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Local musician to play at dance
Barn Burner Dance hopes to draw a younger crowd
By Carrie Alexander
Years ago the Firefighter’s Association Barn Burner Dance was the talk of the town. It was a place to eat, drink and be merry; to meet with friends and get your groove on. But after several successful years, the dance vanished. After a long hiatus, new members of the association decided to bring back the dance, but its previous popularity has been slow to return.
“It’s been kind of a challenge to build this back up,” association member David Pratt said.
Part of the challenge is the popularity of a similar dance the following weekend, but another part is the lack of knowledge that the Barn Burner Dance is back and catering to the 20- and 30-something age group.
“It’s like the dance we used to have, only better,” Pratt said. “We hope and look forward each year to the dance getting bigger, and it is, just slowly.”
Pratt said the dance was a great community event, like a neighborhood block party, where friends, family and old classmates can get together for a drink, good music and dancing.
This year the association is featuring the local musical talents of Jeremy Esteb. Esteb sings a mix of country and rock with a smooth side. It’s not the first time Esteb has found himself in Kearney. He’s a regular performer at Outlaw’s and a crowd favorite at many other venues as well.
“We got to know Jeremy at Outlaw’s,” Pratt said. “One of the guys I work with knew him and thought he’d be great to have at the dance. We think that he’ll bring a pretty good turnout.”
This year improvements have been added to the grounds including a concrete pad and a walk-in cooler that will house taps for the adult beverages courtesy of Budweiser and the Knights of Columbus.
“Basically, it’s just music, dancing and a good time,” Pratt said. “There will be draft beer, wine coolers and snacks of some sort. I think it’s really going to be a good time.”
If all of that fun doesn’t motivate people to head out to the dance, the fact that the proceeds collected for the night go to help the Firefighter’s Association might. The Barn Burner Dance is the Firefighter’s biggest fundraiser each year, and the money collected goes to help them pay for things like restoring Kearney’s historic fire truck, caring for Shadow, the station’s dalmatian as well as providing leisure activities like a basketball goal for the firefighters to use when they are not out protecting Kearney. A portion of the proceeds also goes to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a group that the firefighters work with.
“I guess I want people to know that this isn’t just a dance,” Pratt said. “It’s a great way to spend a night that also goes to help out some really deserving people.”
Barn Burner Dance:
- Saturday, Sept. 13
- Gates open at 7 p.m. and the dance starts at 8 p.m.
- Advanced tickets are available at the Kearney Fire Station for $5 or $6 on the event night.
- Featuring local musician Jeremy Esteb.
- For ages 21 and older only.
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.
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“It’s been kind of a challenge to build this back up,” association member David Pratt said.
Part of the challenge is the popularity of a similar dance the following weekend, but another part is the lack of knowledge that the Barn Burner Dance is back and catering to the 20- and 30-something age group.
“It’s like the dance we used to have, only better,” Pratt said. “We hope and look forward each year to the dance getting bigger, and it is, just slowly.”
Pratt said the dance was a great community event, like a neighborhood block party, where friends, family and old classmates can get together for a drink, good music and dancing.
This year the association is featuring the local musical talents of Jeremy Esteb. Esteb sings a mix of country and rock with a smooth side. It’s not the first time Esteb has found himself in Kearney. He’s a regular performer at Outlaw’s and a crowd favorite at many other venues as well.
“We got to know Jeremy at Outlaw’s,” Pratt said. “One of the guys I work with knew him and thought he’d be great to have at the dance. We think that he’ll bring a pretty good turnout.”
This year improvements have been added to the grounds including a concrete pad and a walk-in cooler that will house taps for the adult beverages courtesy of Budweiser and the Knights of Columbus.
“Basically, it’s just music, dancing and a good time,” Pratt said. “There will be draft beer, wine coolers and snacks of some sort. I think it’s really going to be a good time.”
If all of that fun doesn’t motivate people to head out to the dance, the fact that the proceeds collected for the night go to help the Firefighter’s Association might. The Barn Burner Dance is the Firefighter’s biggest fundraiser each year, and the money collected goes to help them pay for things like restoring Kearney’s historic fire truck, caring for Shadow, the station’s dalmatian as well as providing leisure activities like a basketball goal for the firefighters to use when they are not out protecting Kearney. A portion of the proceeds also goes to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, a group that the firefighters work with.
“I guess I want people to know that this isn’t just a dance,” Pratt said. “It’s a great way to spend a night that also goes to help out some really deserving people.”
Barn Burner Dance:
- Saturday, Sept. 13
- Gates open at 7 p.m. and the dance starts at 8 p.m.
- Advanced tickets are available at the Kearney Fire Station for $5 or $6 on the event night.
- Featuring local musician Jeremy Esteb.
- For ages 21 and older only.
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.