Plans are coming together for the 2023 rendition of the Lady Vestey Victorian Festival. It is extra hard this year as the Superior Chamber of Commerce does not currently have a manager and the chamber’s manager has traditionally been the event coordinator.
However, volunteers have long played an important role in making the festivals a success and their role is even more important this year.
Like in the past, this year’s festival will be a blend of old and new ideas.
While the traditional style of carnivals which played at some of the first festivals are getting increasingly hard to find, the chamber has again contracted with Rocket Events to bring carnival like activities to downtown Superior. Like last year, the rides will be free.
A committee is working to bring back the Victorian Tea which had been a popular Saturday afternoon feature of previous festivals but was not part of last year’s activity lineup. The tea program will feature a Nebraska Humanities Council speaker.
The Superior Country Club is planning to again host Grill Games on Friday night.
The Nuckolls County Historical Society Museum will be open on Saturday and Sunday with demonstrations and probably programs.
Parades have traditionally been the best attended festival feature and entries are being sought for this year’s parade which will be held on Saturday morning. Entry forms will be available at several downtown locations including the City of Superior office. Helpers are needed to organize and direct the parade. After a decline in the number of entries last year, it is hoped the parade will back to its usual size this year.
To honor the memory of Lew Hunter, a native son who headed the University of California screen writing department and in retirement conducted screen writing classes in Superior, members of his family have been designated as this year’s grand marshals. They are expected to be in Superior on Memorial Weekend for a private funeral service and a public dance honoring Lew.
The festival theme which is the Reel Story also honors Hunter and memories associated with his career and other entertainers with connections to this area. A movie about Hunter and his Hollywood career will be shown at the Crest.
He thought members of his family likely gave shelter during a blizzard to members of the Jesse James gang. A Nebraska Humanities Council speaker has been asked to make a presentation on Jesse James in Nebraska. A sister of the outlaw may have lived in Superior. He likely passed through Superior while going to inspect land he purchased in the Franklin area.
Members of the Hunter family will be in Superior Memorial weekend for a private funeral service. They plan to sponsor a public dance in Lew’s memory that weekend.
Members of the auditorium committee have scheduled a full day of activities with a flea market, dance, and food opportunities.
Centennial Lutheran Church and the First Presbyterian Church will be providing food choices. Several food trucks are expected to be in Superior during the festival. Brodstone Healthcare’s Race to Remember is expected to start the Saturday morning activities.
There is still room on the schedule for more activities including activities for Sunday. Traditional Memorial Day activities will be on the schedule at Evergreen and neighboring cemeteries.
Teresa Erickson at Horizon Bank is serving as acting president of the chamber of commerce. Other chamber directors include Blake Erickson at GTA Insurance, Troy Scott at Scotts’ Sales, Alicia Kucera at Home Federal Bank, Maddie Pederson at Brodstone Healthcare, Jami Gunn at State Farm Insurance, Allison Fritsche at Glenwood Telecommunications and Kendra Morris at Superior Industries.
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