The 51st Annual Arrows to Aerospace Celebration begins this week, culminating with a parade and various family events at Washington Park. The celebration has been organized by the Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club for the past 34 years.
There are currently 80 entries for the 2022 parade, though Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club President and Parade Chair Karen Mier said they might get a couple more before the 20th. A complete listing of the current entries can be found at the end of the article.
A couple of popular entries will return in 2022 including the Star Wars 501st Legion and the Shriners. The 501st Legion is a fan-based organization that builds and wears film-quality Star Wars armor and clothing representing various heroes and villains of the Star Wars mythos. The Shriners will again bring a variety of tiny cars and motorized gadgets to the parade.
Arrows to Aerospace has always been one of the best-attended events in the community. Mier says they average around 8,000 people at the parade, with some years having a little more and others a little less.
The 2022 parade Grand Marshall is Ben Justman, Executive Director of the Sarpy County Museum. Mier said Justman was selected, in part, because of his years of dedication to preserving the history of Bellevue.
Parade entrants will compete in various categories, including Best in Church, Best in Community, Best in Business, Best Overall, and Best Performance. The 2022 Judges panel includes Dr. Jeff Rippe, Superintendent of Bellevue Public Schools; Rebecca Zurcher, owner of Erwin’s Jewelers Co; and Colonel Mark Howard, Vice Commander of the 55th Wing, Offut Air Force Base.
Other events offered throughout the day include a downhill mile race, free pony rides, bounce houses, boys and girls bike raffle, cornhole and other games, and the Pancake Man. A complete listing of all of the events, along with their scheduled times can be found on the Arrows to Aerospace Parade Event Page: https://bellevuetimes.com/event/arrows-to-aerospace-parade-2022/
The overall celebration kicks off on Thursday, August 18th with an event at the Bellevue Public Library called Contact and Conflict: The Monumental Story of Nebraska and the Indian Wars. On Friday, August 19th the celebration continues at the Bellevue Senior Center with music, lunch, and bingo.
● ● ● ● ●
Alphabetical List of Parade Entries
- 501st Legion
- A Step Ahead Child Care Centers
- AARP
- All Communities Outreach Services
- Angie Lauritsen for Legislature
- Apollo Heating & Air
- Bellevue Dance Academy
- Bellevue East AFJROTC
- Bellevue East Chieftain Marching Band
- Bellevue East Color Guard
- Bellevue East Spirit Squad
- Bellevue Fire Dept.
- Bellevue Food Pantry
- Bellevue Junior Sports Association
- Bellevue Lions Club
- Bellevue Little Theatre – Footloose
- Bellevue Masonic Lodge #325
- Bellevue Police Dept.
- Bellevue Swim Club
- Bellevue West AFJROTC
- Bellevue West Cheer
- Bellevue West Marching Band
- Bellevue West Thunderettes Dance Team
- Bellevue Woman’s Club
- Bellevue-Offutt Kiwanis Club
- Carol Blood for Governor
- Cherish Riding Association
- Christ the King Lutheran Church
- Christine Clerc for Bellevue Public Schools
- Cobalt Credit Union
- Columban Fathers
- Competitive Contracting LLC
- Cornerstone Christian School
- Cub Scout Pack 457
- Cub Scout Pack 483 / Scouts BSA
- East Nebraska Electric Vehicle Association
- First Presbyterian Church
- Fraternal Order of Eagles #3912
- Freedom Cruisers Riding Club
- FXB (Farrell’s)
- Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
- Grand Marshal – Ben Justman
- Greater Omaha Chapter of the Walter P. Chrysler Club
- Green Bellevue
- Heritage Ridge
- Hike Real Estate
- Hillcrest Health Services
- Holdcroft for Legislature
- Innovate Physical Therapy
- Jazzercise Bellevue Fitness Center
- Journey Fitness
- Kathy Welch for Ward IV Bellevue City Council
- Knights of Columbus
- Lemm’s Quality Construction
- LIFE Runners
- Longo Dietz Orthodontics
- Madness Haunted House
- Marine Corps League – Miguel Keith Detachment 609
- McCarthy for Metro
- Midlands Bible Baptist Church
- Mike Flood for Congress
- Murray for MUD
- Patty for Congress
- Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
- Richmont Terrace
- Sarpy County Democratic Party
- Sarpy County Republican Party
- Skate City Bellevue
- Sokol Gymnastics
- St. James United Methodist Church
- St. Mary’s School
- Star Realty, Inc.
- Tangier Shrine
- Teamwork Sports
- Thomas Burns, Mayoral Candidate
- Tony Vargas for Congress
- Troop 483 B&G / Scouts BSA
- VFW Post 10785
- Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 279
- Wagon Wheel District – Boy Scouts of America
Photos courtesy of Phil Davidson, City of Bellevue
