Entries are being accepted for two Ak-Sar-Ben River City Rodeo & Stock Show events: the Douglas County Fair and the State Barbeque Championship of Nebraska.
The events are part of the annual celebration formerly known as River City Roundup.
While the name has changed, the extravaganza — this year Sept. 23-26 — still has all the familiar features. In addition to the county fair and barbecue contest, trail rides will bring riders from three parts of the region to Omaha; the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Livestock Exposition will draw more than 1,000 exhibitors from nine states; the Ak-Sar-Ben Rodeo will host the Justin Boots Championships of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour; and the Heritage Parade will mix bands and clowns with cowboys and balloons.
The show is produced by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation and celebrates the region’s heritage.
Admission is free except for the rodeo and concerts.
The fair has more than 1,400 categories, including the Sugar Arts Show, Home Brewed Beer, Boy Scouting and the Pocket Pet Show. New areas this year include jewelry, community gardens, ugly cakes and additional computer and technology divisions.
Everyone is eligible to enter in the open-class divisions.
Registration is free in most categories for those 9 and younger and those 65 year or older; it costs $5 for those ages 10 to 64 to enter unlimited exhibits.
Registration deadlines vary. A complete listing of entry categories and registration information are available in the Douglas County Fair book at www.rivercityrodeo.com or at locations listed on the website.
Registrations can be submitted on the website or by fax to 402-554-9609 or mailed to 8707 West Center Road, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68124.
Applications also are available at the website for the barbecue championship, which will be held in Parking Lot D of the Qwest Center Omaha. More than 60 teams are to participate.
On Sept. 24, the public will get to sample and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The official barbecue contest will be Sept. 25. The event is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
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