43rd Annual Wayne Chicken Show 

Coordinated by the Wayne Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chicken Show is a fun event held annually on the second Saturday in July. Founded by the Wayne Regional Arts Council, the first show was held in 1981. The theme of “chickens” was chosen because of 1) the potential for art materials; 2) most people have knowledge and familiarity with chickens; and, 3) chickens can be considered with humor. The Wayne Chicken Show received the 1996 Nebraska Outstanding Tourism Award and was selected in 1999, along with four other community events in America, to be featured in the Library of Congress.

Themes 2023 - Eggscaliber: Are you worthy to pluck the sword from the egg?

Chicken Show Facts

- Founded by the Wayne Regional Arts Council

- Held annually on the weekend of the second Saturday in July since 1981.

- The theme of “chickens” was chosen because:

1) most people have knowledge and familliarity with chickens;

2) chickens can be considered with humor;

3) the potential for art materials.

- The Chicken Show received the 1996 Nebraska Outstanding Tourism Award and was selected in 1999, along with four other community events in America, to be featured in the Library of Congress.

- Wayne Chicken Show 2005 was the winner of two Nebraska State Pinnacle Awards from the Nebraska Festival and Events, Inc.

- Wayne Chicken Show was an official event for the Nebraska Sesquicentennial in 2017.

43rd Annual Wayne Chicken Show Events

Friday, July 7

Henoween Location: Downtown Wayne (1st & Main to 3rd & Main)

Designated Handicap Parking: West 3rd Street (Alley to Pearl Street) 

- 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Cluck-tique Sidewalk Market: Downtown Wayne

- 10:00 am Ye Olde Chicken Show Chamber Coffee: Chamber Gazebo, 200 block of Main Street

- 10:00 am-3:00 pm Sidewalk Chalk Competition: Blue Cat Gallery & Studio, 114 W 3rd Street

Judging from 3:00-5:00 pm

- 10:00 am-5:00 pm Art Exhibit: Ekeko Galleries, 110 Main Street

‘Signs of Rural Life: Junior Division’

- 3:30-4:30 pm KCAU Guest Weather: Brick Alleyway, 210-212 Main Street

- 4:30 pm Chicken Banjo Puppet Theatre: Wayne Public Library, 410 Pearl Street

- 5:00-7:00 pm Art Reception: Blue Cat Gallery & Studio, 114 W 3rd Street

‘Chickens & Other Signs of Rural Life’

- 5:00-9:00 pm Pie & Ice Cream Social: City Auditorium, 3rd & Pearl Streets Hosted by Eastern Star Chapter #194

- 5:00-9:00 pm Cluck-tible & Information Booth: Chamber Gazebo, 200 block of Main Street

**Parade Float Numbers at Info Booth**

- 6:00-10:00 pm Food, Kids’ Activities & Vendors: Downtown Wayne

- 6:00 pm Chicken Jousting by 5 Spurs Ranch: Downtown Wayne

- 6:00 pm WORLD’S LARGEST CHICKEN DANCE: 2nd & Main Streets

Led by WSC & WHS Cheer Squads

Music by Big Red Country 104.9 & The City 98.9/1590

- 6:30-10:00 pm MAIN STAGE, 3RD & MAIN STREETS:

- 6:30 pm National Anthem

- 6:35 pm Quilts of Valor Presentation

- 7:00 pm Cement Chicken Auction

- 8:00 pm Saucy Hot Wing Eating Contest

Pre-Register at Pizza Hut or on-site

- 8:30 pm Free Entertainment

The Flying Chicken Comedy Juggling Show

Performed by Ye Olde Feathered Fool

(Brad Weston)

- 10:00 pm LIGHT UP THE SKY FIREWORKS:

Summer Sports Complex/Prairie Park, 801 E 4th Street

Saturday, July 8

Parade Location: Downtown Wayne (1st & Main to 10th & Main to Bressler Park)

Chicken Show Location: Bressler Park (9th & Lincoln Streets)

Designated Handicap Parking: Masonic Lodge (10th & Lincoln Streets)

- 7:00 am 5K & 1 Mile Chicken Run: Providence Medical Center, 1200 Providence Road

Pre-Register: getmeregistered.com/WayneChickenRun

- 7:30-9:30 am Kiwanis Omelet Feed: Indoor/Outdoor Seating, 2nd & Main Streets

- 8:30 am-1:00 pm Free Young Eagles Plane Rides: Wayne Municipal Airport, 2304 E Highway 35

Weather Permitting; Ages 8-17; Parental Consent Required

Sponsored by: EAA Chapter 291/Martin Field

- 9:00 am-3:00 pm PieceMakers Quilt Show: Masonic Lodge, 10th & Lincoln Streets

Chicken Quilt Raffle Drawing, 3:00 pm

- 9:00 am Chicken Crowing Contest: Rent one or bring your own, and see who crows the most!

