Tuxedo Park saw an influx of visitors on Sept. 18 as Celebrate Crete kicked off the evening. The event, a collaboration between Doane University and the City of Crete, celebrated the town’s diverse cultures and people. This was the first year for the event, held in place of the annual Back to School Community Picnic, which was canceled in early August due to construction at Doane University’s Perry Campus Center.
Festivities began at 5 p.m. and featured community tables, inflatable darts, food, music and entertainment. The City of Crete handed out free T-shirts to the first 500 attendees and provided free bags for all visitors. Community tables showcased local vendors, businesses and organizations, with items like jewelry, clothing, spices and trinkets for sale. Public Health Solutions hosted a teddy bear check-up station, where children could use a stethoscope and other tools to “examine” their bears before taking them home as new friends.
Food options included grilled chicken, tamales and nachos, all provided free of charge. However, due to the event’s popularity, food ran out toward the end, and latecomers were served hot dogs instead.
“We underestimated the amount of food,” said Stephanie Hemje, experiential learning coordinator at Doane. The snow cone station was especially popular, with Doane volunteers serving attendees throughout the evening.
Local Crete businesses were joined by the city’s police and fire departments. Firefighters parked their truck near the inflatable dartboard, keeping their lights on throughout the event. Doane’s mascot, Thomas the Tiger, also made an appearance, even joining attendees on the dance floor.
At 6:30 p.m., dancers from Wilber, Nebraska, performed traditional Czech dances from Czechoslovakia, a highlight of the evening. The dancers, who learned 10 traditional routines, typically perform at Wilber’s annual Czech festival. Crete Cardinal cheerleaders and the Crete High School band also performed, adding to the local talent showcased.
Although the event was scheduled to run from 5 to 8 p.m., many vendors began packing up early, with Doane volunteers noting that most tables were cleared by 8 p.m. The inflatable dartboard, a crowd favorite, remained up slightly past closing time to allow children a few final turns.
Celebrate Crete was part of the City of Crete’s Welcoming Week and a stop on the community passport. Despite the good turnout, it remains unclear whether the event will be hosted again next year. More information about other events and passport activities can be found on the City of Crete’s website.
