Rural Fire Departments depend upon cooperation and volunteers to cover a wide territory. Visit with some of the 18 volunteers and chief of 35+ years, Mark Breford. See 11 of the 13 vehicles up close and hear the stories of how our communities work together when danger looms. (Photo: Frank Wegloski)
Try your luck winning a prize at the American Legion’s come-and-go bingo game from 3-5pm. Beverages available for purchase during the games. Enjoy a sandwich supper (free will donation) hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary from 5-6:30pm. Bingo cards 50 cents/game, play as many as you like! Event located at the American Legion Post #200 Community Center.
Join in the fun at the historic Holyrood Depot’s freight dock for an outdoor acoustic folk music jam circle featuring area musicians. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a piece of pie while listening…and if you are a picker, you're encouraged to bring an instrument and play along! Freewill donations welcome.
Enjoy an exhibit of modern and antique quilts, some for sale, by local quiltmakers and shop locally made handicrafts. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. Event held at St. Peter Lutheran Church Parish Hall. Accessible entrances and restrooms. Thu 1-5pm; Fri-Sat 9am-5pm
After the late-1800s school burned down, the beautiful stone Progress School was built in 1902. It’s now being converted into a home by Ted and Carrie Schmid. They'll use solar and wind energy and have fish ponds to provide fertilizer for an in-ground greenhouse; produce their own milk, eggs, poultry and more; and utilize wildlife conservation practices more. Stop by for conversation, see historical pictures, take a tour (if you have time). Coffee and refreshments. From Hwy 156 and 5th Rd, (just east of Holyrood) go 6 miles north on 5th Rd. Near intersection of 5th Rd and Avenue N.
Meet the fifth-generation operator of a Farm Bureau and Salina Diocese-designated Century Farm, Ernie Jezek. See a cattle/grain operation up close and learn about the functions of various farm implements. Off-road parking available. From Holyrood, Hwy 156 and Ave T, about one mile west on Ave T, turn right (north) on 4th Rd for 3 1/2 miles. Farm is on the left (west side). Click on address to see Google Map location.
#19 on the Kanopolis Lake Legacy Trail tour. From downtown Kanopolis, 1/2 mile west on Ohio (becomes L), then 1 mile south on 18th. Fort Ellsworth was a primitive post originally of earthen dugouts dug into the bank of the Smoky Hill River. Depressions are visible as well as a remnant of the Smoky Hill Trail, used by the Butterfield's Overland Despatch stage company. A peace conference with the Cheyenne was held here in August of 1866. The post was renamed Fort Harker in November 1866 and moved to the new site in 1867. TOUR INFORMATION: Historian, Jim Gray will be on site, Friday and Saturday from 12-3pm. The tour involves a 10-minute walk and the general tour will last around 30 minutes. Come and go as you please.
Guests who arrive when the Open House starts will be split into groups. All guests can tour the Commanding Officers' Quarters, the Junior Officers' Quarters, the Kanopolis Depot (displays include Independent Salt, the Acme Brick Plant and Kanopolis High School) as well as the Fort Harker Guardhouse. The Guardhouse tour will include historical information (at least 30 minutes) relating to the Civil War and the trails westward. The Open House is free.
Visit an encampment of soldiers from the Forts that defended the way West in the 1860-1880s. The soldiers will share stories of their way of life, the tools of their trade, and their adventures on the Plains. Wander through the camp, which is located on the grounds of the Fort Harker Commanding Officers Quarters in Kanopolis.
UPDATED 4/25: Petroglyphs will not be visible on this tour. The site has been closed to the public. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism Ranger, Wendy Bowles, will meet interested guests at the Kanopolis Lake office (GPS location: 200 Horsethief Road) and all will travel to Horse Thief Canyon. Visitors will enjoy a walk on the trail to observe native plants, wildlife, and the geology of the canyon. The .95 mile (one way) trail follows Bison Creek, which once watered buffalo and the wild horses.
Kansas has some of the best night sky viewing in the country. Join astronomers in viewing the night sky. It will be an excellent night for observation as the moon will not rise until after midnight. We will look at constellations and observe planets and other astronomical features through telescopes. From Lincoln, drive west on K-18 for 2 miles to 170th Rd. Turn south for approximately 4 miles to trail head sign.
You'll have two opportunities on Saturday to observe demonstrations in witching graves, both marked and unmarked. You'll also learn about some notable burials in the cemetery. Come try grave witching for yourself! This event last approximately 30 minutes. Dowsing for water or metal – and even bodies – has been practiced for thousands of years. Genealogists use it to find lost graveyards of ancestors or gravesites where markers have disappeared or eroded. The Lincoln Cemetery is located at the intersection of Highway 18 and Lincoln Ave, aka Main Street. Saturday at 1pm and 2pm.
Experience the BKRT on a mountain bike! The local mountain biking club will take you on an easy ride to see some of Lincoln County's landscape. Ride will take approximately 30 minutes to an hour. Bring your own bike that can handle both paved and gravel roads. (Photo courtesy Post Rock Mountain Bike Club)
Audubon of Kansas' Achterberg Wildlife-Friendly Demonstration Farm hosts two coveys of bobwhite quail. Executive Director, Jackie Augustine, will talk about recent habitat improvements aimed at removing woody species and making the area more suitable for Connie Achterberg's favorite bird, the bobwhite quail. From Lincoln, drive west on K-18 for 2 miles to 170th Rd. Turn south for approximately 4 miles to trail head sign.
