Past Schedules

2023

Friday, June 9th, 2023 (5:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

** Raffle drawings throughout the evening **
** S’mores starting at 5:30 pm

5:00 pm – festival kickoff with flag ceremony and national anthem by Kelsey Arrington

5:10 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

5:40 pm – Chris Gutierrez

6:10 pm – Peter and Kathy Gibbs (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

6:40 pm – Rex Rideout (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

7:40 pm – introduction to line dancing with Trévon Newman

8:25 pm – $50 cash raffle drawing

8:25 pm – campfire ghost stories

9:00 pm – festival closes down for the day

Saturday, June 10th, 2023 (8:00 am – 9:00 pm)

** Play historical CRICKET with Tom Melville throughout the day **
** Raffle drawings throughout the day **
** Wagon Rides from 10:30am – 4:00pm **
** Take a guided bus tour to Camp Lookout, Boothill Cemetery, and the Fort Sidney Museum 10:00 am – 3:00 pm **
** S’mores starting at 5:30 pm

8:00 am – flag ceremony with national anthem by Kelsey Arrington

8:10 am – Breakfast – Don’t forget to wear your 2023 Sidney Gold Rush Days pin to get your free breakfast sponsored by Safeway and Aster Foods

8:30 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

9:00 am – 5K Gold Rush obstacle run/walk by Take Back Health & Fitness

9:00 am – Peter & Kathy Gibbs (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

9:30 am – Rex Rideout (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

10:30 am – Chris Gutierrez

11:00 am – Charlotte Endorf (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

12:00 pm – Duane Nightingale from the Cheyenne County Historical Society

12:30 pm – presentation about the mules used for our wagon rides

12:45 pm – introduction to line dancing with Trévon Newman

1:30 pm – $50 cash raffle drawing sponsored by MC Horses & Tack

1:30 pm – homemade hand-churned Ice Cream

1:45 pm – Fashion show with Saunders Costumes

2:30 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

3:00 pm – Chris Gutierrez

3:30 pm – raffle drawings including $100 cash grand prize

4:00 pm – Charlotte Endorf (sponsored by Humanities Nebraska)

5:00 pm – Peter and Kathy Gibbs (sponsored by Humanities Nebraska)

5:30 pm – Rex Rideout (sponsored by Humanites Nebraska)

6:30 pm – Line Dancing with Trévon Newman

7:30 pm – Chris Gutierrez

8:00 pm – campfire ghost stories

9:00 PM– festival closes down for the day

Sunday, June 11th, 2023 (8:30 am – 2:00 pm)

** Raffle drawings throughout the day **

8:30 am – Flag ceremony and national anthem by Kelsey Arrington

8:40 am – breakfast available for $4 (sponsored by Safeway and Aster Foods)

9:00 am – church service

9:45 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

10:15 am – Chris Gutierrez

10:45 am – Peter & Kathy Gibbs (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

11:30 am – Rex Rideout (sponsored Humanities Nebraska)

12:30 pm – raffle drawings including $50 cash prize

12:45 pm – line dancing with Trévon Newman

1:30 pm – Chris Gutierrez

2:00 pm – Closing

 

2022

Friday, June 10th, 2022 (5:00 pm – 9:00 PM)

**(Raffle drawings throughout the evening)**

5:00 PM– Festival Kickoff

5:05 PM – Chris Gutierrez

5:30 PM – marshmallow s’mores around the camp file (sponsored by Wheat Belt Power)

6:00 PM – Peter & Kathy Gibbs – Lakota traditions, culture, & dance – Humanities Nebraska

7:00 PM – Dan Holtz – All Original, All Nebraska – Humanities Nebraska

9:00 PM– Festival closes down for the day

Saturday, June 11th, 2022 (8:00 am – 9:00 PM)

**(Raffle drawings throughout the day)**

**5K starting times of 9:00 am, 9:30 am, & 10:00am (See 5K on activities page for detailes and signup)**

8:00 am – Breakfast – Don’t forget to wear your 2022 Sidney Gold Rush Days button to get your free breakfast burrito make by La Laguna!

9:00 am – Peter & Kathy Gibbs – Lakota traditions, culture, & dance – Humanities Nebraska

10:00 am – Dan Holtz – Nebraska Through Song and Story – Humanities Nebraska

11:15 am – Jacie McConnell – The Little Fiddler and Story Teller

12:30 – David Henson – Learn about the mules doing our wagon rides

1:00 PM – Chris Gutierrez

2:00 PM – hand churned ice cream social (sponsored by Wheat Belt Power)

2:45 PM – Peter & Kathy Gibbs – Lakota traditions, culture, & dance – Humanities Nebraska

3:45 PM – Dan Holtz – From Bleeding Kansas to Old Virginny: Songs and Stories of the Civil War – Humanities Nebraska

5:00 pm – Jacie McConnell – The Little Fiddler and Story Teller

6:00 pm – marshmallow s’mores around the camp file (sponsored by Wheat Belt Power)

