Heads are pointed skyward during the 2025 Old Settlers fireworks show. This year the Saturday night fireworks will be bigger and better in celebration of the USA’s 250th birthday.
Time to prepare for Old Settlers, USA 250
by Nathan Arneal
Published 6/2/26
NORTH BEND – The weather is hot, school is out and the calendar has flipped to June. In North Bend, that means Old Settlers is right around the corner.
The full schedule for the June 26-28 weekend is posted at NorthBendNE.com and will be published in upcoming editions of the Eagle.
Here are a few Old Settlers 2026 events that take advanced planning or registration prior to Old Settlers weekend for you to be considering the next few weeks:
Old Settlers Road Run: The run, with 5 kilometer and 1 mile run/walk divisions, will begin near the city pool Old Settlers Saturday morning. Registration forms can be found at various North Bend businesses, including sponsor Platte Valley Bank, and online at NorthBendNE.com.
If you’re not going to run, race organizer Matt Musiel is looking for volunteers to help work at the event. E-mail him at mmusiel@bellevue.edu if you are willing and able. Volunteers get a free T-shirt.
Fireworks: The 2026 Old Settlers fireworks show will be bigger than usual to celebrate the USA semiquincentennial. To help with that goal, donation buckets have been placed at various businesses to support the Saturday night fireworks extravaganza.
Time capsule: As part of Saturday night’s Happy Birthday America party, the time capsule in the park near the swimming pool will be opened. After the weekend, the capsule will be sealed for another 25 years. If you have a contribution or an idea as to what to include in the new time capsule, please reach out to an Old Settlers Planning Committee member or e-mail NorthBendChamber@gmail.com.
Old settler look-alike contest: Also during the Saturday night birthday party, an old settler look-alike contest will be held. Dress up as a 1850’s pioneer or your favorite Founding Father for a chance to win a whole processed hog.
Alumni Golf Tournament: The Old Settlers four-person scramble is sponsored by the North Bend Central Booster Club. Register by contacting Broc Blanchard at broc15@hotmail.com. The nine-hole tournament will have a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Players do not have to be NBC alumni, but they must be 21 or older.
Cornhole Tournament: The Old Settlers Cornhole Tournament will be Saturday afternoon.The field will be limited to the first 32 two-person teams to register, which can be done by e-mailing NorthBendBags@gmail.com.
A $725 prize pool will go to six teams, assuming a full field. Registration is $40 and tournament play will be separated into two divisions after pool play.
Old Settlers Vendor Fair: The sixth annual craft and vendor fair will be Saturday morning in the park featuring homemade items, gifts, decor and more. If you have a crafting side gig and would like to reserve a vendor table, contact Randi Mimick at 507-829-9686 by June 22. Proceeds go to support the NBC cheer and dance teams.
Kickball tournament: Sign up your kickball team for this all-ages tournament by contacting Randi Mimick at 507-829-9686 by June 22. The tournament is on Old Settlers Saturday.
Card tournaments: Carry Gerke has hosted a pitch tournament for the past several Old Settlers. This year it is expanding to include a cribbage tournament at 9 a.m. Old Settlers Saturday and Texas hold ‘em at 5. The pitch tournament is full – though you can sign up as a stand by if someone doesn’t show up – but there is still room to play cribbage or poker. Preregistration is required by calling Gerke at 402-317-9500.
Old Settlers Car Show: The car show returns downtown mid-day Saturday. Shine up and show off your car or vehicle. Register the day of the show between 9 and 10:30 a.m. at the North Bend Fire Department.
Old Settlers Parade: The parade’s theme this year is “Old Settlers and Founding Fathers,” inspired by the 250th birthday of the United States.
The parade will follow its usual route from the high school to the city park via 10th Street. Cash prizes go to the best business and organization floats. No preregistration is required. Register during staging in the NBC high school parking lot from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
T-shirts: The official T-shirts of the 2026 Old Settlers can be ordered through a link on the Old Settlers page of NorthBendNE.com. Order shirts by June 16 to have them in time for Old Settlers weekend. There will not be a T-shirt stand at Old Settlers this year, so ordering online is the only way to acquire them.
Trash duty: The Chamber is looking for someone or a group of someones to help keep the park clean during Old Settlers. This pays $750 and involved periodically emptying trash barrels in the park into the dumpster and restocking bathroom supplies. E-mail NorthBendChamber@gmail.com if interested.
This has been just a partial listing of Old Settlers events focusing on events that take prior preparation. See NorthBendNE.com for the complete schedule of activities and further information.
Read the full story in the print or e-edition.
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