Events

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Superheroes New Year’s Eve at Flint Hills Discovery Center

One of our favorite places in Kansas is the Flint Hills, and one of our favorite places that celebrates the Flint Hills is the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan.

And they’re throwing a Superheroes themed, family New Year’s Eve party. From 6:30-9:30pm, you and your family can enjoy “dancing, music, superhero mask and cape crafts, superpower food, a costume contest and much more!” And at 9pm, there will be a balloon drop! And who doesn’t love a good balloon drop?

Register here by December 29.

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Our Sunflower Journeys episode premieres 11/10/16

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Our segment with Sunflower Journeys was filmed in August at the Konza Prairie, and it will premiere at the end of the Recreation episode that’s airing on 11/10/16 – episode 8 of Sunflower Journey’s 29th season.

About Sunflower Journeys: Kansas’ longest running local history program, KTWU’s Sunflower Journeys, travels the highways to bring Kansas stories home to viewers. And now, there are various ways you can see KTWU programming. Sunflower Journeys airs three times a week on KTWU. Thursday at 8 PM, Friday at 2:30pm, Saturday at 5:30PM and the following Wednesday on KTWU’s Enhance channel at 7:30pm. Sunflower Journeys also airs on KCPT in Kansas City, KPTS in Wichita, and Smoky Hills Public Television in the western part of the state. Check local listings for airtimes on those stations.

 

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Get a signed Kansas Trail Guide at Harley’s Bicycles in Hutch this Saturday

If you’re running the Salt City Run For The Rocks in Hutchinson, you may be stopping by Harley’s Bicycles on Saturday 9/24 to pick up your race packet. While you’re there, you’ll also find Jonathan there from 10am to 1pm with signed Kansas Trail Guide books available to purchase!

Of course, he’ll be there for those of you not picking up a race packet too.

Good luck to all the runners from the 5k to the half marathon!

If you go:
629 North Main, Hutchinson, KS

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Run or bike the first ever Bridge to Bridge event 9/17/16

The first ever Tour de Trails 5k will be this Saturday — 9/17/16. Hosted by the Central Kansas Conservancy, the race will be held start north of the railroad bridge on the Valkommen trail in Lindsborg and then moves onto the Meadowlark Trail.

The Meadowlark Trail, on the former Union Pacific railroad corridor, stretches 13 miles from McPherson to Lindsborg, though you won’t have to go the full length for this race.

There’s a 5k for runners as well as a 5k for cyclists. Here’s the schedule:

9:00 – 9:45 – Registration/Packet Pick up

10:00 – Bike Event Starts

10:10 – Runners/Walkers Event Starts

11:00-12:00 – Finish Line Festivities Enjoy Refreshments and Give-a-Ways!

Registration is $15 and you can sign up here.

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Free parks day on October 1

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas is pairing with the KDWPT to offer up a free state parks day on Saturday, October 1. Check out the video below for more details, and pick up a book here to get your trails picked out!

https://vimeo.com/176605117/3d49ba6b0a

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Kansas Chocolate Festival in Topeka

A delicious day is coming your way in Topeka on September 24

kansaschocolatefestivallogo_rendered_3f539611-cee1-4104-8a90-f41be5bf4e9eStart the day at 8am with the 12th annual Winged Foot 5k/10k run and 4k walk. Once you’ve finished the race, you’ll get some chocolate treats to keep you going the rest of the day!

From 10am to 5pm, wander along Kansas Avenue to find food trucks (all of which will have at least one specialty item featuring chocolate), live music, and vendors. Watch demonstrations of taffy pulling, chocolate clay, and fudge.

On the main stage, presentations throughout the day will give information on where chocolate comes from, a history of chocolate, pairing chocolate with other foods and spices, and more.

On the Statehouse lawn in the evening, you can watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring the late Gene Wilder.

If you want to show off your cooking skills and get a chance to win $300 – enter the Kansas Chocolate Competition.

Get more details and information about the schedule of events here.

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Visit us at the Kansas Book Festival this weekend

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This Saturday, September 10 is the 6th annual Kansas Book Festival at the statehouse in Topeka.  Kicking off the day is the awards ceremony for the Kansas Notable Book Awards in the House Chamber.

We’re excited and honored to be receiving the award, and we’ll also be presenting and signing books at 2:00 in the Visitor’s Center Auditorium.

Held at the Capitol building in Topeka the festival combines author presentations, vendors, children’s activities and entertainment, and, of course, tasty food!

Find out more details about the full schedule here. Some authors we’re excited to see are George Frazier, author of The Last Wild Places of Kansas and Jane O’Connor, author of the Fancy Nancy series.

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Celebrate the National Parks 100th Birthday in Kansas

2016 is the centennial celebration of  America’s National Parks, and nationally recognized historic sites can be found throughout the state of Kansas. Our favorites are those with trails to explore, like the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City (keep an eye out for the bison herd!) and the Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site which is the start to the Landon Nature Trail.

Here are two places to join in the celebrations for the National Parks on the official parks birthday weekend (August 27 and 28).

Baseball game at Fort Scott, early 20th century. Don Miller. NPS website.

Baseball game at Fort Scott, early 20th century. Don Miller. NPS website.

August 27, 2016 at Fort Scott National Historic Site – Vintage baseball and picnic in the park

From the NPS website:

Bring your family and a picnic basket full of your favorite food.Eat on the grounds of a frontier 1840s fort while listening to period music.Music will be provided from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Then at 1:00 p.m., you are invited to watch a Civil War era baseball game that will be held on the grounds of the historic site. Two vintage teams will square off against each other;the Topeka Westerns will take on the Wichita Bull Stockings in a rousing game using 1860s rules, uniforms, and equipment.

August 27, 2016 at Fort Larned – Picnic in the park

A prairie dog show and talk starts the day at 10am at the visitor’s center, and throughout the day will be presentations on the history of the area along with a concert by the revived Fort Larned Post Band. Find out more details of the day here.

 

We’ll keep you updated on more centennial park events throughout the rest of the year.

Planning to go to one of these? Let us know in the comments!

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Presentation and book signing in Hays – July 30 at 1pm

We’ll be in Hays at the Hays Public Library at 1pm this Saturday, July 30. Our presentation will include just what you can find on the trails of Kansas if you take the time to get off the highway.

Far more than a flyover state, Kansas has plenty of trails for those on foot, on wheels, and on horseback. We’ll tell you our favorite spots around the state, give you some information about writing the book, sign books, and books will be available to buy a $24.95.

Hays Public Library

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Events in Lawrence, Hays, and Newton

We’re set up to do some book signings and presentations on Kansas trails about  this summer. Here’s where we’ll be:

July 18 at 7pm at Lawrence Public Library
July 30 at 1pm at Hays Public Library
August 2 at 6:30pm at Faith & Life Bookstore, Newton

Books will be available for purchase for $24.95.

We’d love to see you at one of these events! If you can’t make it to one, you can always buy the book here.