It’s spring…and that means more festivals! If you’re tired of the State Fair every summer, and don’t know what to do with all those months before it, check out some of these hot happenings! Have you been to them all?
- Wamego Tulip Festival - April 22-23
Tulip Festival - Wamego, KS Facebook Every spring, Wamego is filled with tulips of all colors, as well as hundreds of guests celebrating spring and these gorgeous flowers. In addition to flowers, there’s also food, local music, and craft vendors.
- Kansas Storytelling Festival (Downs, KS) - April 28-29
Kansas Storytelling Facebook This state festival celebrates storytelling and stories of all kinds, from all ages.
- Prairie Rose Western Days (Benton, KS) - May 5-6
Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Facebook With ropers, live cowboy music, Indian dancers, gunfighters, and more, there’s nothing you’ll want to miss here. They’ve even got wagon rides and tomahawk throwing, how exciting!
- Cherryvale Cherry Blossom Festival - May 5-6
Parrish Baker/Flickr A whole carnival experience is to be had at this festival, with a car show, arts and crafts, food, and music. All in the name of these beautiful trees!
- Lindsborg Millfest - May 6-7
Lindsborg Facebook This festival is all about the Smokey Valley Roller Mills, and during this event, tours are given every ten minutes. Regional musicians will be playing local folk music, and old schoolhouse activities. The highlight (in my eyes, anyways) would have to be Buddy’s BBQ and homemade ice cream.
- Sunflower Balloon Fest (Anthony, KS) - May 12-14
Sunflower Balloon Fest Facebook In Anthony, Kansas, every year there is a wondrous balloon festival you can see from miles away. They offer balloon rides, helicopter rides, as well as a city parade and a car show. They’ve even got live chainsaw art! (Maybe keep it away from the balloons, though.)
- Heartland Pagan Festival (McLouth, KS) - May 25-29
Heartland Spiritual Alliance Facebook You don’t have to be Pagan to experience cultural roots, and these friendly people throw a festival yearly to celebrate life. They have crafts, workshops, drum circles, costumes, dancing, live music, and bonfires. You can even camp out at the event for all five days!
- Basehor Dairy Days - June 3
Basehor Dairy Days Facebook Every 1st Saturday in June, Basehor celebrates its rich dairy history with this fun carnival-type festival. They’ve got classic games, food, crafts, and more, just like your local county fair, except dairy themed!
- Symphony In The Flint Hills (Geary County) - June 10
Symphony In The Flint Hills Facebook Listen to the wonderful Kansas City Symphony as the sounds of their music fill the space around you with life. The music is timed to end just as the sun slips below the horizon, ending beautiful music with a gorgeous Kansas sunset.
- Frankfort Summerfest - July 15-18
Frankfort Summerfest Facebook Glowing balloons, bounce houses, painted faces, and pedal tractor pulls? This festival is all about family fun and local kids having a blast. (They’ve also got live music and rotary BBQ, if you’re an adult interested in this event.)
- Miami County Fair (Paola, KS) - July 22-29
Miami County Fair Facebook This isn’t just your normal county fair, at least it isn’t like mine was! It’s the classic carnival, but with ATV races, mutton bustin’, and a rodeo unique to this county’s love for their people (and horses).
Do you have any small-town festivals to add to this list? Which of these have you been to? Tell us about them in the comments below!
Tulip Festival - Wamego, KS Facebook
Every spring, Wamego is filled with tulips of all colors, as well as hundreds of guests celebrating spring and these gorgeous flowers. In addition to flowers, there’s also food, local music, and craft vendors.
Kansas Storytelling Facebook
This state festival celebrates storytelling and stories of all kinds, from all ages.
Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Facebook
With ropers, live cowboy music, Indian dancers, gunfighters, and more, there’s nothing you’ll want to miss here. They’ve even got wagon rides and tomahawk throwing, how exciting!
Parrish Baker/Flickr
A whole carnival experience is to be had at this festival, with a car show, arts and crafts, food, and music. All in the name of these beautiful trees!
Lindsborg Facebook
This festival is all about the Smokey Valley Roller Mills, and during this event, tours are given every ten minutes. Regional musicians will be playing local folk music, and old schoolhouse activities. The highlight (in my eyes, anyways) would have to be Buddy’s BBQ and homemade ice cream.
Sunflower Balloon Fest Facebook
In Anthony, Kansas, every year there is a wondrous balloon festival you can see from miles away. They offer balloon rides, helicopter rides, as well as a city parade and a car show. They’ve even got live chainsaw art! (Maybe keep it away from the balloons, though.)
Heartland Spiritual Alliance Facebook
You don’t have to be Pagan to experience cultural roots, and these friendly people throw a festival yearly to celebrate life. They have crafts, workshops, drum circles, costumes, dancing, live music, and bonfires. You can even camp out at the event for all five days!
Basehor Dairy Days Facebook
Every 1st Saturday in June, Basehor celebrates its rich dairy history with this fun carnival-type festival. They’ve got classic games, food, crafts, and more, just like your local county fair, except dairy themed!
Symphony In The Flint Hills Facebook
Listen to the wonderful Kansas City Symphony as the sounds of their music fill the space around you with life. The music is timed to end just as the sun slips below the horizon, ending beautiful music with a gorgeous Kansas sunset.
Frankfort Summerfest Facebook
Glowing balloons, bounce houses, painted faces, and pedal tractor pulls? This festival is all about family fun and local kids having a blast. (They’ve also got live music and rotary BBQ, if you’re an adult interested in this event.)
Miami County Fair Facebook
This isn’t just your normal county fair, at least it isn’t like mine was! It’s the classic carnival, but with ATV races, mutton bustin’, and a rodeo unique to this county’s love for their people (and horses).
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