Callaway’s first Pioneer Picnic was held in 1933 in conjunction with the dedication of the first Custer County Courthouse in the town’s Morgan Park. Since then, only World War II has prevented the celebration from taking place.

For the most part, the Pioneer Picnic has consistently been a two-day event that, in the early days, featured a parade, races, baseball games, band concerts, and dances. Many of those events are still included in the festivities.

In 1938, the community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Callaway, and that year, one of the largest crowds in history was in attendance for the Pioneer Picnic. A special program under the direction of W.F. Haycock was held honoring the pioneers, with 250 registrants. Nebraska Gov. Roy L. Cochran was on hand to give a special address, and performances by the Broken Bow American Legion drum corps and the Callaway band highlighted the celebration.

The main feature of all of the Pioneer Picnics in those early years had been the “registering” of the pioneers. In 1939, there were 284 pioneers registered, and by 1966, there were only 23.

While the registering of the pioneers is no longer a thing, the tradition of celebrating the Pioneer Picnic lives on. Always held the last weekend in June, the event serves as a gathering opportunity for alumni and a chance to show off what makes Callaway such a special place.

The Callaway Chamber of Commerce plans and organizes the activities for the Pioneer Picnic, with the Alumni Association handling the banquet and program for former CHS students. One of the highlights of the weekend each year is the two-day rodeo, hosted by the Seven Valleys Rodeo Association.

The dates for the 2025 Pioneer Picnic are June 2729. On Friday the swimming pool will open at noon and the Seven Valleys Museum at 2 p.m. to welcome guests. Activities will kick off that evening with mutton busting at 6:30 p.m. at the Seven Valleys Rodeo Arena on Highway 40, followed by the rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the rodeo is $10 per person, with ages five and under getting in free.

From 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. the Tim Zach band will be playing at Henry’s Bar, and breakfast burritos will be available that night courtesy of Mrs. Robinson's Cafe.

The weekend kicks off Saturday morning with a fundraiser breakfast for the Callaway Good Life Center at the Community Center beginning at 7 a.m. Pancakes, sausage, eggs, fruit, coffee and juice will be served with proceeds benefiting the New Building Fund. The Callaway Good Life Center Board is also raising funds through the 'Give 4 Custer County' campaign through the month of June.

The breakfast will be followed at 8 a.m. by a fun run. The parade down Kimball Street, with this year’s theme “140 Years of Community” will get underway at 10:45 a.m., followed by food and games throughout the afternoon in Morgan Park.

Saturday will also feature the 2025 Callaway Pioneer Picnic Car Show in Morgan Park. All car show entries are invited to participate in the parade as well, which will begin lining up at 10:15 a.m. at the high school. All cars, trucks, motorcycles, pedal cars and farm vehicles are welcome to participate in the car show and parade.

Show registration begins at 9 a.m. and will go until noon, with awards presented at 3 p.m. There will also be a 50/50 raffle in conjunction with the car show, with half the money going to local charities. The raffle drawing will be held just prior to the car show awards presentation. For more information on the car show, contact Lee Bruns at 402-720-5454.

The Callaway American Legion and Sons of the American Legion will host burgers and brats at the Community Center Saturday evening beginning at 5 p.m., and a street dance in front of Henry’s will get rolling at 8:30 p.m. with live music.

Activities on Sunday begin with a biscuits and gravy breakfast at 9 a.m. at the Community Center hosted by the American Legion, followed by a church service in Morgan Park at 11 a.m. The rodeo slack competition will begin at 10 a.m. at the rodeo arena. The afternoon will include a kid’s and adult tractor pull, Bingo, dodgeball, and toad and turtle races.

The 2025 Pioneer Picnic will conclude Sunday evening with mutton busting at 4:30 and rodeo at 5:30 p.m.