BEATRICE – Music and dance of difference cultures will be a theme at a National Park, during an annual summer celebration later this month.


Homestead National Historical Park near Beatrice is hosting entertainers in the areas of Blues, Indigenous, South American, Yazidi, Soul and Barbershop along with German Dance during Homestead Days, June 21st and 22nd. There will also be homesteading craft and farming demonstrations over that weekend.


"On Saturday, June 21st and Sunday, June 22nd...from 10 to 4 p.m., we will have craft demonstrations under our big tent, as well as inside. We're going to have farm demonstrations so people are going to be able to see some of the historic farm equipment. The Homestead Act is a really big story, and Homestead Days remembers all those different legacies."


Park Ranger and Volunteer Coordinator Amber Kirkendall spoke about some of the entertainment lineup. "We'll have the Red Wolfe singers from Niobrara, Nebraska here, for the first time. C.A. Waller is going to do blues music, which was really popular in some of the homesteading states like Louisiana and Mississippi."


With a new parking area outside the Education Center developed over the past year, Kirkendall says the park will not be running a bus shuttle service at this year’s Homestead Days celebration. There is also available parking at both the Heritage Center and Freeman School area.


Kirkendall says a key to putting on the events each summer is the volunteer and financial support the park receives.  "The Friends of the Homestead make the event possible by funding everything that we do....as well as the Hevelone Foundation, is a huge reason why we're able to bring the different musicians and performers. Also, the Nebraska Arts Council is helping with this."


Saturday, June 21st beginning at noon, performances will be given by the Red Wolfe Creek Indigenous Choir….followed by the Homestead Harmonizers Barbershop chorus….then the Heimat Tanzer German Folk Dancers of Omaha…and Blues Musician C.A. Waller.


Sunday, June 22nd, starting at Noon will be the Cortland Opry House Dulcimers….followed by Yazidi Music of Iraq….Nebraska Soul Music Artist, Josh Hoyer….and the band Jarana,,,blending South American Music with Mexican Folk Music and Latin Dance.