      The most visible sign yet that Chadron’s annual Fur Trade Days Celebration is almost here is the start of street closures and the arrival of Mac’s Carnival.
The first of the closures, East 2nd Street from the alley of the 100 block to the alley of the 200 block and the 100 and 200 blocks of Bordeaux Street, began at 11:00 today and runs through Sunday.
It’s the first to start and the last to end because that’s where the bulk of the carnival will be. The Carnival opens on Friday and continues through Sunday afternoon.
The trucks bringing in the rides and midway attractions began arriving and staging at Big Bat’s Conoco yesterday with set-up getting underway this afternoon and finishing tomorrow.
The other Fur Trade Days street closures are Friday and Saturday, starting with the downtown area from noon Friday to noon Sunday for the Friday and Saturday night musical performances.
Main Street will be closed from 3rd St/Hwy 20 to midway down the 100 block with 2nd closed from Morehead to Main.
The 2nd Street closure will stop through-traffic on Chadron Avenue, but the alley between Chadron and Main will remain open. The closure area is also the city’s special events open alcohol area.
Friday night, East Niobrara will be closed from about 9:00 to about 10:00 for the fireworks show. The exact length depends on final set-up, the time the show actually begins, and post-show safety checks.
On Saturday, all of Main Street from 1st to 10th will be closed starting at 8 am for the Fur Trade Days Parade with most sections reopening after the parade, likely around 11:00.
The 100 and 200 blocks will stay closed for that evening’s music and the 400 block will remain closed through most of the afternoon for the World Championship Buffalo Chip Throw