This is the busiest day of Fur Trade Days and it starts at 7:30 with the Rotary Colter Run, which has options of a 2-mile walk/run and 5k or 10k race.
In conjunction with the Colter Run is the 10-and-under mile long ‘Lil Buckskinners Run put on by the local student arm of Rotary, the.Chadron High Interact Club
Both the Colter Run and the:Lil Buckskinners start at the east entrance of the Nelson Physical Activity Center at 7:30, but use much different courses
The Colter course leaves the Chadron State College campus while the young runners will finish on the 50-yard line of Elliott Field.
Getting to the PAC is a little trickier than usual because Main Street has already been closed with barriers from 10th to 1st for the Lion’s Club Fur Trade Days Parade at 10:00.
Police Chief Rick Hickstein says Street Supt Dustin Glass and his crews deserve a lot of thanks for that and for setting up other areas of town for events.
8:00 brings the opening of the Traders Market and the start of registration for the Classics in the Park Car Show in Wilson Park. The show itself runs from 11-4:00 with awards presented at 3:00.
The Buckskinners Primitive Camp is open all day, but most of the participants are coming into town to be in the Lion’s Club Fur Trade Days Parade at 10:00.
There are two events in front of the Courthouse before then – the Parade of HIstoric Fur Trade Flags at 9:15 and the Parade of Puppies at 9:45.
The main parade has the theme this year of ‘These Boots are Made For Tradin’,” and runs the length of Main Street from 10th to 1st.
KCSR is once again broadcasting the parade with Jeremy Anderson and a special guest mic-side from in front of the Courthouse.
After the parade are 2 dining experiences at the Courthouse Square: the Chadron Congregational Church Ice Cream Social with homemade ice cream and cake, and the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors BBQ – which Chamber Director Gabby Michna hopes lots of people will attend.
The Traders Market at the Courthouse Lawn also has a number of food options, but Michna says there are lots of other reasons as well to come over after the Parade.
Entertaining at the Courthouse Gazebo right after the parade at 11:00 are the String Beans. Fur Trade Vice President Miles Bannan says the group wowed last year with its family-friendly show that appealed to all ages.
The World Championship Buffalo Chip Toss is at 1:00 in front of the Courthouse with multiple age and gender categories for those willing to throw dried buffalo dung just as far as they can.
The Inflatables, mini-golf course, and giant slip ‘n’ slide all return to the Courthouse lawn from 1-5 while the Dawes County Fairgrounds Arena hosts Bump ‘n’ Run at 3:00. Miles Bannan says it’s sort of a cross between demolition derby and a video game.
The 11th annual Historical Cemetery Tour with figures from Chadron’s past returns to the Greenwood Cemetery with tours at 4:00 and 7:00.
Cost is $10 for adults with no charge for those under 15. Proceeds support cemetery improvements begin with the information kiosk.
Mac’s Carnival completes its 2023 stay in Chadron with another fun night of rides, games, and concessions from 6:00 to midnight on the 100 and 200 blocks of Bordeaux.
There’s another street dance downtown from 9-1:00 with regional favorites The Judd Hoos Band returning for the first time since the Pandemic. The Sturgis-based group was formed 2 decades ago in 2004 and still has most of its original members.
Judd Hoos represented South Dakota last year in the NBC-TV competition show American Song Contest, and released its highly-anticipated new version of their single “We Were Young” in May.
The group collaborated on the acoustic remix of the song with 15 year old unorthodox ukulele player and Asia’s Got Talent finalist Feng E and Nashville Recording Artist Jessie G.
Jessie G is touring with Judd Hoos this summer, including August 4th at the Loud American Roadhouse in Sturgis during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The downtown area that’s blocked off for tonight’s concert and street dance is again serving as a large beer garden with Miles Bannan reminding everyone the $10 Fur Trade Dats Cup is still needed to have alcohol outdoors in that area.
Tomorrow’s Fur Trade Days schedule is limited with the Buckskinners primitive camp still open, the 10th annual Rob Brown Memorial Co-ed Softball tournament wrapping up, and the Horseshoe tournament starting at 12:30 by the girls softball diamond on N Main