Every year on the second weekend in June, the small town of Hastings, Nebraska, comes alive with colorful festivities, food vendors, and fun-filled activities as it celebrates the Kool Aid Days Celebration. This annual event honors the invention of the popular drink mix, Kool Aid, by Edwin Perkins in 1927. Perkins developed a method to remove the liquid from fruit juice and mix it with powder, creating the iconic powder mix. The event was first held in 1999 and has since become a beloved tradition in Hastings, which is often referred to as the 'Kool Aid Capital of the World'.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can explore the Hastings Downtown area, where various activities take place, including a car show, amusement park rides, and live entertainment. Visitors can browse through a multitude of vendor booths offering everything from local craftsmanship to unique food options, such as giant turkey legs, classic Nebraska Runza sandwiches, and, of course, plenty of flavors of Kool Aid. In line with the Kool Aid theme, local residents participate in colorful events like the Pretty Girl Lip Smack contest, where contestants have to make their lips turn color the fastest by drinking Kool Aid, and the Big Smash, where a crowd gathers to watch cars being smashed in a controlled environment.

One of the highlights of the Kool Aid Days Celebration is the World's Largest Kool Aid Stand. This giant stand attracts many visitors, offering free cups of Kool Aid in various flavors. Another special attraction is a gallery showcasing a vast collection of Kool Aid memorabilia at the Hastings Museum. This exhibit boasts numerous artifacts, including vintage advertisements, Kool Aid Man costumes, and displays on the history of the beloved drink mix. Attendees can also participate in a variety of fun games and contests, including the Parade Color Contest and the Kool Aid Days Talent Show, making it an exciting event for people of all ages.

Travelers to Hastings during the Kool Aid Days Celebration can choose from a range of accommodation options, from quaint bed-and-breakfasts to more modern hotel complexes. Visitors can take a stroll through Lake Hastings, an 18-mile shoreline around the nearby Lake Hastings that offers ample recreational opportunities, or explore the historic downtown district, where intriguing shops and dining options abound. Attendees can enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere, taking advantage of the scenic parks and barbecue areas within Hastings, making this event a perfect blend of nostalgia and family-friendly activities.

As attendees prepare to leave the festivities, Hastings' charming atmosphere will stay with them until the next year's Kool Aid Days Celebration. Edwin Perkins' innovative spirit continues to inspire joy in both the community and those who visit, displaying how one influential contribution can make a lasting impact on a town's heritage and culture. When in Nebraska during June, give the Kool Aid Days Celebration a try for an experience that mirrors both local creativity and national nostalgia.

The local authorities made several adjustments to the event format in recent years, reacting to growing crowds and changes in preferences of attendees, making the multi-generational participation one of the event's defining features. For its long service to preserving Hastings' community legacy, Kool Aid Days Celebration maintains a warm, personal touch in an era of large scale impersonal events.

The lasting power and nostalgic appeal of the event, which combines deep personal connections with grand communal celebrations in the town to honor its most famous invention have shaped an identity for Hastings unique enough to attract annual and one-off visitors alike.