HASTINGS, Neb. — Two events with historical ties to Nebraska will deliver entertainment this weekend in Hastings.

Kool-Aid Days honors the state soft drink, which Edwin Perkins created in Hastings in 1927. Board Vice President Beau Huffman says the annual festival provides a big tourism boost.

“It’s great for the local businesses in the area. It’s just a great, fun family event that anyone and everybody can come out no matter what your age," Huffman said. "There’s just so many different fun things for people to do.”

It’s the 25th anniversary of Kool-Aid Days, so the event will offer 25 flavors at its Kool-Aid stand — the highest amount ever. The only cost for people attending: a $3 basic cup, an upgraded color-change cup or a Kool-Aid stein.

“It’s really a great, cheap, cost-effective option for families to come out and have a lot of fun and not have a huge expense,” Huffman said.

The celebration goes from Friday to Sunday and includes activities at the Hastings Museum, a Saturday morning parade, a classic car show, a 5K fun run and cardboard boat races. It’s all put on by an unpaid group of organizers.

“It’s all driven basically, solely by volunteers to do something great for the community and the area as a whole,” Huffman said.

Drawing on hundreds of years of cowboy history in the state, Hastings is also hosting the Oregon Trail Rodeo in the evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The competition is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

“These are the guys and gals who do this often times for a living," Nicolaus said. "They are all working towards the ultimate goal, which is the national finals rodeo in December.”

Publicist Ruth Nicolaus says the rodeo will feature the same eight events every night but with different cowboys. She says the sport is set up to entertain.

“That bull cannot read a buckle to know if you’re a world champion or not. It’s a fresh matchup every time,” Nicolaus said.