6:45 pm – Peter & Kathy Gibbs – Lakota traditions, culture, & dance – Humanities Nebraska

8:00 pm – Chris Gutierrez

9:00 PM– Festival closes down for the day

Sunday, June 12th, 2022 (8:30 am – 2:00 PM)

**(Raffle drawings throughout the day)**

8:30 am – breakfast burritos made by La Laguna

9:00 am – Church Service

10:30 am – Peter & Kathy Gibbs – Lakota traditions, culture, & dance – Humanities Nebraska

12:00 pm – Chris Gutierrez

2:00 pm – Closing

2021

Friday, June 11th, 2021 (5:00 pm – 9:00 PM)

**(Raffle drawings throughout the evening)**

5:00 PM– Campfire Kickoff

5:10 PM – Rex Rideout (Fiddle player and songs of the American West)

6:20 PM – Chris Gutierrez (local vocalist)

6:30 PM – Free Hotdogs, Brats, chips, water, and cookies complements of Wheat Belt Power District and partners Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Touchstone Energy

7:00pm – Charlotte Endorf (No Time on My Hands: The Story of Grace Snyder)

9:00 PM– Festival closes down for the day

 

Saturday, June 12th, 2021 (8:00 am – 9:00 PM)

**(Raffle drawings throughout the day)**

8:00 am – Breakfast – Don’t forget to wear your 2021 Sidney Gold Rush Days button to get your free breakfast!

8:10 am – Rex Rideout (Fiddle player and songs of the American West)

9:00 am – 5K obstacle walk/run sponsored by Take Back Health and Fitness

9:15 am – Jerry Lucas (Tells the story of Hiram Scott)

10:15 am – Jacie & Jerry McConnell (The Little Fiddler and Story Teller)

11:00 am – Caryl Harvey (Historic portrayal of Sara Ann Whitney)

12:00 PM – Chris Sayre (Nebraska’s Musical Smorgasbord: Music from Various Ethnic Groups in Nebraska)

1:00 PM – Charlotte Endorf (The Life and Legacy of Annie Oakley)

2:00 PM – Pony Express

2:30 PM – ice cream social

3:00 PM – Rex Rideout (Fiddle player and songs of the American West)

4:00 PM – Caryl Harvey (Historic portrayal of Sara Ann Whitney)

5:00 PM – Chris Sayre (A Musical Journey Across America: Songs That Helped Shape a Nation)

6:10 PM – Jerry Lucas (Tells the story of Hiram Scott)

7:10 PM – Jacie & Jerry McConnell (The Little Fiddler and Story Teller)

8:10 PM – Chris Gutierrez (local vocalist)

9:00 PM– Festival closes down for the day

Sunday, June 13th, 2021 (8:30 am – 2:00 PM)

**(Raffle drawings throughout the day)**

8:30 am – Breakfast of Pancakes and eggs. $4.00

9:00 am – Church Service officiated by Justin Brown

10:00 am – Rex Rideout (Fiddle player and songs of the American West)

11:00 am – Chris Sayre (The British Isles and Irish Sampler)

12:10 PM – Chris Gutierrez (local vocalist)

2:00 PM– Closing

 

2019

Friday, June 7th, 2019 (5:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

5:00 pm – Campfire Kick-Off

5:00 pm – Touchstone Energy hot air balloon viewing at “glow night” compliments of Wheat Belt Public Power District partnering with Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Touchstone Energy (weather permitting)

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm FREE hot dogs, brats, chips, and a drink compliments of Wheat Belt Public Power District partnering with Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Touchstone Energy

5:15 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

5:45 pm – Native American dancers

6:45 pm – David Seay (Humanities Nebraska) “Nebraska Territory Stories”

7:55 pm – Peter Gibbs – Interactive question and answer session about Lakota life

8:05 pm – Kid’s 1 Mile Run – (Sidney Park Project)

8:15 pm – 5K walkers – (Sidney Park Project)

8:30 pm – 5K runners – (Sidney Park Project)

9:00 pm – Festival closes down for the day

 

Saturday, June 8th, 2019 (7:00 am – 7:00 pm)

7:00 am – Come early and take a tethered hot air balloon ride thanks to Wheat Belt Public Power District partnering with Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Touchstone Energy (weather permitting – has to be nearly wind still)

8:00 am -Breakfast – Don’t forget to wear your 2019 Sidney Gold Rush Days button to get your free breakfast!

