As one of the oldest communities in Nebraska, Nebraska City is rooted in history and tradition. Nestled along the banks of the Missouri River, this town of 7,000 has received international fame as the Home of Arbor Day. It has also been recognized nationally as a top-ten event site for its annual Apple Jack Festival, held each fall to celebrate the apple harvest.

In recent years, the Nebraska City Tourism & Commerce office and several volunteer organizations have joined together to create a third festival centered around the 4th of July. Named the TREESTOCK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION, this new event features a weekend of live music, a cornhole tournament, a color run, beer garden, family games, carnival, food trucks, car show, golf, swimming, a dunk tank, a community worship service, a waffle feed, and–of course–fireworks! Nearly all the events take place in Nebraska City’s Steinhart Park.

For 2023, TREESTOCK will be on July 1 & 2! Saturday starts out with an all-ages Color Dash. The Dash starts in the Steinhart Aquatic Center for the wet portion of the event; as the one-mile route snakes through Steinhart Park, participants will encounter slime, colored powder, bubbles, paint, and more.

The festival continues with the Treestock Beer Garden, scheduled to open on Saturday at noon. The Beer Garden will house two major events on Saturday; one is a Cornhole Tournament that serves as a fundraiser for the local high school football team. Walk-up teams are welcome! The other major event in the Beer Garden Saturday is the live music! A wide variety of music by regional bands make up the all-day concert that afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. and concluding at dusk–just before the fireworks! Music genres this year include rock, folk, country, and indie. There is no fee to enter the Beer Garden and enjoy the music; identification will be checked at the entrance.

Nebraska City’s Bethel Church is a Treestock partner and hosts a Family Fun Day on their property just across the street from Steinhart Park. Their activities on Saturday include bounce houses, a watermelon feed, dunk tank, food trucks, vendor fair, and–new this year–helicopter rides. Other Saturday happenings include a small carnival and the Steinhart Aquatic Center, Nebraska City’s new pool that includes a zero-depth entry, lazy river, water slides, and diving boards.

As day turns to night on Saturday, July 1, the Nebraska City Jaycees host their annualIce Cream Social in the air-conditioned Steinhart Lodge. Live music will also be part of the Social, with performances by the Southeast Nebraska Community Band and Nebraska City’s two barbershop choruses. Saturday’s festivities end with a bang at dusk with the Jaycee’s Fireworks Show, best viewed from the baseball diamond, the terraces outside the Steinhart Lodge, or by renting a lounge chair in the Aquatic Center.

TREESTOCK continues into Sunday, July 2, with a free early morning Show & Shine Car Show. The Beer Garden from Saturday is now the site of a waffle feed and Community Worship Service. A two-person golf scramble is scheduled at Wildwood Golf Course, adjacent to Steinhart Park.

For complete details about the 2023 Nebraska City TREESTOCK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION, visit NebraskaCity.com/festivals.

The post NEBRASKA CITY’S NEWEST FESTIVAL: TREESTOCK! appeared first on Food and Travel Magazine.

Nestled in the North Georgia Mountains lives a town named Dahlonega.  

The first settler’s struck gold in the Fall of 1828. Once the word got out of this discovery, many came to search for newfound riches. By 1829, Dahlonega was the site of the first major gold rush in America. Gold mining was the leading industry in Dahlonega for over a century. The Federal Government even minted gold coins here from 1838 to 1861. Visitors of Dahlonega can see a complete collection of the coins on display at the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site. 

Today, something is still sparkling about this mountain town, and it’s not just their gold. Dahlonega is full of hidden gems. From wineries to waterfalls to hiking or dining, there is an adventure for anyone to enjoy.  

The Wine Country of The South 

Dahlonega struck gold once again, but this time with grapes. Surrounded by mountains and rich soil, Dahlonega and Lumpkin County’s land is the perfect condition for growing grapes. Because of this, the ever-increasing list of wineries is why some consider Dahlonega to be the Napa Valley of the South. In 2018, the federal government designated the area as an American Viticultural Area called The Dahlonega Plateau. 

Fall In Love With FALL 

When the trees turn golden, the mountains come alive. Hikers and Leaf Watchers flock to see the area in a new light. This is the time to explore the many waterfalls and outdoor adventures that Dahlonega has in abundance. If you would rather not hike, take a drive through the mountains or attend one of our Fall events. On the 3rd weekend of October, the beloved Gold Rush Days Festival kicks off our peak leaf season. The historic streets fill with visitors enjoying arts, music, food, and more.  

That Hallmark Movie Magic 

The magical moments begin the Friday after Thanksgiving with the annual Lighting of The Square. This starts the season of Old Fashioned Christmas. Christmas lights, bows, and garlands can be found hanging on every building and tree. The clattering of hooves carrying guests on romantic carriage rides can be heard throughout the sparkling town. In the crisp mountain air, you can smell the fresh hot cocoa and fudge being prepared in one of the many confectionaries found in the historic downtown. These are the movie-esque moments that make Dahlonega magical this time of year. You might even catch the film Christmas in Homestead on tv that Hallmark filmed here in 2016. 

Make this town the top of your travel bucket list. Visit our website, Dahlonega.org, and discover the heart of the Georgia mountains. 

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