Photos: Seward goes all out for America's 250th birthday
Nebraska's Fourth of July City went big for America 250 on Saturday. See our photos here.
Bryan DeWilde of Omaha pops his chewing gum bubble while competing in the bubble blowing contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
LUXE Dance Academy senior cloggers perform during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Josalea Wilkie holds her bottle-fed goat Maple after the best pet costume event during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
As rain begins to pour, bystanders seek cover to wait out the rain during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Kayla Arneson reacts after winning the final of the apple pie eating contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
As rain begins to pour, people seek cover to wait out the rain during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
A man wearing an America 250 hat checks his phone during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Competitors take part in the annual apple pie eating contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Kayla Arneson celebrates after winning the apple pie eating contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday.
Seward’s Clark Kolterman, better known around town as Mr. Fourth of July, poses for a portrait during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Margaret Mayes cleans rain droplets off of her Model A after a small storm rolled through the area during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Joshua Bradley of Bradley's BonBon, sets up his booth during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Andrew Imig tries to recover his bubblegum from his nose as he competes in the bubblegum blowing contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
People seek cover to wait out the rain during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
People seek cover to wait out the rain during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Josalea Wilkie holds her bottle-fed goat Maple after the best pet costume event during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Contestants take part in the best decorated bike contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Maple, owned by Josalea Wilkie, wears a costume for a contest at Seward's Fourth of July festival Saturday.
Artemis Joesph, left, competes in the apple pie eating contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
After popping his bubblegum, Bryan DeWilde of Omaha tries to return the bubblegum to his mouth without using his hands in the bubble blowing contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Apple pie eating contestants gobble up their slice of pie during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Festival attendees peruse downtown Seward during the city's Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Attendees in the youth division of the apple pie eating contest, rush to finish the sweets on their plates during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
People try to grab the attention of Seward’s Clark Kolterman, not pictured, Saturday during the city's Fourth of July festival. Kolterman picks the competitors in the pie-eating and bubblegum-blowing contests.
Kayla Arneson eats her slice of pie as quickly as she can in the apple pie eating contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Seward native Annie Curtis laughs as her bubble bursts in the bubblegum blowing contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday.
Children in the youth division of the apple pie eating contest rush to finish the sweets on their plates during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Thousands of attendees flood the street during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Clark Kolterman, from left, announces Kayla Arneson as the winner of the apple pie eating contest, as she is also presented with a shirt from Tim Cartwright, the bicentennial winner of the contest, during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Ken Baldinger, dressed up as Uncle Sam, stands outside the Seward County courthouse during Seward's Fourth of July festival Saturday. The festival's theme this year was "One Nation, Many Stories" to honor America's 250th birthday.
Sisters Daphne and Molly Miller, from left, answer questions about their decorated bikes as they compete in the best decorated bike contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Amy Martin scratches the chin of her cat Pablo as she competes with him in the best pet costume contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Tim Cartwright won Seward's Fourth of July apple pie eating contest three years in a row, including in 1976.
Festival attendees walk through the car show after a small rain shower during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Kids in the youth division of the apple pie eating contest, rush to finish the sweets on their plates during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Jack Moss, left, eats his slice of pie while racing against others in the men's division of the apple pie eating contest during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Evelyn Ronne walks across the Seward Park bandshell stage as she shows off her bike in the annual decorated bike competition during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Seward’s Clark Kolterman, better known around town as Mr. Fourth of July, has chaired the city's Independence Day festival for 58 years.
Margaret Mayes, left, cleans rain droplets off of her Model A after a small storm rolled through the area during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Molly Richter races Paige Yonda, 6, during Seward’s Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2026, in downtown Seward.
Despite a bout of rain early Saturday, thousands flocked to Seward for the city's 158th annual Fourth of July celebration.