Lifestyles & Recreation

• Area Attractions
• Churches
• Events & Celebrations
• Learning Never Ends for Youth of All Ages
• Recreational Facilities

York County residents enjoy life to the fullest, enjoying a wide spectrum of recreational activities and cultural attractions within the region. 

If you’re in the mood, there is always something to do or you can choose to sit back and let the world go by.  In an area with numerous parks, golf courses, walking paths, museums, aquatic centers…life is sweet!

Area Attractions

Area Attractions – 402.362.3333 - 888.733.9675

Attractions abound in and around York County.

Lee's Marble Museum features over a million marbles -- and a million dollars' worth of marbles.  The Anna Bemis Palmer Museum displays include memorabilia from Nebraska's only known connection to the "Rough Riders."  The Yorkshire Playhouse has been going strong for over 30 plus years, offering the finest in live entertainment five times a year.  Wessels Living History Farm provides not only a glimpse of living on a farm in the 1920’s, but also a taste and feel during cultural events during the year.  Racing fans can take in a night or a weekend of racing at Junction Motor Speedway.  The newest attraction is Heritage Park being developed to tell the story of 35 Russian families migration to Henderson, Nebraska.

The younger set will enjoy the York Children's Museum, which has a number of interactive exhibits including a veterinary clinic, hair stylist shop, grocery store, science room, craft room and more.

Churches

Over 40 churches of various denominations dot the landscape of York County. 

Events & Celebrations

Events & Celebrations Calendar

During 2007, there is always something to do in York County…annual community celebrations, farmers’ markets, holiday events, the York County Fair, ethnic festivals, the state cornhusking competition this fall, youth and college sporting events…never a dull moment in York County.

Learning Never Ends for Youth of All Ages

Dance

Nebraska’s Ultimate Dance Force – clogging, power tap, hip-hop, jazz, ages 3 to adult
402.362.2730

York Dance Center – ballet, jazz, tap, clogging – girls & boys ages 3 - adult
402.362.5505

Kirby’s School of Dance – tap, pre-ballet, jazz, clogging – girls and boys ages 3 - adult
402.366.5349

Drama

York Children’s Theater Program
An opportunity for area youth (ages 6 to 16) to learn what theater is all about in the summer.  Youth participate in all facets of a theater production, from set building and makeup to acting.

York County 4-H – 402.362.5508
4-H is the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension System’s educational program for young people.  Nebraska 4-H is comprised of youth, ages 5-19.  Adults are involved as volunteers working with youth as leaders or on committees and boards providing the framework for 4-H.  Youth can participate in more than 110 program areas, including community service; communications, arts, consumer and family sciences, environmental education, earth sciences, healthy lifestyle education, leadership, plants and animals, and science and technology.

Golf
The York Country Club offers individual lessons for men and women of all ages - beginning, intermediate & advanced levels.  Contact Bill Thomas, PGA Professional, 402.362.3721.

Southeast Community College and the York Country Club collaborate each Spring to provide golf classes in a group setting.

Gymnastics

Discover Gymnastics
402.362.3644

Music
Private Instrumental, Piano, and Voice lessons are available.

Instrumental
Contact each school for instructors available to give private lessons.

Piano

Angie Charron – ages 7 through high school, beginning and intermediate levels
402.728.5686

Amy Fraser - 2nd grade and older, beginning and intermediate levels
402.362.1142

Diane Fletcher, BME – ages 7 and older
402.362.0325

Gayleen Nestor – nationally certified music teacher
2nd through 12th grades, beginning, intermediate & advanced levels
402.764.7191

Mary Scott – 2nd grade through adult, beginning and intermediate levels
402.362.6051

Jeanette Waggoner, BME – 1st grade through adult, beginning and intermediate levels
402.362.3504

Diane Fletcher – licensed Kindermusik instructor
402.362.0325

Jenna Schwarz – licensed Kindermusik instructor
402.362.7559

Voice

Amy Fraser - Private one-on-one voice lessons for 9th grade and older
402.362.1142

York Area Children’s Choir - Choir Director Toni Hess – 402.362.4198
The York Area Children’s Choir is an auditioned choir of 56 singers in grades four through eight from York, Nebraska, and ten surrounding communities.  The choir was founded in 1993 with the intent of offering an opportunity for children to learn good choral singing and to experience quality literature.  Rehearsing one night a week, the choir has prepared thirteen seasons of public concerts, community programs, a performance with the Omaha Chamber Orchestra, school tours, tours to Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Louis, California and Washington D.C. and Toronto, Ontario.  The choir received superior ratings at the Worlds of Fun Music Festival and the Six Flags Choral Festival.  The choir was selected to perform at the 1995 and the 2001 Nebraska Music Educator’s Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska.  The choir is founded and directed by Toni Hess.

