Enjoy fun-filled days at the beach, then head to Ogallala for toe-tapping kids concerts, museums and Wild West adventures. For family vacations that won't break the bank, Keith County has you covered this summer!
#1 KITES & CASTLES
Get ready to get sandy! For over 30 years, the Kites and Castles festival has been Lake Mac's favorite way to play in the sand. This year’s event is happening Saturday, July 25, so mark your calendar. Everyone's invited—whether you're a first-time builder or a seasoned sand sculpting pro. Awards are up for grabs in multiple age groups and skill levels.
Kites & Castles Pro Tips
☀️ Shade is your friend—bring a canopy or sun umbrella
💦 Pack lots of water, sunscreen, hats, safety gear, and bug spray.
🍿 Four hours of sculpting means snacks or lunch are a must.
🧰 Tools can be as simple as shovels and 1 or 5 gallon buckets, or as crafty as melon ballers, icing spatulas, and paintbrushes.
🪁 Flying kites during the event is encouraged. Lake Mac’s summer breeze usually shows up right on cue.
🏖️ Take a walk down the beach after the award ceremony—it’s the perfect way to see all the amazing creations and enjoy a Lake Mac sunset.
This event is FREE to join or watch. Don’t forget—you’ll need a Nebraska state park permit to enter the park. Grab one online at outdoornebraska.gov or stop by the Visitors Center (just a quarter mile south of Kingsley Dam, Hwy 61). Contact the Keith County Chamber for more information.
#2 YOUTH FISHING TOURNAMENT - FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND
🎣 Take kids fishing and the memories last forever. The annual Youth Outdoors Nebraska Jr. Fishing Tournament Saturday, June 20 is a great way to spend quality family time on Father's Day Weekend at the lake.
🏆 There are trophies and prizes for all age levels. Watch the Youth Outdoors Nebraska Facebook page for registration and rules meeting info.
#3 CRYSTAL PALACE REVUE AT FRONT STREET
🤠 Kids love the humor and the old-fashioned fun of the Front Street Crystal Palace Revue, from a cold sarsaparilla to getting deputized as honorary members of the Front Street posse in a hilarious oath ceremony.
🐎 An Ogallala institution since 1964, it's the longest-running summer stock theatre in Nebraska. The musical show tells the story of the Old West when cowboys brought cattle to Ogallala.
🐮 Crystal Palace Revue shows usually run Memorial Day weekend to early August. Reservations encouraged. Follow the Crystal Palace Revue Facebook page for the latest information or call Front Street at (308) 284-6000.
#4 EXPLORE LOCAL HISTORY
🏫 What was it like to attend school in a one-room schoolhouse? What did a child’s bedroom look like in the 1890s? Kids can find out firsthand in Keith County!
The Mansion on the Hill Museum campus contains a beautifully preserved Victorian home as well as a country schoolroom and a homestead era cabin. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The Keith County Historical Society opens the Mansion and outbuildings Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day: Tuesday and Wednesday 11 to 4, Thursday through Saturday 9 to 4 and Sunday 11 to 4.
🤠 Other opportunities to learn about local history include Boot Hill, Ogallala's Texas Trail era cemetery, and the free cowboy museum at Front Street, with a replica Old West main street complete with barber shop and jail.
⛪ The historic Little Church at Keystone has an amazing backstory: the construction was spearheaded by a civic-minded group of young teenage girls. Completed in 1908, the Little Church has a Catholic altar at one end, and Protestant altar at the other. Special pews with reversible backs allowed 75 churchgoers to face either altar, depending on the service.
💎 The Petrified Wood & Art Gallery is one of Ogallala's most unique attractions and a great stop for budding rock collectors to see a wide array of ancient woods, artifacts, dinosaur tracks and fossils. The gift shop offers many souvenir treasures for rock hounds of all ages.
🐃 Nearby Ash Hollow State Historical Park near Lewellen, Nebraska was a major stopover on the Oregon and California trails because of the sweet spring water available there. Ruts etched by west-bound wagons are still visible on the bluffs, and you can hike to the summit of Windlass Hill on a paved but steep walking trail. The area was also used by prehistoric indigenous peoples. Learn more at the visitor center and Ash Hollow Cave exhibit.
#5 KIDS CONCERTS & PROGRAMS
🦕Ogallala's Kathleen Lute Public Library has an amazing summer planned, full of free kids events and concerts. Visiting families are welcome! This summer's line-up includes comedian Toby Kid May 28, Aaron Fowler Music on June 8, a magic show on June 9, the String Beans Band on June 24, and dinosaur entertainer Stomp Chomp Roar (shown) on July 14. Check our calendar for library events for the whole summer.
🎼 Families are also welcome at Sounds on the Square, Ogallala's free summer concert series downtown at Rendezvous Square. Concert dates are June 5, June 19, July 3 and July 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs and your dancing shoes.
TREATS & EATS
🍔 No family vacation is complete without delicious food. You'll find a wide variety of options, including fast food, dine-in restaurants, food trucks, coffee shops, grocery, deli, and convenience stores.
Enjoy your visit to beautiful Keith County!