- 9:30 am Ye Olde Chicken Show Parade: 

Clucking all the way from 1st & Main to 10th Street, then past

Bressler Park; Pre-Register at www.chickenshow.com

- 10:00 am-5:00 pm Art Exhibit: Blue Cat Gallery, 114 W 3rd Street

‘Chickens & Other Signs of Rural Life’

- 10:00 am-5:00 pm Art Exhibit: Ekeko Galleries, 110 Main Street

‘Signs of Rural Life: Junior Division’

- 11:00 am-3:00 pm Wayne County Museum: Museum Open for Self Guided Tours, 702 Pearl Street

- 12:00-4:00 pm SATURDAY IN BRESSLER PARK: Cluck-tible & Information Booth; Inflatables;

Live Chicken Area; Dusty Roads Petting Zoo;

Arts, Crafts & Food Vendors;

- 12:00 pm Banjo Chicken Puppet Show

- 12:00 pm Contest Registration Opens:

Bressler Park, Near the Stage

- 1:00 pm Chicken Egg Judging: Judge eggs as biggest, smallest & most unusual!

- 1:00 pm Chicken Scratch for Prizes

Sponsored by: Tom Hansen, CPA, Gerhold

Concrete, Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust, FNBO

F&M Bank, State Nebraska Bank & Trust

- 1:00 pm Live Chicken Flying: Fly your own chicken or rent one!

- 1:00 pm Best Chicken Legs: Sponsored by Raising Canes

- 1:30 pm WAYNE CHICKEN SHOW NATIONAL CLUCK-OFF:

Registration begins at 12:00 pm

Categories: 13 & Under; 14 & Over

Total Prize Money: $400

Must last 15 seconds;

Must act & sound like a chicken;

Must be heard across the barnyard!

- 2:00 pm Pizza Hut Hard Boiled Egg Eating Contest:

Registration begins at 12:00 pm

Total Prize Money: $400

Eat as many eggs as possible in 2 minutes!

- 2:30 pm Rubber Chicken Chuck:

Chuck a rubber chicken across the barnyard!

- 3:00 pm Egg Toss:

Teams of 2 tossing an egg without breaking it!

- 3:30 pm Egg Drop & Catch:

Catch a raw egg with your bare hands!

Each catch increases the drop height.

- 12:00 pm Planetarium Shows (Hourly)

Carhart Science Building, WSC

FREE tickets available at Cluck-tible Booth

- 1:00 pm Cornhole Tournament:

Wayne County Fairgrounds, 301 Pheasant Run Road

Details/Pre-Register Zac Braun - (402) 369-4369

- 5:00-7:00 pm Renaissance Games at Dreamer’s Place:

Sponsored by 5 Spurs Ranch, 85726 575th Avenue

- Majestic Theatre - Movie Promotion

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

$5/person (Regular Hours)

- 10:00 pm Karaoke

The Max Bar & Grill, 109 Main Street

Sunday, July 9

Crowing Motors Car Show Location: Downtown Wayne (2nd & Pearl Streets)

Music in the Park Location: Bressler Park (9th & Lincoln Streets)

- 11:00 am-3:00 pm CROWING MOTORS CAR SHOW:

Downtown Wayne, 2nd & Pearl Streets

Registration begins at 10:00 am; NO COST to enter;

All vehicles welcome; Prizes awarded by spectator vote.

Contact Kirk Sommerfeld, (402) 375-4996

- 2:00-4:00 pm Wayne County Museum:

Museum Open for Self Guided Tours, 702 Pearl Street

- 5:00 pm Bressler-fest Presents: Music in the Park

Featuring: Wayne County Troubadours

You can purchase all your Cluck-tibles at the Wayne Area Economic Development Office or at the Clucktibles Booth.

2023 Official T-shirt Designed by Chicken Show Committee & Stadium Sports The Wayne Chicken Show involves volunteers who donate time, talents and financial support, helping to make this festival fun for all who attend.

Date: July 7-9, 2023

Location: Various locations in Wayne, NE 

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