schedule of events
Friday - August 16th, 2024
Hastings Museum Family Fun
Open 9 am - 8 pm
Museum admission is just $5 per person during Kool-Aid Days and that includes admission to our planetarium shows! . Separate, special $5 admission required for the super screen theatre. Movies and showtimes available at HastingsMuseum.org or 402-461-2399.
Senior Fest: For 55+ Kids at Heart
2 pm - 4 pm - Fairgrounds
This event is geared toward our more experienced Kool-Aid drinkers. We’ll have BINGO, Eileen’s cookies and a smaller version of the World’s Largest Kool-Aid Stand. You may even win a prize or two!
KLUB Kool-Aid Sneak Peek
5:30 - 7:00 pm - Fairgrounds
Members are invited to this Sneak Preview Event - beat the crowds and see the Kool-Aid Man, enjoy a BBQ pork dinner and a sneak peak of the brochure for the weekend's festivities and opening night of the Oregon Trail Rodeo (tickets may be purchased at the gate).
Saturday August 17th, 2024
Hastings Museum Family Fun
Open 9 am - 8 pm - FREE Activities 11 am - 5 pm
Museum admission is just $5 per person during Kool-Aid Days. Film admission is also just $5 per film during the festival. Free yard games and Kool-Aid stand with the five original flavors 11 am - 5 pm. Free solar observing 1-5 pm (weather permitting). Join us!!
Hastings Farmers Market
8 am - Noon - Hastings Museum
Area farmers gather behind Hastings Museum to offer the freshest of produce and homemade foods to festival attendees.
Flying Disc Golf Tournament
Registration 9:30 am – Start 10 am - Hastings Lake
The Hastings Department of Parks & Recreation hosts a tournament on their flying disc golf course at Lake Hastings. $10 Novice/Intermediate entry fee, $20 Masters (40+) entry fee, and $30 Open/Pro entry fee.
Registration is by hole #1 at the Lake. Shotgun start. 402-461-2324
Putting Contest
9 am - 11 am - Southern Hills
Southern Hills Golf Course will host a putting contest with club credit and prizes. For more information call 402-463-8006.
Kool-Aid Days Grand Parade
10:00 am - Downtown Hastings
Marching bands and more from all over Nebraska join the procession down Second Street in Downtown Hastings to kick off the biggest day of the festival and welcome Kool-Aid Man. Announcer’s stand at Denver Ave.
World’s Largest Kool-Aid Stand
11 am - 10pm - Fairgrounds
Buy a commemorative mug for $3 or $5 (color-changing) or a Kool-Aid Days stainless steel water bottle and drink as much as you want of 25 flavors of Kool-Aid!
Cute Kid Contest
11 am - 2 pm - Fairgrounds-West End of the Activities Building
Children 9 and under can participate in the Cute Kids Contest. Top 3 winners will get a prize and everyone gets a participation ribbon!
Non-Profit Organization Displays
11 am - 5 pm - Fairgrounds
Don’t miss a visit with local non-profits. FREE games and giveaways await!
Kool-Aid Days Kollectibles
11 am - 5 pm
Visit the Kool-Aid Days Kollectables booth to buy T-shirts, mugs, and many more items commemorating the festival and Nebraska’s Official Soft Drink!
Festival Food Vendors
11 am - 10pm - Fairgrounds
Shaved Ice, Funnel Cakes, Ice Cream, BBQ, Sandwiches, and more!
Festival Craft Vendors
11 am - 10pm - Fairgrounds
Giant Inflatables and Indoor Games
11 am - 5 pm
Giant inflatables fill the field for kids and adults to romp and climb. Test your skill and win prizes around the Adams County Fairgrounds.
Face Painting and Balloon Artist
11 am – 5 pm - Fairgrounds
What festival is truly complete without face painting!? Choose from a variety of designs.
Witness the talents our balloon artist has to offer. Come get your free balloon creation!
Kwickest Kool-Aid Drinking Contest
11:30-12:00 pm Registration
*Preliminary rounds start at 12:30 and are divided into age groups. Flight times for each age group will be posted upon completion of registration*
How quick are you? Final heats and award ceremonies with prizes for contestants in four age categories.
Fireworks
After Rodeo - Fairgrounds
Fireworks to follow the rodeo presented by both Kool-Aid Days and the Oregon Trail Rodeo.
Sunday August 18th, 2024.
Hastings Museum Family Fun
Open 10 am - 6 pm • FREE Activities 12-4 pm
FREE Egg Drop Challenge /Build 1-3:00 pm, Drop begins at 3 pm
Museum admission is just $5 per person during Kool-Aid Days! For the Egg Drop Challenge, eggs will be dropped from the roof of the Museum! Can you protect your egg? Eggs and materials provided! Open to the first 150 participants. Egg Vessel Assembly 1-3:00 pm. Drop begins at 3:00 pm. Free activities include Kool-Aid Stand and Solar Observing (weather permitting). Separate, special $5 admission required for the super screen theatre. Movies and showtimes available at HastingsMuseum.org or 402-461-2399.
Kool-Aid Days 5K Fun Run & Walk
Registration 7:30 am • Run 9 am - Lake Hastings
Starting at Lake Hastings, follow a 5K or 1-mile route. Prizes for several categories.
Kool-Aid Stand, Kollectibles, and Food
12 pm–3 pm - Lake Hastings
Bring your Kool-Aid mug and enjoy six flavors of the sweet stuff. This is also your last chance to purchase Kool-Aid collectibles during the festival and enjoy festival foods.
Kool-Aid Kardboard Boat Races
Registration 12 pm • Heats 2 pm - Lake Hastings
The Kool-Aid Kardboard Boat Races sail Lake Hastings. Trophies will be awarded in many categories, including Most Spectacular Sinking. Boats go on display at noon and race heats begin at 2 pm with awards ceremony to follow.
Face Painting and Balloon Artist
12 pm-Lake Hastings