NEBRASKA CITY – Special  COVID-19 practices are recommended for the AppleJack Festival at Nebraska City.

Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce says masks are encouraged at businesses and events.

CHI Health St. Mary’s held a free mask drive-through on Wednesday in preparation for the festival.

The hospital’s Traci Reuter the distribution was intended to help NCTC in its call for festival goers to mask up.

Reuter: “It slows the spread of coronavirus. It protects others, so, when you mask up you’re protecting someone else from spreading the coronavirus or any type of … even influenza, so we just thought this would be a great opportunity to protect our community members.

Reuter: “We know we have the marching band competition coming in and other visitors coming in, so we just want to promote that masking up.”

Hand sanitizing stations are being positioned and many businesses are open extended hours to spread out crowds.

For example, Arbor Day Farm is taking reservations at its website to ensure a spot for visitors while allowing room for social distancing. Visitors are asked to purchase a ticket a week in advance for any of the four AppleJack weekends.

AppleJack Events Friday include the Extreme Bull Riding Tour at Hidden Falls from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets purchased online can be picked up at the gate. Mutton bustin’ starts at 5 p.m. and The Dylan Bloom Band will play until 1 a.m.

Nebraska City Museums will be open.

Chris Dewey’s wood carvings will be on display at the Wildwood Historic Center beginning 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting will host water barrel fights at 4 p.m.

The Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Visitor Center will host a replica of the “White Pirogue,”  the only one of three boats to start the journey in 1804 and return with the crew in the fall of 1806. The White Pirogue will also be in the parade.

The 52nd annual AppleJack Parade is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday

Food courts are planned at the the Arbor Bank lot, 16th Street and Central and Arbor Day Farm

Alpha Omega Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi is organizing the 2020 AppleJack Fun Run is set at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Steinhart Park. A 1-mile kids run is at 8:30 a.m.

Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard has hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but is closed on weekends until Oct. 10.

Sunday

The Eagles Antique Tractor Show is Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 36th annual River City Classics Car Club AppleJack Car Show is Sunday at 8 a.m.

Sept. 27

The Nebraska Bloody Mary State Championship is scheduled Sunday, Sept. 27.

Oct. 4

The Taste of AppleJack Recipe Contest and All Things Apple events are scheduled Sunday, Oct. 4.

Oct. 10

A food truck street fair is planned Oct. 10 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Kimmel Orchard open.