Kool-Aid Days

Thousands of “kids” of all ages gather in Hastings, Nebraska the second full weekend of every August to celebrate the invention of Kool-Aid®, Nebraska’s Official Soft Drink, by Edwin Perkins in 1927. Step back to simpler times when every small-town entrepreneur could start a business on a street corner with a pitcher of Kool-Aid. Over 30 events and thousands of attendees make Kool-Aid Days one of the fastest growing festivals in the US �” nominated as one of the “Top 100 Events” for the American Bus Association by the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism. and in 2006, Kool-Aid Days won the Governor’s Award for Most Outstanding Nebraska Event in a city of 20,000 or more.

The festival features the World’s Largest Kool-Aid Stand, full size Kardboard Boat Races on Lake Hastings, miniature Kool-Aid Jammer Boat Races at the City Aquacourt, the Kwickest Kool-Aid Drinking Contest, the Kool-Aid Classic Car Cruise of America, Giant Inflatable Rides, Carnival Games, Festival Foods, Trolley Rides through the Hastings Historic District, golf and other sports tournaments, an entrepreneurial festival, model rocket launches and many other events. Visitors can purchase commemorative “Kollectibles” including special $2 mugs, which entitle them to drink as much Kool-Aid as they want of 16 flavors served.

The Hastings Museum has free admission on the Sunday of the festival and features the “Kool-Aid: Discover the Dream” exhibit, telling the 80-year history of Kool-Aid, along with a superscreen theater, planetarium, and many other exhibits and events.

Saturday night of the festival will feature a free rock concert in Brickyard Park. A fireworks display is planned to follow the concert.

Fri, Golf Scramble, 8:30am, 3-9pm; Sat, 7am-5pm, Koncert, 7:20pm; Sun, 9am-6pm.