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Lyons, Neb. - A community-driven art project celebrating Nebraska’s rural towns will showcase art fixtures along the Byway of Art in Decatur, Oakland, and Lyons on Saturday, Sept. 30. The project is administered by the Center for Rural Affairs.
During Byway of Art Tour, the public has an opportunity to learn about Decatur's rural legends at the trolley, dedicate and experience a musical on Oakland's Lycka Till, and take in a movie at Lyons' Storefront Theater. The free event is scheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. in Decatur, 5 to 7 p.m. in Oakland, and 7 to 9 p.m. in Lyons.
“Visitors will start in Decatur, where local residents will share history and folklore at the trolley,” said Kathie Starkweather, Center for Rural Affairs’ Farm and Community program director. “You can pick up a passport and get your first stamp at the trolley. Then walk over to the Decatur Museum to learn more and to get another stamp.”
The trolley is located in downtown Decatur on Broadway Street, and Decatur Museum is at 400 W. Eighth St.
The next stop on the tour is the most recent installment of the Byway of Art, Oakland’s Lycka Till, a mobile stage with a backdrop of Swedish row homes. The stage will be placed in front of the Oakland City Auditorium at 401 N. Oakland Ave. Lycka Till made its debut at the Swedish Festival in May, and will be dedicated during the Byway of Art Tour.
A performance after the dedication will be “Ole’s Last Bow,” a musical based on a true story of Ole Ivverson, one of the last Swedish vaudeville performers. Community organizers will be on hand to stamp passports. Supper will be available for purchase.
The day will wrap up in Lyons with “Decades” a movie about the history of downtown Lyons, and free popcorn at the Storefront Theater, at 214 Main St. For final stamps on their passports, visitors can stop by Andromeda Gallery, 210 N. Main St., and Cosmic Studios, at 206 N. Main St.
Event attendees who have collected stamps at all locations can sign up for a grand prize. The drawing will take place at 8 p.m. at the Storefront Theater. Must be present to win.
Each of the three projects stem from community conversations.
“The first step was to bring folks together in an outdoor living room setting where people talked about their towns,” said Starkweather. “From those conversations, ideas for each community art project were born.”
The first two Byway of Art projects launched in 2015 – a Storefront Theater in Lyons that won a national award in 2016 for “compelling public art” and a trolley car in Decatur that serves as a small event venue.
Passports for the Byway of Art Tour are available to pick up the day of the event at both Decatur locations at no cost.