May is the height of songbird migration through Kansas. Audubon of Kansas' Connie Achterberg Wildlife-Friendly Demonstration Farm has a mix of habitats that attracts a wide variety of birds, including grassland and riparian woods. Executive Director, Jackie Augustine, has been a birdwatcher and ornithologist (a scientist that studies birds) for over 25 years. She will lead you on a short hike through the sanctuary and help you identify birds by both sight and sound. If you have them, bring binoculars. Tour will take approximately 30 minutes. From Lincoln, drive west on K-18 for 2 miles to 170th Rd. Turn south for approximately 4 miles to trail head sign.
Check out how a downtown building built in 1918 was transformed into a top-notch gym. (Photo: @postrockfitness) NOTE! The time has been corrected to 7-9am.
Two years ago, Lincoln’s Free House went viral on social media with people from all over the country wanting to save the house. Now, the incredible transformation of the house has been featured on the TV Show “In with the Old” in an episode titled “The Big Green Monster”! The show is now streaming on HBO and Discovery+ with an airing on the Magnolia Network in early February. During the BKRT you'll be able to tour the home and visit with the owners and learn about their amazing journey. Refreshments will be served and other food items will be sold. House tours will begin at 8am, 10am, and 12pm each day and last 30 minutes. (Photo: @LiveLincolnCounty)
Owl Hike - Whooooo's awake? The Connie Achterberg Wildlife-Friendly Demonstration Farm is home to both Barred and Great Horned Owls. Audubon of Kansas Executive Director, Jackie Augustine, will discuss owl biology and lead participants in a hike through the sanctuary to listen for owls. You will learn to identify owls by their calls. As owls are wild animals, viewing owls is not guaranteed, but there is a good chance to see them. From Lincoln, drive west on K-18 for 2 miles to 170th Rd. Turn south for approximately 4 miles to trail head sign.
Enjoy a piece of locally made MarCon Pie on the porch of the Marshall-Yohe House, a National Register of Historic Places site. Donations appreciated.
Learn about the history behind Post Rocks in Lincoln! Scavenger hunt answers will all be within walking distance in downtown Lincoln. Pick up your info sheet at the Lincoln Health Mart Pharmacy, 204 W. Lincoln Ave, Thu-Fri 9am-6pm (closed 12:30-1:30pm) and Sat 9am-12pm. Scavenger Hunt will take approximately 45 minutes to complete around downtown Lincoln. Return your form for a free prize.
Enjoy a drinky-treat and a tasty snack while you shop! Take pictures in our photo booth while shopping our new spring arrivals! Check out our ad in the BKRT guide for more information about this come and go event. Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-4pm
Enjoy coffee and doughnuts while exploring the uniquely decorated lodge.
The Lucas Area Community Theater will be open for a place to sit and rest with a Lucas Historical Photo Presentation and a Lucas Area Community Theater Renovation Photo Presentation. Quilt display, powerpoint presentations, concessions for sale, restrooms, and see our 25 foot wide big screen move into storage to view the theater main floor space from the front door to the back door making the facility a multipurpose use facility. The big screen move takes around 10 minutes. Thu-Fri 10am to 5pm with concessions and moving of the big screen from 4-5pm.
Attend an after hours open house with Friends of S.P. Dinsmoor's Garden of Eden board of directors. Directors will visit about the history, architecture, and preservation of this grassroots art environment. Enjoy snacks including Brant's Market meat and cheese tray by donation. See Dinsmoor's sculptures just before sunset. Shop the gift shop with some special souvenirs. Bring a strawberry plant, red vinca or yellow marigold plants for Dinsmoor's concrete flower planters. Be a part of Dinsmoor's legacy to Lucas and Kansas. The guided tour portion of the event lasts 30 minutes.
Join regional expert Von Rothenberger for a geology tour of Roy and Clara Miller's Park. Von will take guests through a description of the rocks Roy and Clara collected on their travels, tying in this lovely site to the geological history of the region, as well as identifying interesting minerals, formations, and elements from across the U.S. The park is located just east of the Garden of Eden. The tour will begin shortly after "The Stump" ends at 11:45am.
Jon Pancost, stone mason and owner of Bluestem Quarry & Stone Works, will demonstrate how architectural stone is processed through saw work, the use of the bed planer and chisel work. He'll answer questions about his business and this unique geological feature and its use by settlers in the area. This is a come and go event. Learn more about Jon's business by clicking on Read More below. Sponsored by the Post Rock Limestone Coalition. kansaspostrocklimestone.org
Starter keychains can be purchased at the Lucas Public Library. Visitors can travel the town collecting charms to add from participating businesses/organizations, or find them at the library. Proceeds will help fund the Lucas Public Library. $10 per keychain.
