City of Seward prepares for semiquincentennial 4th of July celebration

Seward, NE (06/25/2026) — Every Fourth of July, nearly 40,000 visitors make their way to Seward, Nebraska, to experience the largest Fourth of July celebration in the state.

Seward's residents are quite passionate about the holiday. Celebratory events in Seward take place for several days around Independence Day each year.

Since 1969, celebration leadership has been directed by local high school and college-age youth. The celebration incorporated in 1980 and is made up of representatives of local, civic groups, high school organizations, businesses, religious organizations and individuals meeting monthly with the youth of the community to coordinate the annual celebration.

Festivities include a fireworks show, grand parade, food trucks, live entertainment, a craft fair, lectures, book talks, a car show, a freedom run, a home decorating contest, a corn hole tournament and much more. This year's celebration will also incorporate the dedication of new Nebraska National Guard Museum exhibits.

The annual apple pie eating contest and bubble gum contests, which were established by the Seward Rotary Club in 1971, are still popular today. The world's largest time capsule - which is in Seward - was dedicated on July 4, 1975, and holds thousands of articles, ranging from a new 1975 automobile to t-shirts. The time capsule was opened during the 2025 July 4 festivities.

The city's first Independence Day celebration was in 1868 and was celebrated on the town square, where many events are still conducted today. In 1973, Nebraska Governor J. James Exon designated Seward "Nebraska's Official 4th of July City." The city's celebration was also a highlight of the City of Seward Centennial in 1967 and in 1976. In 1976, American Revolution Bicentennial officials recognized Seward for its patriotic observances.

Concordia Nebraska faculty and students participate in the Independence Day festivities in a variety of ways. The university frequently has a float in the grand parade, and different student and faculty groups often volunteer to support different events and efforts throughout the days of celebration.

"We in the Concordia Nebraska community have the unique and wonderful opportunity to live and work in a place that many visit each year to celebrate our country's independence," said Concordia Nebraska Senior Director of Outreach, Relations and Engagement Jennifer Furr. "For more than 100 years, Concordia Nebraska has partnered with the community for these July 4 festivities. It is an honor to join with our neighbors near and far to give thanks for God's blessings to these United States, and to spend quality time with family, friends and colleagues celebrating through the many wonderful festivities and events that take place in our small town."

Several of Concordia Nebraska's faculty are giving presentations on July 4. Professor of Physics Dr. Brent Royuk will present "This Old House - 142 Seward Street" at 8:30 a.m. in the Civic Center East Fireplace Room. It will cover the history of Royuk's family house. Later, at 9 a.m. at Bottle Rocket Brewery, Dr. Joel Helmer will give a travelogue geography tour titled "From Down Under to the DMZ" about Australia and South Korea. Helmer is the university's chair of the department of history, geography, intercultural studies and modern languages. Then at 10 a.m. in the Civic Center's Room 1, Dr. Jerry Phabe, emeritus history professor, will give a presentation covering "Seward County during World War II." Dr. Kurt von Kampen, chair of the music department, will direct the Seward County High School Chamber Choir in "USA 250!" at 12:30 p.m. in the Civic Center Auditorium.

Professor Tobin Beck, chair of Concordia Nebraska's English, communication and theatre arts department, is scheduled to give two presentations. The first, at 11 a.m. in the Civic Center East Fireplace Room, will be about the life of Adaline Lindsey, a Black woman who escaped from slavery in Missouri during the Civil War and later settled in Seward in 1874, becoming part of a community of former slaves. Her grandson became the first Black physician in Davenport, Iowa.

The second will be at 2 p.m. Drawing from his experience of serving as executive director of United Press International in Washington D.C. when the 9-11 attacks occurred and reporting from Ground Zero in New York City ten days later, Beck will talk about the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9-11.

The theme for this year's semiquincentennial celebration is "One Nation - Many Stories."

A full schedule of this year's Seward area Fourth of July events are available at julyfourthseward.com.

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 1,700 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

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Weller Hall at Concordia University, Nebraska in Seward, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska

City of Seward prepares for semiquincentennial 4th of July celebration

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Concordia University, Nebraska

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