State of play

Nebraska’s the right place for travelers looking for a new adventure. From inspiring races to state park historical adventures, here are some event picks for travelers who want to gear up and join in the action or watch for fun. I-80 Speedway Racing Season, Greenwood, April 4 to October 13 One of Nebraska’s two NASCAR Home Tracks, I-80 Speedway in will rev up any race fan with exciting dirt track racing. Gearheads will love seeing all their favorite late models, A Mods, Pro Ams, B Mods, Grand Nationals, Hornets, sprint cars and hobby stock tear up the track every week. [caption id="attachment_787" align="alignright" width="368"] At Fort Atkinson State Historical Park near Fort Calhoun, living history demonstrations provide a fruitful lesson for young and old alike.[/caption] Living History Weekends at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, Ft. Calhoun, May 4–5; June 1–2; July 6–7; Aug. 3–4; Aug. 31–Sept. 1 and Oct. 5–6 Visitors can explore history in a new way at Ft. Atkinson’s Living History Weekends. Volunteers recreate the lives of the soldiers, artisans and civilians who lived in and around the fort with cooking demonstrations, military drills, blacksmithing and crafts. 36th Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half Marathon, Citywide, Lincoln, May 5 Approximately 10,000 runners take to the streets of Lincoln for this fast, fun and friendly race that begins and ends on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mud Sweat & Beers 7K Trail Run, Quarry Oaks, Ashland, May 18 For runners and beer lovers alike, anyone who braves this 7-kilometer trail run through mud, creeks and hilly terrain will be rewarded with a refreshing pint. A beer stop at mile two helps keep the motivation flowing. Return to the Lincoln Highway Car Show, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Grand Island, May 18 Indiana entrepreneur Carl Fisher dreamed of a toll-free paved road that would connect New York City in the east to San Francisco in the west. His dream became a reality in 1913 with the 3,380-mile Lincoln Highway. The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer honors the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first transcontinental highway with a day full of classic cars and historic programs.