Events

Portland Alley Pedalfest – September 12 and 13
by

Portland Alley Pedalfest – September 12 and 13

PedalfestPoster2015There are lot of great ways to enjoy the Prairie Spirit and Southwind Rail Trail, but what better way than with camping, live music, food vendors, and a beer garden? Oh, and of course – cycling!

Props to Thrive Allen County for driving a grassroots effort to promote healthy living and a vibrant trails community in Allen County.  Saddle up your bike and head out to Iola September 12 and 13th to join the fun at the annual Portland Alley Pedalfest.

They’ve got a Family Fun Ride as well 25, 50, 75, and 100 mile rides – sign up at EventBrite.

by

July events – Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Wichita, and Overland Park

We’ve been hard at work getting some events organized for the summer so you’ll be able to ask us any questions about the book or about Kansas trails and even get your book signed!

Here’s our schedule:

The morning of Saturday, July 11 at The Pathfinder (304 Poyntz) in Manhattan, KS.

7pm on Tuesday, July 14 at the Salina Public Library (301 W Elm Street) in Salina, KS.

5-9pm on Thursday, July 16 at Bookends (123 N Main Street) in Hutchinson – a part of the Third Thursday

1:00pm on Saturday, July 18 at Watermark Books (4701 E Douglas) in Wichita

6:30-8pm on Monday, July 20 at REI (6281 W 135th Street) in Overland Park – sign up for that event here, only a few spots left!

by

National Trails Day is June 6!

National-Trails-Day-copyright-American-Hiking-Society-00001We were pretty excited about National Trails Day – the first Saturday of June. It’s the country’s largest celebration of trails, and Kansas has hundreds of miles of great trails (hint, find out more with our book!).

But then, as can happen in Kansas, the weather has turned and a lot of trails may not be in great condition for a hike. Something to keep in mind – as best you can, stay off trails for a couple of days after a big rain since bike treads and hoof prints particularly will leave indentations in the mud that will then harden, making a previously well-groomed trail into a rutted mess.

For those ready to take on the always changing Kansas weather, volunteers have worked hard to put together some events across the state. Here are the National Trails Day events happening in Kansas –

by

4/25/15 – Free entrance to Kansas State Parks!

Image from Kansas Tourism

That’s right, this Saturday 4/25/15, it’s free entrance to the grand state parks of Kansas!

The state parks have some of the best trails in the state – some of our favorites include Switchgrass Mountain Bike Trail at Wilson State Park, Agave Ridge Nature Trail at Cedar Bluff State Park, Elk River Hiking Trail at Elk City State Park, and Hike, Bike, and Bridle Trail at Lake Scott State Park.

Plus, a lot of the visitor’s centers will be having activities and open houses from family-friendly exhibits and activities to guided hikes to 5K runs to fishing tournaments. Check out the events list here – there’s a great range of stuff for outdoor lovers of all ages.kick1

If you happen to go to Cedar Bluff State Park, Lovewell State Park, El Dorado State Park, Elk City State Park, or Perry State Park, give a big thanks to the volunteers out there helping keep the parks clean for the Earth Day Park Clean Up.

The weather forecast looks partly cloudy and warm for Saturday, so get out there and explore!

by

Beach House at Lake Scott open now through Memorial Day

Beach house photo from Friends of Lake Scott

On Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 6pm now until Memorial Day, you can visit the Beach House at Lake Scott State Park.

Out on the western plains of Kansas, Lake Scott was created in the late 1920s, and the Beach House is privately owned and not always open. The Spanish Revival architecture style building was constructed in the 1930s, and you can stop by to get food items, fishing equipment, bait, boat rentals and camping supplies.

There’s also indoor showers if you’ve taken a dip in the lake or to freshen up after the hike around the lake – one of our top 10 Kansas trails.

by

Kansas turns 154 this Thursday – here’s where to celebrate

Kansas Day is January 29, and this year, Kansas turns 154! In its 154th year, you’ll be able to explore via its miles upon miles of trails from prairies to woodlands with our trail guide.

More immediately, from the Kansas tourism site, here are some upcoming Kansas Day events for 2015.

To celebrate Kansas’ 154th birthday, the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka plans a full day of performances and activities to celebrate Kansas’ 154th birthday. Exhibit: The Great Soldier State: Kansas and the Civil War.

Paola’s Kansas Day & Business Expo will feature entertainment, children’s activities, local products, food vendors, and more than 75 business and organization exhibits.

On Sat., Jan. 31, 2015, Burlington’s Coffey County Historical Society & Museum will feature activities for kids, a chili feed, and live and silent auctions.

Kansas Day Celebration at Kauffman Museum in Newton on January 31 is a free event featuring wagon rides, popcorn popping over an open fire, make-it-take-it crafts and much more!

What will you be doing for Kansas Day?

by

2015 Symphony in the Flint Hills Location Announced

2014 Symphony in the Flint Hills

2014 Symphony in the Flint Hills

On June 13, 2015, the Symphony in the Flint Hills is coming home!

For the 10th anniversary of the event, it will be held at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

From the Symphony in the Flint Hills site:

We are thrilled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event back where it all started at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve,” said Jim Hoy, Board Chair for Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc. “Our milestone anniversary and this historic location lend themselves to help us further our mission of heightening appreciation and knowledge of the tallgrass prairie. We plan to take it a step further with the theme, ‘Grasslands of the World,’ and The Nature Conservancy as our partner for the education programs.”

by

Dodge City Days

We’re in the midst of Dodge City Days. The annual event is in its 54th year, and it ends this weekend. While the barbecue cook-off is over, there’s still plenty to do at this western celebration.

Photo by Tourism Kansas

Photo by Tourism Kansas

The “Arts, Crafts & Things” show is August 2 and 3 at the Village Square Mall (air conditioning!).

August 2 is also the day you can check out the classic car show at Wright Park. At 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, you can watch the extreme motorcross show.

In the afternoons, the public library is hosting talks on early days of ranching and trail driving that built up the town of Dodge City.

And each night you can go to Central Station for the street dance.

Of course, Dodge City Days wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the rodeo. The PRCA is hosting the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo from July 30 to August 4, also known as the “Greatest Show On Dirt”. Each night from 7:45 to 11, you can watch the riding and roping skills of professional cowboys.

by

2014 Symphony in the Flint Hills: Photos

It was incredibly windy, it is Kansas after all, but with the lush green grass, it wasn’t dusty, and the 2014 Symphony in the Flint Hills was a success. The Kansas City Symphony played to 7,000 people on the Gottsch Cattle Co. Ranch near Rosalia. Here are some photos, all taken by Mark Conard.