Enjoy festive family fun at Indian Cave’s Campfire Christmas in July

LINCOLN, Neb. – For a touch of holiday cheer at a beautiful park, bring the family to Indian Cave State Park on July 26-27 for the 6th Annual Campfire Christmas in July.

Traditional holiday activities include visits with Santa, lighted Polar Express hayrack rides, a Yule log quest, holiday craft and Christmas-themed outdoor movies. Try your hand at the antler toss, snowball toss and horseshoes, and snack on tin roof sundaes, popcorn, pop and roasted hot dogs.

Other activities throughout the weekend include a campground decorating competition, kids’ pony rides, a waterslide, face painter, bounce house, and a half-price youth lifetime permit drawing. Visitors on July 27 also may enjoy browsing the Jingle Bell Junk & Craft Market.

For a full schedule, visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov or call the park at 402-883-2575 for more details. A park entry permit is required for each vehicle entering the park.

Enjoy friendly competition at Steel Plate Challenge Aug. 10

LINCOLN, Neb. – For a fun competition set in a family-friendly atmosphere, test your shooting skills at Platte River State Park’s Steel Plate Challenge on Aug. 10.

The Steel Plate Challenge is a great way to get started in competitive shooting or improve shooting skills. The rules are simple: when the buzzer sounds, participants will rapidly engage targets made from armor plate at relatively close distances, shooting each target at least once as rapidly as possible.

The competition is part of National Shooting Sports Month, which celebrates a pastime that provides a lifetime of enjoyment. Target shooting is fun, safe, and offers activities that men, women and youth of all ages and sizes can enjoy both recreationally and competitively.

The Steel Plate Challenge is open to ages 12 and up, and costs $15 per person. It will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Pre-registration is required, and firearms and ammunition will be provided. Register at outdoornebraska.org/OHEC.

Platte River State Park is located near Louisville in Cass County. A park permit is required of every vehicle entering the park.