Logan County’s Summer of Celebration Kicks Off June 6

The wide open skies of northeastern Colorado are about to get a whole lot louder, brighter, and more festive. Logan County has packed June and July with reasons to pull off the highway, lace up your sneakers, and stick around for a while. From a kickoff bash for the nation’s 250th birthday to fireworks at Pioneer Park, here is your blueprint for a summer worth bragging about.

Kick Off Summer at the Hometown Celebration on June 6

Block out Saturday, June 6 from 9 AM to 4 PM right now. Downtown Sterling is shutting down 2nd and Main for an all-day Hometown Celebration at 120 Main Street, and it is doing triple duty as a milestone moment for Logan County.

Hosted by the Family Resource Center (which is also marking its 20th anniversary) in partnership with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, this free, all-ages party is the official local kickoff for two big birthdays: the 250th anniversary of the United States and Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood. That is a lot of candles on one cake, and Sterling is doing it right.

Here is what is on tap:

• Free lunch for everyone, courtesy of the Family Resource Center.
• Live music from Janelle Irwin and Jordan Suter. A VFW flag presentation honoring our nation’s milestone.
• Street vendors, bouncy houses, the arcade bus, face painting, and farmers market booths up and down Main Street.
• Resource Row, where you can connect with local nonprofits and community partners.

Parking is free, the streets are closed, and the whole downtown turns into one big front porch for the day. Bring the family, bring your appetite, and stick around long enough to wander, listen, and run into half the people you know.

Grab the full rundown and your free ticket on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sterling-hometown-celebration-tickets-1988496122431

One More Thing: Pick Up Your Logan County 2026 Community Passport

While you are at the Hometown Celebration on June 6, be sure to grab your Logan County 2026 Community Passport. It is your ticket to eight signature events happening across the county all year long. Get a stamp at each event you attend, then turn in your completed passport at the end of the year for a prize. It is the simplest way to make sure you do not miss a single thing in 2026, and a fun excuse to make a few more memories along the way.

Father’s Day Weekend: Make It a Two-Day Thing

Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 21, but the celebration starts the night before. On Saturday, June 20, the High Plains Truck and Tractor Pull thunders into the Logan County Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Hosted by the NJC Young Farmers and sanctioned by NSPA, the pull brings roaring engines, food vendors, and a crowd that knows exactly how to spend a Saturday night. Bring Dad, bring the kids, and bring earplugs if you need them. This is hometown horsepower at its best.

Then build a Sunday around things Dad actually loves to do. A few ideas that pair perfectly with the long Colorado daylight:

Spend the day on the water at North Sterling State Park. Open on Sunday, the park’s warm water and sandy beaches are tailor-made for an afternoon of swimming, fishing, or simply floating with a cold drink in hand.

Hit the links at one of Logan County’s golf courses for an early tee time.

Grab dinner at Parts and Labor Brewing Company in the former Bill’s Motors 1926 building. The vintage garage atmosphere and locally brewed wheat beer make it a Father’s Day winner.

Take a slow drive on the Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic Byway and let the open road do the talking.

A quick heads up: the Overland Trail Museum is closed on Sundays, and several downtown restaurants close on Sundays as well, so call ahead or check hours before you load up the car.

Get Out on the Gravel: Sterling’s New Cycling Hub Is Live

If your idea of a perfect Saturday involves wide-open roads, a tailwind, and a lake on the horizon, Sterling has been waiting for you. The brand-new gravel cycling guide is printed and ready for pickup, and the gravel cycling site at exploresterling.com/activities/gravel-cycling is officially live.

With more than 1,600 miles of quiet, rural roads winding past working farms, big skies, and open plains, Logan County is quickly earning its spot on every gravel rider’s bucket list. The Gravel Adventure Field Guide for Logan County is a pocket-sized companion full of GPS routes, illustrated maps, original artwork, and local stories. Stop by the Logan County Visitor Information Center at 102 N. Riverview Road to grab your copy.

Once you have logged your miles, the fun is just getting started. A few ways to round out the ride:

Refuel and recover at Hootenannie’s, where the cold drafts hit differently after a long morning of gravel.

Pack the binoculars and add a birdwatching stop. Northeastern Colorado is a flyway favorite, and the prairie raptors and shorebirds along the way are absolute bucket-list sightings.

Cool off at North Sterling State Park. The sandy beaches and warm, gradually sloping water are practically calling your name after a long ride.

Spin into downtown Sterling for a post-ride coffee and a wander through Sterling Creatives, the local artist co-op.

Whether you have one afternoon or one long weekend, this is gravel riding the way it was meant to be: quiet, scenic, and built around hometown hospitality.

The Logan County Farmer’s Market Is Coming Back

There is nothing quite like an evening at the Logan County Farmer’s Market, and after a long winter, it officially opens for the season on June 27. Locally grown, locally made, and always worth the trip, the market sets up shop in the Bomgaars parking lot in Sterling.

Mark down these times:

• Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Plan a midweek dinner around what you grab, or make Saturday morning your new weekend ritual. From honey and baked goods to fresh produce as the season builds, the market is one of the easiest ways to support local growers and makers while picking up the best the region has to offer.

Star-Spangled Sterling: A Full Fourth of July Weekend

The Fourth of July lands on a Saturday in 2026, which means we are turning Independence Day into a full-blown weekend. Here is how it shakes out.

Friday, July 3: July Jamz kicks off the season on the Logan County Courthouse Square from 6 to 9 p.m. Expect free live music, food trucks, local vendors, and a beer garden under the courthouse lights. It is the official “summer is on” moment, and you will not want to miss opening night.

Saturday, July 4: The Heritage Festival takes over the Overland Trail Museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Step into living history with hands-on demonstrations, vintage games, music, food, and the kind of old-school charm that makes you want to slow way down.

As evening rolls in, head over to the Home Depot parking lot, where a local music store will have bands playing leading up to the main event. Stick around for free Saturday night music, then settle in at Pioneer Park for fireworks starting at dark. Bring lawn chairs, bring blankets, bring the whole crew.

It is a one-day, all-day kind of holiday, and Sterling does it right.