News Release

Homestead Days: Performance Series

Date: June 9, 2021
Contact: Amber Kirkendall, 4022234514

Homestead National Historical Park News Release 

For Immediate Release  

Release Date: June 9, 2021 

Contact: Amber Kirkendall [phone] 

Homestead Days: Performance Series 

Beatrice, Nebraska – Homestead Days 2021 is coming soon! We invite you to Homestead National Historical Park on Friday, June 25, 2021 through Sunday, June 27, 2021.  This year’s stage presentations will feature performers and presenters whose art and knowledge can find some of its roots in the Homestead Era.  The event will take place on the outdoor stage behind the Education Center. 

Friday, June 25 

10 a.m.                        Miss V, Children Musical Performance 

2 p.m.                          Miss V, Family Musical Performance             

Miss V, offers a musical program for children using classical and homemade instruments. V provides an overview of the instrument’s historic origins and leads the group in lively tunes.  

Saturday, June 26 

12:00   p.m.                 Ceili at the Crossroads, Irish Dance Company 

1:00 p.m.                    D. Joshua Taylor, speaker-cohost of PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow 

2:00 p.m.                     Mariachi Zapata, Mariachi Music 

3:00 p.m.                     Homestead Harmonizes, A Capella Choir 

Ceili at the Crossroads is a professional Irish dance company located in the heart of Kansas City that seeks to promote the joy of Irish dancing to the community. D. Joshua Taylor is a nationally known and recognized speaker and author on genealogy and family history and has been a featured genealogist on Who Do You Think You Are? with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Clarkson, Ashley Judd, Reba McEntire, and Rob Lowe. Taylor can also be seen taking America through their past as a host on the popular PBS series Genealogy Roadshow. Mariachi Zapata is an Omaha, Nebraska based band that plays traditional mariachi music. The Homestead Harmonizers are a men’s barbershop chorus whose members range in age from 14 to 80 plus years old. The melodic tones and precision in their music has led them to many state and national honors, including singing the National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs baseball game!  

Sunday, June 27 

1:00 p.m.                    Oklahoma Fancy Dancers, Native American Indian Dance Troupe 

2:00 p.m.                     Joan Wells, Trick Roper 

3:00 p.m.                     D. Joshua Taylor, speaker-cohost of PBS’s Genealogy Roadshow 

4:00 p.m.                     The Kenny Janak Orchestra, Traditional Czech Orchestra  

The Oklahoma Fancy Dancers are a group of powwow champions that come together to form a professional and highly acclaimed Native American dance troupe. All the dancers are enrolled tribal members, representing various tribes. The award-winning dance regalia worn by each dancer is brilliantly colorful, traditional, and representative of the dancer's tribe and dance performed. Joan Wells is a native Nebraskan and holds a B.A. in Physical Education from the University of Nebraska-Kearney with additional course work in Adult Education and Sports Studies. Joan has toured with her trick roping and western music for the National School Assemblies Agency of Hollywood, CA and won the title as Women’s World Champion Trick Roper at the Will Rogers Trick Roping Contest in Claremore, OK. In 1989 she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth. Joan continues to perform for western theme events, conventions, schools, stage shows, and wild west show re-enactments.  The Kenny Janak Orchestra is a seven-piece Czech-style polka band from Omaha, Nebraska. 

“The Homestead Act played a significant role in the National Story.  Many Americans’ personal stories are tied to the Homestead Act.  Our stage series will explore different topics and art forms that can find some of its roots in the Homestead Act Of 1862”, stated Superintendent Mark Engler. 

This event series will be outside and socially distant.  Each individual performance is dependent on weather conditions.  This year’s festivities are limited to the stage series.  This event is made possible by the generosity of The Friends of Homestead and The Hevelone Foundation. Admission to Homestead Historical Park and all events are free. 

Remember, Homestead National Historical Park has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2021. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNHP) and Facebook (Homestead National Historical Park). 

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