Organized Athletic Programs

There are a variety of organized athletic programs and competitive leagues for boys and girls of all ages throughout York County throughout the calendar year.  Programs include softball, basketball, water aerobics, senior swim, teen nights, yoga, sand volleyball, t-ball, football, soccer, playground programs, bowling, pet shows, track, swim team, scuba diving, baseball, archery, and table tennis.

Taekwondo

Johnson Family Taekwondo Center
American Taekwondo Association
Year-round lessons for ages 3 ½ through adult, white – black belt
402.362.2359

Warren Thomas
Beginning through black belt level – minimum – 5 years of age
402.362.7642

York Community Education – 402.362.6700
Adult Education provides instruction in areas that allow individuals to upgrade their present job skills, train for new careers, develop recreational and cultural interests, or earn college credit.

York Community Education and the York County Health Coalition partnered to bring the nationally known Girls on the Run program to York.  The program focuses on educating third through eighth grade girls on developing a healthy self-image and discovering a life that is free of the girl box where they can say, “I belong just the way I am.”

Programs are also offered at the three fitness/wellness centers in York County.

Recreational Facilities

Bird Watching	Witness the annual duck and geese migration at Kirkpatrick Wildlife Basin four miles west, two miles south of York.
Bowling	Enjoy bowling at the 16 lane bowling alley, Sunset Bowl.  Youth, women, and men leagues with cosmic bowling on Fridays and Saturdays.  Open year round.  402.362.9923
Campgrounds	Five campgrounds in Henderson, McCool Junction, Waco, and York offer various amenities.
Disc Golf	Play the disc golf course in Mincks Park.
Fishing	Spend some time on the water for fishing and non-motorized boating at Recharge Lake stocked with bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish or set your sites on channel catfish, white bass, bluegill and rainbow trout at Lakeview Park.
Golf	Play York County’s three golf courses including one 18-hole and two 9-hole courses.  Henderson Municipal Golf Course 402.723.4828 9-hole, driving range, rental carts/clubs Sandy Meadows 402.728.5358 9-hole course in a challenging rural setting York Country Club 402.362.3721 18-hole course with dining, driving range, golf shop & locker room
Hiking/Biking	Enjoy scenic hiking and biking trails along Beaver Creek Park in York and around the lake in Henderson’s Lakeview Park.
Horseshoe	Practice your throws at any of the many horseshoe pits in municipal parks throughout York County.
Hunting	Fall and winter hunting seasons open for deer, ducks, pheasant, quail, geese, grouse, dove, squirrel, and rabbit.  Hunt DC offers professionally guided bird hunts from September 1st through March 31st.
Libraries	Children’s story hours, reading programs, and activities are offered at the Gresham library and Kilgore Memorial Library.
Playgrounds	Safe and imaginative playground equipment is in place throughout the area in the municipal parks to satisfy energetic youngsters.
Racquetball Court	For the racquetball enthusiast, a court is located at the York Community Center.
Skating	Roller skate…do it now!  Roller skate…we’ll show you how!  Call 402.362.3520 for open skating and private parties.
Sledding Hills	Snow sledding takes place at various locations in the area during the winter season.
Swimming	Three municipal pools including two new aquatic centers and one indoor facility for year round swimming will exceed your swimming expectations. Henderson Aquatic Center 402.723.4680 York Community Center 402.363.2630 York Family Aquatic Center 402.362.2613
Tennis	Tennis courts can be found in many communities throughout York County including Benedict, Gresham, Henderson, McCool Junction, Waco and York.
Theaters	Sun Theater is actually three theatres, seating 152, 121, and 121 movie goers respectively.  Handicapped capabilities in the two downstairs theaters.  Showing first run movies and movies ranking in the top ten in the box office reports.  Summer matinees and birthday party packages.  402.362.1788

Additional recreation information may be found at:  http://www.yorkvisitors.org/recreation.html