first serve.

The Kids Pedal Tractor Pull competition starts right after the parade at Peterson Park. Winners are eligible to go on to the state competition.

The Garden Tractor Pull will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Village Square. Classes and rules can be found at wigtpulling. com There will be classes for all levels of pullers. Must have working kill switch and wheelie bars to compete. There will also be a club tractor that anyone can pull if you do not have one of your own. Weigh-in and registration opens at 11 a.m., pulling starts at 1 p.m. following the Grand Parade.

The Annual Gretna Volunteer Fire & Rescue Kids Water Fights will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Peterson Park.

Garden will be held from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Village Square, Highways 6 and 370.

The event will feature Lemon Fresh Day in the evening. Come early for Tyler Anthony & the Trainwrecks at 7 p.m. Funds from this event are used to make Gretna Days possible. Must be 21 or over to attend and food will be available.

The Gretna Days Campus Life High School Pool Party will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Gretna City Pool. The event is for high school students.

Sunday, Aug. 1 Helicopter Rides will be available at 216th Street and Highway 6, near the Gretna Middle School from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides are $40 per person. Minimum of two persons per trip and maximum of three persons per trip. Rides are first come first serve.

The Peterson Park shelter ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m. at Peterson Park.

The 2021 Citizen of the Year will be celebrated during the Sunday Community Picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Peter-

son Park.

The free Gretna Days Community Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Peterson Park. There will be rides and games available in Peterson Park from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be 50cent rides and games for the kids. New this year is an Animal Encounters Live Show and a wandering magician in the park. Live music will be played in the park throughout the afternoon.

The Road Burners Car Show registration will be from 8 a.m. to noon along McKenna Avenue.

The car show runs from noon to 4 p.m.

Special club made trophies for special cars and motorcycles. We’ll Smoke You Barbecue will be there for food to purchase. Trophies awarded at 3:30 p.m.

The annual Gretna Knights of Columbus Inner Tube Races will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gretna City Pool, Highway 6 and Angus Road. Tubes are provided by Gretna Gas & Lube. Races for all ages from kids to grown ups. Free refreshments for all participants and prizes for first and second place finishers in each heat.

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Annual Optimists picnic combined with Bags, Beer and Brats event

By Rachel George Suburban Newspapers The Gretna Optimist Club’s annual picnic — the longstanding, traditional “kickoff” event for Gretna Days — will now be held in conjunction with the Bags, Beer and Brats event, in its second year.

Set for Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., Bags, Beer and Brats will be held at 508 W. Angus Road in the St. Patrick Catholic Church parking lot on the south side of Angus Road, directly across from the church.

“Two years ago we manned the traditional location in the park along with the location across from the Catholic Church,” said Lori Blum of the Gretna Optimist Club. “Unfortunately, our members are aging and we can not find enough volunteers to support both locations. Since the cornhole tournament brings the larger crowd, we need to focus our manpower there.”

During the event, St. Patrick’s Parish and the Gretna Knights of Columbus will provide beer and entertainment from a polka band from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn

Photos by Rachel George

Above, Dustin Kowalewski adds a hot dog to a tray served by Stacey Fletcher at the Brats, Beer and Bags festival in 2019. At right, Jordan Rugg and Luke Mefford compete in a 2019 bags tournament n the parking lot across from St. Patrick Catholic Church. chair.

The Knights of Columbus will host a beer garden; water and pop will also be available. The Optimists will cook and serve a variety of burgers, brats and hot dogs. A Taste of Naples food truck will

be serving brick oven pizzas.

The Optimist Club’s third annual cornhole (bags) tournament will also be held on site at 5 p.m. Registration for the tournament is required by email to GretnaOptimistClub@gmail.com.

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