Chamber: Crazy Days will rock this year

McCOOK, Neb. — A “Crazy Cruise Night and Car Show” and a “Crazy Smokin’ BBQ Contest” are among the plans this year as McCook Chamber of Commerce members go all-out in their effort to make one of this area’s biggest shopping celebrations an even bigger event.

“Crazy Days will rock this year,” said Chamber Director Jamie Mockry, inviting everyone to get involved in four days of enhanced city-wide activities.

The crazy sale -- featuring clearance prices and sidewalk displays -- begins early Thursday morning, July 6, and continues through Sunday, July 9.

A new event -- the first annual Crazy Cruise Night -- will take place Friday evening, July 7, starting between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Mac’s Drive-In. While they cruise B Street, the carloads will be treated to 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music on KICX, KBRL and The Hawk.

Then, after the Cruise, the crowd will gather on West C Street -- between Norris Avenue and West First -- for a street dance featuring the “Bases Loaded” band from Kearney.

Action will resume Saturday, July 8, at a Car Show sponsored by Wagner Ford and Wagner Chevrolet. The show, featuring trophies and prizes, will take place on West C Street, between West Second and West Third, and on West Second, between West C and West B.

Also new this year is the “Crazy Smokin’ BBQ Contest,” which will be staged Saturday, July 8, at the Community Building at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. Some of Nebraska’s top judges, from the Mid West Barbecue Association, will be on hand to judge the entries.

After grilling ribs throughout the day, the barbecue chefs will compete for $700 in prizes, then have their grilling creations served at a $10 per person BBQ buffet and beer garden at the Community Building.

Even more fun will follow, as the Brett Alan Band has been booked for a dance that evening at the Fairgrounds Community Building.

To wrap up the Crazy Days events, the Chamber will be hosting a birthday party Sunday, July 9, at the George W. Norris Home at 706 Norris Avenue. The party will celebrate the 135th anniversary of McCook’s founding and the 156th birthday of McCook’s most famous citizen, Sen. George W. Norris, who was born July 11, 1961.

“One other thing that’s new this year,” Mockry said, “is a People’s Choice Award.” The voting will take place by customers Thursday, July 6, on the opening day of Crazy Days, when employees at McCook’s stores dress up in costumes to go along with the craziness of the clearance pricing.

For more on Crazy Days plans, be watching for the McCook Gazette’s Crazy Days edition. It will appear in the Wednesday, July 5, edition of the Gazette.