Happy weekend, Nebraska! In today’s happening-today edition: Firework bans, a beach party anniversary, and a storied national monument + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Dinner with a twist: Published Friday, this roundup spotlights ten unconventional Nebraska restaurants, from Scottsbluff’s Tangled Tapas to Ogallala’s Front Street Crystal Palace, mixing local history, quirky decor, and even a stage revue -- explore the full roundup.
Local firework rules tighten: Amid historic wildfires and exceptional drought, several Panhandle communities have already banned fireworks, including Alliance, Chadron, Kimball County, Potter, and Box Butte County, while Scotts Bluff County weighed rural restrictions -- check the firework bans.
Nebraska’s storied landmark: Scotts Bluff National Monument showcases 20-30 million years of geology and 10,000 years of Native history, with a Depression-era summit road overlooking the North Platte Valley and Oregon Trail -- see the monument’s history.
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Quick local getaway: Need fresh air without a full-on road trip? Captain Critters Country Campground has all pull-through, full-hookup sites, fast WiFi, a pet playground, and shady trees, plus fishing minutes away on the North Platte River or Lake Minatare, and an osprey family across the road keeping watch.
Craving cozy carb joy? ROMA Italian Restaurant is that stealthy win at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport, mixing creativity and tradition with hand-tossed pizzas, baked pastas, and seafood plus a few Roma Specials. They lean on local ingredients and a chef with 20 years of chops, so dinner this week feels extra worth it.
Your Panhandle fairway fix: Tee it up at Scotts Bluff Country Club, a Frank Hummel designed, walker friendly course with mature trees, lakes, and true rolling greens. This week, sneak in practice on the range, join a league, then snag clubhouse bites overlooking Scotts Bluff National Monument or try the lighted pickleball courts.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
👕 Serving Saturday - Potters Wheel Clothing Sort @ The Vine United Methodist Church (Scottsbluff) | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – If your idea of cardio is folding a fitted sheet, come help sort clothes for Potter's Wheel. Meet at The Vine, Scottsbluff Methodist Church, then caravan over and turn a mountain of denim into boxed, ready-to-ship kindness. Quick, useful, strangely satisfying.
🍺 Poses & Pints @ Radiant Joy Yoga (Gering) | Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 AM – Ready to earn your beer the civilized way? All-levels yoga at Radiant Joy rolls right into a pint at Scott Free, $25 covering class and your first pour. Stretch, breathe, and swap neighborhood gossip, then call it wellness, community, and a very good Saturday.
🏖 5 Year Anniversary Beach Party @ Oasis Night Club (Scottsbluff) | Saturday (6/20) at 6:00 PM – Oasis Night Club is turning five, going all-in on a beach party with decorations, themed drinks, and giveaways. Wear your best beach attire, because nothing says anniversary like a frozen T-shirt contest, and let DJ Tone ride the waves, all for a $3 cover.
🍑 Georgia Peaches & Cherries Truckload Sale @ Alliance Plaza | Saturday (6/20) at 6:00 PM – Alliance Plaza gets a blink-and-you-miss-it fruit truck pop-in with Georgia peaches and dark cherries that taste like summer, not the breakroom bowl. First come, first served, pay with cash or card, and snag honey and Georgia pecans for good measure.
🪱 Dirt Rotten Scoundrels @ Theatre West (Scottsbluff) | Saturday (6/20) at 7:30 PM – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is swanning onto the stage with French Riviera sparkle, shameless cons, and songs that go down smoother than a martini. Two hustlers try to out-grift each other, which means mistaken identities, deliciously bad behavior, and laughs that pair with a babysitter.
⚾ Nebraska Outlaws @ Oregon Trail Park Stadium (Gering) | Sunday (6/21) at 4:05 PM – Skip yardwork and meet me at Oregon Trail Park, where the Pios host the Nebraska Outlaws and the hot dogs taste like summer. Easy vibes, cold drinks, goofy in-game antics, and the kind of cheering that counts as cardio. Under the lights, it feels right.
🚚 Experiences of Western Migration @ Scotts Bluff National Monument (Gering) | Sunday (6/21) – Settle in for Elliot West, the historian whose Continental Reckoning was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, as he walks us through the daily grind of heading West. Think blisters, biscuits, and big dreams, told with insight you can enjoy without a single wagon wheel. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Nebraska Panhandle report Weather forecastToday — High: 84°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 60%
Showers and thunderstorms likely between 1pm and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tomorrow — High: 77°F — Low: 53°F — Precip: 58%
A slight chance of rain showers before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. This house is wildThis newly finished 3-bed, 3-bath home spans 5 pine-studded acres south of Crawford, with wrap-around Trex decking and serious Pine Ridge privacy. Inside, coffered ceilings, a stone gas fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with granite counters and a quartersawn oak island set the tone. The lower level adds a wet bar, flex space, and room to spread out.
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