Smokin’ on Broadway is coming back in June with bigger plans
The Imperial Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the fifth annual Smokin’ on Broadway BBQ contest and family fun day, Saturday, June 26.
Organizers promise the all-day community event will be bigger than two years ago.
There will be some new events added to the festivities.
A magic show is scheduled for 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Adam White from the Lincoln area will be entertaining the crowd this year with a sleight of illusions to mystify the mind.
A new addition to the contest portion of the day will be a taco-making contest.
To sign up for this event, contact Andre Rodriguez at 308-882-4363.
Two more big events added this year will be a cornhole tournament as well as an armchair tour at the Imperial Theatre, both beginning at 1 p.m.
The cornhole tournament will be held at the Imperial city gym at 1 p.m. with registration and practice at noon, said Randy Roesener, a member of the local Cornhole Club C2 Baggers.
“The entry fee is $40 per two-person team, and you bring your own partner,” Roesener said.
“The tournament is open to anyone, and the deadline to sign up is June 19,” he added.
The C2 Baggers will be organizing the tournament.
To sign up a team for the cornhole tournament, contact Roesener at 308-882-6988 or contact him on Messenger.
Sharing the 1 p.m. time slot will be an armchair tour at the Imperial Theatre with images and stories of Nebraska’s lesser known historical monuments placed far off the beaten path.
Jeff Barnes, author/photographer, will be presenting this program sponsored by Lied Imperial Library and funded by Humanities Nebraska.
Nebraska has a hidden history, with long-forgotten stories and rarely seen landscapes, such as the impact of glaciers on community monuments, or how Nebraska’s first marker nearly went to the bottom of the Missouri.
Jeff Barnes is a fifth-generation Nebraskan, a former newspaper reporter and editor, trustee with the Nebraska State Historical Society, past chairman of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission and former marketing director for the Durham Museum.
He authored “Forts of the Northern Plains,” “The Great Plains Guide to Custer” and “The Great Plains Guide to Buffalo Bill,” said Imperial Library Director Beth Falla.
Most of the contests and activities from previous Smokin’ on Broadways will be happening as well for a fun family day, friendly competition and tasty food.
In the evening, there will be a free outdoor concert from 7 to 11 p.m. Three different performances will be wrapping up the day’s events.
Cole Scheifele will be the opening act for the concert. He is a folk singer/songwriter based out of Denver, Colorado and has an album scheduled to be released this year.
Roka Hueka will be playing dance-beat-friendly music. They are a Latin ska band based out of Denver, as well.
Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the 1950s and features a strong base line and various instruments.
The group Jomo & The Possum Posse have made a name for themselves with their unique blend of cynicism, dead-eyed soul and anti-machismo honky-tonk music.
The award-winning band has been called “one of the most talented, fresh and cerebrally entertaining live acts around,” as selected by Best of Fest three years running.
Sign up sheets for various activities can be found at Waypoint Bank, or go to www.smokinonbroadway.com or find them on Facebook.