'Welcome to the Jungle': Cozad Hay Days begins Thursday (2024)

COZAD — Starting Thursday, the Cozad community will once again come together for the annual Hay Days event, with this year’s theme, “Welcome to the Jungle.”

A variety of activities are spread across several days, concluding Sunday.

Individuals are encouraged to follow the Cozad Community Leaders Facebook Page for any updates on the upcoming events.

Thursday

The festivities will kick off with the Little Miss Hay Days and Mr. Haymaker Essay Contest at Cozad Elementary School beginning at 3:30 p.m. This event is designed for fourth and fifth graders. The crowning ceremony for the contest winners will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Following this, the Cozad Community Leaders will launch their annual Window Decoration Contest. Local organizations were invited to participate in the contest, transforming their area into a display of creativity that reflects the “Welcome to the Jungle” theme.

Friday

Friday will see the Cozad Alumni Association hosting an all-class reunion golf scramble starting at 9 a.m. at the Cozad Country Club. Alumni from various years will gather for a day of camaraderie and friendly competition.

The Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery will open its doors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., inviting visitors to explore the town’s rich artistic heritage. Meanwhile, the DC Lynch Carnival will return to downtown Cozad, opening at 4 p.m. and closing at midnight.

At 5 p.m., the Grand Generation Center will host a sloppy joe feed. The evening will conclude with bingo at the same venue, running from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering a fun and engaging way to end the day.

Saturday

Saturday morning will begin with a free breakfast at Cozad Christian Church from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Simultaneously, a farmers market will take place at Veterans Memorial Park, offering fresh produce and local goods.

The park will also be the hub for various activities throughout the day, including the Maker Market vendors and Braxton’s SmokeHouse BBQ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Scouts BSA will host a hamburger feed from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., providing another meal option for attendees.

At 11 a.m., the Hay Days Parade will begin. Participants need to line up at 10:30 a.m. at Eighth and C streets, followed by judging of floats at 10:45 a.m.

The parade will travel on Eighth St. running west of K Street, showcasing a variety of floats and community groups. Cheerleaders will sell walking tacos downtown from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Elks Club will offer a buffet lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

As the day progresses, the Knights of Columbus will sell ice cream at Sonny’s parking lot from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Cozad Dance Team will serve mac and cheese bowls from noon to 5 p.m. near the 100th Meridian Museum sidewalk, while the DC Lynch Carnival continues in downtown Cozad from noon to midnight.

Gelly Ball, as part of the Meridian events, will be available in the downtown green space from noon to 8 p.m., along with a pulled pork feed at the Grand Generation Center. At 1 p.m. after the parade, registration begins for the Elks' greased pig wrestling contest and auction at 820 J St.

The Cozad Fire Department will offer water fights from 2 to 4 p.m. on the west side of Veterans Memorial Park, providing a refreshing and fun way to cool down.

The Grand Generation Center will again host bingo from 2 to 6 p.m., while Braxton’s SmokeHouse BBQ will serve food from 2 to 8 p.m. at the parking lot of Eighth and F streets. The day’s events will end with the Cozad Alumni Association Banquet at the Cozad Elks Lodge from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday

The final day of Hay Days will feature more Meridian events in the downtown green space from noon to 5 p.m., offering one last chance for community members to enjoy the festivities. The DC Lynch Carnival will open from 1 to 5 p.m., giving families a final opportunity to experience the rides and games.

At 4 p.m., the Cozad Community Leaders will host a bike raffle drawing, bringing the weekend to a celebratory close.