8:00 am – 10:00 am – Hometown Radio remote broadcast with their Summer Tour Spin N Win Jackpot Machine

8:00 am -Celebration Kickoff and National Anthem

8:15 am -Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

8:50 am – Peter Gibbs – Interactive question and answer session about Lakota life

9:30 am – David Seay (Humanities Nebraska) “Train Songs and Tales”

10:35 am – Apen County Band

12:15 pm – Native American dancers

12:45 pm – Old Time Fashion Show

1:30 pm – Paul Siebert (Humanites Nebraska) “Echoes of an Era” Part #1

2:35 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighers

3:00 pm – Bob & Sheila Everhart (Smithsonian Instituation) “How Western Music Won the West”

4:15 pm – Paul Siebert (Humanities Nebraska) “Echoes of an Era” Part #2

5:30 pm – Native American dancers

6:35 pm – Chris Gutierrez

7:00 pm -Festival closes down for the day

Sunday, June 9th, 2019 (8:30 am – 2:00 pm)

8:30 am – Breakfast of Pancakes and eggs. $4.00

9:00 am – Church Service – officiated by Justin Brown from The Well Church

10:00 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

10:25 am – Peter Gibbs – Interactive question and answer session about Lakota life

10:50 am – Native American dancers

12:00 pm – Paul Siebert (Humanities Nebraska) “Echoes of an Era” Part #3

1:10 pm – Chris Gutierrez

2:00 pm – Closing

 

 

2018

Friday, June 8th, 2018 (5:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

5:00 pm – Campfire Kick-Off

5:15 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

5:45 pm – Peter Gibbs – Interactive question and answer session about life in a tipi

6:30 pm – Jerome Kills Small – Trade Between the Lakota Sioux and Early White Traders (funded by Humanities Nebraska)

7:45 pm – Chris Gutierrez

All evening campfire and cookout – Bring hot dogs and marshmallows to roast around the campfire!

9:00 pm – Festival closes down for the day

Saturday, June 9th, 2018 (8:00 am – 9:00 pm)

8:00 am – Breakfast – Don’t forget to wear your 2018 Sidney Gold Rush Days button to get your free breakfast!

8:00 am – Celebration Kickoff and National Anthem

8:15 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

8:45 am – Jerome Kills Small – Harvesting Foods and Medicines in the Dakota Tradition (funded by Humanities Nebraska)

9:40 am – Patricia Campbell, author of “Deadwood in My Blood” and “Best of the West”

10:00 am – Cheyenne County Community Band

10:50 am – Gordy Wilkins – Historian and Story Teller

11:15 am – Michael Murphy – Native American Flute Music

12:30 pm – Aspen County Band

2:10 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

2:35 pm – Patricia Campbell, author of “Deadwood in My Blood” and “Best of the West”

3:00 pm – Jerome Kills Small – Children Stories, Animal Stories and Traditional Lakota Stories (funded by Humanities Nebraska)

3:55 pm – Gordy Wilkins – Historian and Story Teller

4:20 pm – Peter Gibbs – Interactive question and answer session about life in a tipi

4:55 pm – Chris Gutierrez

5:30 pm – Michael Murphy – Native American Flute Music

6:35 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

7:00 pm – David Marsh – Music of the Germanic Lands (funded by Humanities Nebraska)

9:00 pm – Festival closes down for the day

Sunday, June 10th, 2018 (8:30 am – 2:00 pm)

8:30 am – Breakfast of Pancakes and eggs. $4.00

9:00 am – Church Service – officiated by Dr. Curtiss Davis of the Sidney First Christian Church

10:00 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

10:25 am – Peter Gibbs – Interactive question and answer session about life in a tipi

11:00 am – David Marsh – Music of the Plains (funded by Humanities Nebraska)

12:40 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

1:10 pm – Chris Gutierrez

2:00 pm -Closing

2017

Friday, June 9th, 2017

5:00 pm – Campfire Kick-Off

5:30 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

6:00 pm – Gordy Wilkins – History & story telling

6:15 pm – Chris Gutierrez

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Green Valley Homesteaders bluegrass jam – Just listen or bring your instrument and play along!

8:00 pm – Chamber – Teammates 5K Walk/Run

All evening Storytelling and cookout – bring hot dogs and marshmallows to roast around the campfire!

Saturday, June 10th, 2017

7:30 am – Breakfast – Don’t forget to wear your button to get your breakfast!

8:15 am – Celebration Kick-Off and National Anthem

8:30 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

8:50 am – Joan Wells trick roper

9:05 am – Gordy Wilkins – History & story telling

9:20 am – Paul Siebert

10:05 am – Chris Gutierrez

10:25 am – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

10:45 am – David Seay – Nebraska territory stories

11:30 am – Snake Oil Salesman

12:00 pm – Aspen County Band

12:45 pm – Gordy Wilkins – History & story telling

1:00 pm – Paul Siebert

1:45 pm – Auction

2:15 pm – David Seay –“Traditions” in Traditional Folk Music

3:00 pm – Gold Canyon Gun Fighters

3:20 pm – Joan Wells trick roper

3:35 pm – Gordy Wilkins – History & story telling

3:50 pm – Snake Oil Salesman

4:05 pm – Chris Gutierrez

4:25 pm – Aspen County Band

6:00 pm – Closing