Free, family-friendly event: 'Hear Nebraska Good Living Tour' concert set for Barnett Park Aug. 7

McCOOK, Neb. -- Live, outdoor music is coming to Barnett Park in McCook on Sunday, Aug. 7 as part of the Hear Nebraska Good Living Tour. The free, family-friendly concert will appeal to all ages and begins at 5:30 p.m. on the west end of Barnett Park, near the tank.

In addition to three bands and a DJ at the free concert, the evening will also include food and beverages for purchase, a beer garden, a water slide, as well as cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn.

McCook is the last of 12 Good Living Tour concerts organized by Hear Nebraska, an Omaha-based non-profit which seeks to meaningful connect fans, artists and communities through music, journalism, education and events such as the concert in McCook.

The McCook concert line-up includes headliner Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal of Lincoln, along with Matt Cox of Omaha and McCook's own, Homemade Crazy along with DJ Nick Fitch.

In addition to the concert, the festival includes a beer garden, sponsored by the McCook Chamber of Commerce, and will feature craft beers from Loop Brewery of McCook, Kinkaider Brewing Company of Broken Bow and Thunderhead Brewing of Kearney.

Food also will be available for purchase, as well as water and pop, snow cones and cotton candy. And a water slide will be set up by the tank for the kids, thanks to Schmick's Market, so they may want to bring a swimsuit.

The public is also encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the concert. While food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed and encouraged, no alcohol other than that purchased in the beer garden may be consumed in the park.

The Hear Nebraska concert is part of McCook's first Prairie Roots Festival, which organizers are hoping turns into an annual event for Southwest Nebraska.

In addition to the concert as well as food and brews Sunday night at Barnett Park, the festival also includes a 4-on-4 coed sand volleyball tournament at the Barnett Park volleyball courts. Sponsored by the YMCA, the volleyball tournament is limited to eight teams, which can pre-register at the YMCA or by contacting Ronda Graff at 345-6228.

Earlier on Sunday, Aug. 7, disc-golf players will be busy at Kelley Park as CASA hosts its' annual tournament, a fund-raiser for the non-profit Prairie Plains Court Appointed Special Advocates. To register or for more information about the disc-golf tournament, contact CASA Director Cathy McDowell at 340-6832.

And organizers of the McCook Skate Park are joining the festival with exhibitions throughout the weekend, as they raise fund for lighting at the Kelley Park site. For more information about activities at the skate park, contact McCook EDC Director Kirk Dixon at (308) 345-1201.

And kicking off the weekend is the Community Hospital Super Hero 5K and Half-Marathon on Saturday, Aug. 6. The run/walk will head north on East 11th by the hospital, following the country roads north of McCook. To register for the Super Hero Run/Walk, visit www.republicanriverfitnessseries.com or stop by the YMCA for a brochure.

Local sponsors for the Hear Nebraska concert include Community Hospital, the McCook Community Foundation Fund, McCook National Bank, the Graff Charitable Foundation, the McCook Art Guild, the McCook Chamber of Commerce, the Red Willow County Tourism Bureau and Acme Printing. For more information about the concert or any of the activities, contact Matt Sehnert at (308) 737-6581 or Ronda Graff at (308) 340-3412.