Enders Lake staff putting together another Outdoor Rendezvous of fun

    There’s something for everyone at next weekend’s Outdoor Rendezvous headquartered at Enders Lake Recreation Area.
    After a successful event last year as state parks celebrated their 100th year, Enders staff planned another big day of outdoor activities this year for Saturday, June 25.
    Park Supt. Beau Licking and park employee Dayna Scherbarth have been hard at work finalizing details.
    Events will include car, tractor and truck shows, a smoke-off contest, a craft show/sales, demonstrations such as blacksmithing, games and water activities, capped off with an evening concert.
    “It’s coming together real well. It will be an awesome day,” Scherbarth said.
    She said the schedule is set and volunteers are all lined up. They’d just like to see a few more entries in some of the vehicle shows, she said.
    The day begins early with a 5K run at 8 a.m. with registration starting at 7 a.m. near the fish cleaning station.
    Three separate vehicle shows are in the works for viewing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the lake, and Scherbarth said they’d like to see more entries in all of them.
    The Car Nutz club is organizing the car show, while Enders staff is gathering entries for its working truck and tractor shows. Awards will be given.
    Anyone wanting to bring in a car, tractor or truck for one of the shows can call the office to register ahead of time, or arrive by 8 a.m. that morning.
    Call the office for details at 308-394-5118.
Smoke-off, crafts
    Licking said entries for the smoke-off BBQ contest, presented by Wheeler Ranch, are now closed with 12 chefs expected. They will compete in four divisions—brisket, pork butt, a “mystery” meat and dessert.
    The meat will be distributed Friday night, and chefs will gather in the Area A campground for cooking. Awards will be announced Saturday at 5:30 p.m., after which people can enjoy the barbecued meats and desserts at 6 p.m., first come, first served.
    The craft show already has 22 spaces reserved, Scherbarth said, and there is room for more at $25 for a 10x10-foot space. Call the office to sign up.
    There will be a number of demonstrations throughout the day including dutch oven cooking, blacksmithing, canning techniques, how to build a campfire and more.
    Also on hand from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be the Game & Parks Crime Stoppers trailer, a petting zoo, a bouncy house for children and kayaking on the lake.
    Afternoon games are also in the works, including a horseshoe tournament (2-person teams) starting at 1 p.m., she added.
    After 3 p.m., attendees can take part in cornhole, ladder golf and water fights.
    The day will be capped off with a free concert from 7 to 10 p.m. featuring BD and the Boys, a Grand Island band that plays a mix of country and rock ‘n roll music.
Park passes needed
    Entry into Enders Lake Recreation Area will require a park pass, Licking said, which will be on sale that day on site.
    For residents of Nebraska, a season pass is $30 with a duplicate for another car or vehicle at $15. A day pass is $6.
    For non-residents, the season pass is $60, a duplicate is $30 and the day pass, $12.