Kool-Aid Days

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UniqueHastings
Dates14–16 August 2026Confirmed listing
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesKool-Aid Days works because it commits fully
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Kool-Aid Days in Hastings

Kool-Aid Days is Hastings, Nebraska's annual August festival celebrating the town's role as the birthplace of Kool-Aid, invented there by Edwin Perkins. The three-day event features a Grand Parade, a Kool-Aid drinking contest, Kardboard Boat Races, the World's Largest Kool-Aid Stand, classic cars, carnival rides, and discounted admission to the local Kool-Aid museum.

In the 1920s, a chemist named Edwin Perkins was experimenting in Hastings, Nebraska, trying to find a way to ship a popular liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack without the glass bottles breaking in transit.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Kool-Aid Days works because it commits fully to a single, quirky historical fact rather than diluting it into a generic small-town summer festival: Hastings really is where Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in the 1920s, and the town has built an entire festival vocabulary around that fact, down to a Kool-Aid drinking contest and a stand billed as the World's Largest

02

The mystery stays covered

Kool-Aid's status as Nebraska's official state soft drink gives the festival a genuine, state-recognized claim to the beverage rather than just local pride

03

The city starts moving

The event's yearly theme, changing annually while the core Kool-Aid activities stay fixed, also gives repeat visitors a reason to return

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Kool-Aid Days centers on activities directly tied to the drink's Hastings origin: a Kool-Aid drinking contest

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the World's Largest Kool-Aid Stand

The sacred route

Living ritual

Kardboard Boat Races

The local code

Living ritual

and a Grand Parade

Tradition 5

Living ritual

held on the second weekend of August each year with a new theme selected annually while the core event lineup stays consistent

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

14–16 August 2026

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual, weather-ready summer clothing works best: shorts and breathable fabrics for August heat, a hat and sunglasses for daytime parade and carnival hours, and clothes you would not mind...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.59 N, 98.39 WOpen in Google Maps

Hastings, NE

Nearest airportGRI — Central Nebraska Regional
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Hastings via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Hastings, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, weather-ready summer clothing works best: shorts and breathable fabrics for August heat, a hat and sunglasses for daytime parade and carnival hours, and clothes you would not mind getting a little sticky from Kool-Aid.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Kool-Aid Days?

Kool-Aid Days is listed for 14–16 August 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Kool-Aid Days take place?

The festival is listed in Hastings, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Hastings, NE

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLkool-aiddays.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates14–16 August 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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