Volunteers are being sought to help clean up and get ready for Callaway’s biggest event of the summer - Pioneer Picnic. The big event begins on Friday, June 28 and runs through Sunday, June 30.

Community volunteers are asked to meet at Morgan Park on Monday, June 24, at 5 p.m. with supplies in hand and a willingness to work. The focus will be to get the park ready for all of the weekend activities that will be taking place there.

The community’s brand new swimming pool opened to the public on June 1, and will open each day of the Pioneer Picnic at noon. The Seven Valleys Museum will open at 2 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday to welcome guests as well.

One of the most popular events of the Pioneer Picnic weekend is the Seven Valleys Rodeo. Action will kick off Friday evening, June 28, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The fun will continue downtown late into the night on Friday as Shotgun Annie’s welcomes The Jim Rice Band for a street dance from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. followed by a breakfast buffet. Meanwhile, Henry’s Bar will feature karaoke from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and breakfast burritos provided by Mrs. Robinson’s Cafe.

Saturday, June 29, will kick off with a Fun Run in Morgan Park at 8 a.m. and sidewalk chalk art fun in front of the Nigel Sprouse Library at 9 a.m. Henry’s Bar welcomes guests for their famous Bloody Mary’s beginning at 9:30 a.m., and the parade line-up at the school will begin at 10 a.m.

The theme of this year’s parade is “Callaway Strong”, and will get underway down Kimball Street at 10:45 a.m. The Cook Shack will open in the park at 11 a.m., operated by Mrs. Robinson’s Cafe, and the kid’s carnival will begin at 12 p.m. in the park.

The shade of Morgan Park will welcome visitors to the annual car show Saturday afternoon, which this year is under the direction of Greg Nelsen. Tropical Sno will be providing cool treats, and the Tail Twisters 4-H Club will be sponsoring a fun game of Cow Pie BINGO. All of those activities begin at noon.

At 12:30 p.m. all kids (and kids at heart) are invited to take part in the races, virtual reality truck, axe throwing, and bouncy houses, furnished by the Callaway Community Foundation.

Judy Meredith will also be furnishing train rides for the kids while the adults enjoy a game of BINGO with Gailord.

Other afternoon activities on Saturday include dodge ball in the park, a cornhole tournament at Henry’s Bar, and TeamMates duck races at the pool. The CHS alumni coffee will be at 2 p.m. at the Legion Hall, while a mad game of pickle ball will break out at 5 p.m. at the Community Center.

A street dance featuring the live music of Hockett, Drew Phillips, and Downtown Nowhere will begin at 8:30 p.m. at Henry’s with breakfast burritos. Shotgun Annie’s will again feature a breakfast buffet at midnight.

The Callaway American Legion will kick off the day on Sunday as they serve breakfast at the Community Center at 8 a.m. The Seven Valleys Rodeo slack gets underway at 10 a.m. at the rodeo grounds, and a community church service will be held at 11 a.m. in Morgan Park. The Cook Shack will also open at 11 a.m.

The kid’s tractor pull, sponsored by Sons of the American Legion, will begin at noon followed by BINGO with Gailord at 1 p.m. A “toad & turtle boogie” will begin at 2:30 p.m.

The 2024 Pioneer Picnic will conclude with the Seven Valleys Rodeo Sunday, June 30, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Rodeo activities will take place at the rodeo grounds located on Highway 40 east of town.

The Pioneer Picnic is planned and sponsored by the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, with a lot of help from community volunteers. Make plans now to spend your weekend, June 28-30, in Callaway.

Community volunteers are asked to meet at Morgan Park on Monday, June 24, at 5 p.m. with supplies to clean up for Pioneer Picnic!