Road
trippers can explore the Red Hills and High Plains countryside as well
as towns of Barber County (Hardtner, Hazelton, Isabel, Kiowa, Medicine
Lodge, Sharon, and Sun City), Comanche County (Coldwater, Protection,
and Wilmore) and Kiowa County (Greensburg, Haviland, and Mullinville).
When
the Kansas Sampler Foundation decided to replace the long-standing
Kansas Sampler Festival with a new event called the Big Kansas Road
Trip, they knew that all they would request from the small towns was to
just be themselves. Foundation assistant director WenDee Rowe said, "They are achieving that standard in the most excellent way."
In
addition to the main attractions that range from the Big Well to the
Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, homemade pie to the Wilmore carousel, towns
have created a long menu of activities that will assist people in
understanding rural culture. Greensburg tourism director Stacy Barnes
said, "We want to provide a glimpse into why we’ve chosen to live here."
From
bingo and homemade pie, raffles, two scavenger hunts, a Kansas Explorer
auto bingo, book signings, classes on succulents (Protection), a
digital art crawl (Coldwater), a volunteer fire department open house
(Wilmore), and movies in the two theaters (Coldwater, Greensburg), a
traveling Stump, plus dozens of more activities, the public will have a
hard time choosing what to do because of the many good choices.
For
$20 and with reservations, people can enjoy a "Friday Night on the Dale
Family Farm" near Protection. The fee covers a meal, a tour, and live
music. The same night there will be live music at the Chief Theatre in
Coldwater at 7 p.m.
Saturday,
May 5, will be a busy day. The Pioneer Festival will take place in
Kiowa, complete with a rodeo and cowboy driving steers down Main
Street. The threshing show grounds near Haviland (502 E. Walnut) will
showcase wheat threshing, rock crushing, and sawmill and stationary hay
baler demonstrations from 1-4 p.m.
At
10 a.m. in Hardtner, the Barber County Spring Livestock Show will
begin. From 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. the Heart of America Science Resource
Center (312 E. Hwy. 54) In Haviland will have a meteorite presentation
and a field trip to a meteor field.
Musical
entertainment will start at the Fromme-Birney Round Barn near
Mullinville at 6:30 p.m. A Scholarship Art Auction at You're Fired
Ceramics and Canvas in Coldwater starts at 7 p.m. For $10, a person gets
drinks and hors d'oeuvres and the chance to bid on local art for a good
cause.
During
the four-day span a historical stained glass tour in Medicine Lodge and
walking tours of the courthouse, hospital, school and cemetery in
Greensburg or a bicycle tour of the town (bicycles provided) are
planned.
Internationally-known
artist Stan Herd, a native of Protection, will give a talk at the
Protection library at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Artist Erika Nelson from Lucas
will give tours of M.T. Liggett's artwork (start at N. Elm) at 10
a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Tours are available of the Mullinville round barn as well as the Sternberger round barn at 10866 SW Hackberry west of Hardtner.
Foundation
director Marci Penner said, "We've just given you the tip of the
iceberg. There are many more events including cookies with Carry Nation
in Medicine Lodge! There is something at every turn. Go to bigkansasroadtrip.com for more information or pick up day programs in the county seat towns. We’ll see you on the road!"
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