Lincoln limestone is a hidden gem for paleontologists, celebrated for its bountiful collection of well-preserved shark and reptile teeth. Meet Ramo Decker, founder of a new species of ancient shark named "Squalicorax deckeri", and see his display of numerous fossils found in and around Lincoln County, along with some impressive finds from the Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas. (Photo: @ramo.decker)
Enjoy a bowl of homemade peach-cobbler, a specialty of the Lutheran Church ladies made for the Lincoln County Fair for decades, while imagining what school was like when the building was constructed in 1913.
Learn how Post Rock limestone got its name and built homes, farms, and communities across an 18-county region. Quarry is available for drive-by viewing anytime. Demonstrations of how settlers split the limestone using feathers and wedges to make fence posts and building blocks Friday, May 3 at 4pm and on Saturday at 10am. From the junction of Hwys 181 and 18, drive 3 miles north on Hwy 181, then 2 1/4 miles west on Oak Drive. Vonada's Quarry was voted one of the top 8 Wonders of Kansas - Commerce.
It's Bingo Night in Vesper! This well loved local tradition has been going on for 50 years. The grill will be lit up at 5pm to cook Bingo Burgers followed by a live band at 6pm. All sort of goodies including popcorn, ice cream sundaes, root beer floats and other homemade snacks will be available and a bake sale will round out the activities. Food - 5pm; Band - 6pm; Bingo 7pm.
Registered as a "From the Land of Kansas" farmers market with local seasonal produce along with homemade baked goods, canned foods, jams, jellies, infused honey products, and locally produced crafts.
Join locals on the patio at The Historic Midland Railroad Hotel with an experience for the entire family! View the classic film of "Paper Moon" projected on the limestone of the hotel! Free popcorn will be provided.
Reserve a one-hour tour to go down 176 feet into this decommissioned Atlas F Missile Base to learn about the Atlas ICBM Program, the Cold War, and better understand the property and the structures that were built for the U.S. Air Force. Hear about future plans for this missile silo which includes becoming an AirBnB. This site is currently operating as an adventure resort open for camping, RV’s, VanLife with hiking trails, campfires and stargazing. Call the phone number listed to book a tour. Admission per person is $20. Tour times are Thu-Sun 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm. For more information about the site click on Read More below.
Join us to view the great work of the late Betty Kepka featuring original artwork and hand painted Czech Eggs. Local artist, Christine Slechta will demonstrate the process of hand painting Czech Eggs!
Kick back with a fun evening at The Historic Midland Railroad Hotel with Big Band music and swing dancing. Event will take place on the patio!
“Czech” out our Czech dancers by the big egg! The Wilson Czech dancers consist of youth ages 3-18 along with dance instructor, Paula Gray Svaty. The group was established to help promote and continue the Czech culture through music and dance. In the event of rain, the dancers will perform at the Wilson American Legion Post 262, 419 27th St.
Pick up a “Czech Quest” brochure at the Wilson Kiosk next to the Wilson Visitor Center. Take a tour of Wilson and see places of history and highlights of the community. Information on where to return the completed form will be included on the brochure.
DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Smoky Hill Chapter members will have their annual bake sale to raise money for local scholarships. Home baked breads, pastries, and other sweets will be available to sell to help jump start your morning as you begin your day with the fun activities in our area.
View the new addition to Wilson! 2711 Co Working is operated by Wilson Tourism Hub Inc. and features a Native American artifacts gallery.
Meet the Kansas artists, craftsmen, food producers and authors who belong to the Post Rock Opportunities Foundation. Have fun learning about and seeing their products when you visit Kansas Originals store near Wilson. Free food samples to try and kolaches will be for sale.
View the work of a Wilson local artist Kevin Lundy and meet this exceptional artist at the Midland Mercantile and Art Gallery.
Walk through the historic 100-year-old Lang Memorial Library and explore available resources on Wilson's local families, schools, businesses, churches, and the Czech influence in this region.
The Wilson Senior Center invites you to enjoy coffee and breakfast pastries during their weekly morning social on Friday from 8:30-10:00 am. Free will donations are accepted.
This historic native sandstone building, built in 1886 as the Bohemian State Bank, will be open for tours lasting 15 minutes on Friday and Saturday. The bank was featured in scenes for the movies, "Paper Moon" and "Pretty Boy Floyd." An interesting tidbit about the bank is a sharpshooter perch that was used to defer bank robbers. You'll also learn about the "cool factor" in how the building has been repurposed to house the summer lunch program.
Did you know that Nex-Tech has a train available for your community events and festivals? Neither did we! Take a short ride on the train to explore all of the local Czech eggs downtown along with the Statute of Liberty. Event sponsored by Feeding the Children of Central Kansas.
Listen to local historian, Cherilee Ward, tell the real stories from the grave with free will donations going towards buying a small stone for the disgraced city marshal, Jesse Tillman. Tour starts at 5pm and lasts 30 minutes. (Link takes you to an article about Jesse Tillman clipped from the Sylvan Grove Newspaper, January 26, 1905.)
The Immanuel Lutheran Church displays their wheat weaving each year during harvest and will be on display during the BKRT. Stop by and visit with parishioners and enjoy some refreshments.
