There are several events coming to Callaway in the next few weeks, all of which not only allow local residents to get together and have fun - but also allow opportunities to show off what makes this town so special. Each of these events is slated to bring lots of visitors to town.

The Callaway Chamber and many community volunteers have been gearing up for the arrival of 350 or more cyclists, and that event is now only five days away. BRAN – Bike Ride Across Nebraska - riders will arrive in town on Tuesday, June 7 for an overnight stay. Callaway has hosted this group many times over the past 40 years. This is a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to showcase our community, and make some money as the hundreds of riders and support personnel riding in from Thedford will need to eat several times on Tuesday and have breakfast early Wednesday morning before they leave for Ord.

Hosting BRAN involves the whole community, and Chamber president Ken Pitkin said it is the goal of the Chamber to make such a good impression that Callaway is named a Best Host Community. BRAN officials estimate that every host community receives a $10,000 to $20,000 impact with money spent in the community!

The cyclists aren’t just here to sleep and eat. They want to get to know Callaway and its people. The Chamber has created some opportunities for that by providing entertainment and smores in the mini park. There will be corn hole games, ladder golf, and blunt lawn dart games, and community members are providing lawn chairs in the mini park for riders to relax.

The public is encouraged to come out and mix and mingle with the cyclists for games and to join them at the local eating establishments. Mrs. Robinson's Cafe, Shotgun Annies, Henry's and Country Partners along with the Catholic Church, the American Legion, and the Chamber of Commerce will all offer supper choices that evening for the bikers and public. And the Senior Citizens will have homemade pie and ice cream at the Senior Center for all to enjoy.

The riders are expected to begin arriving in Callaway around mid afternoon and will be leaving town fairly early on Wednesday morning.