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Liberal, Kansas

Upcoming Events in Liberal Kansas


January

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March

20KS1019015e001 - Liberal Pancake Day - Newcomers to Liberal might be amazed to see people dashing down Kansas Avenue on a chilly winter morning, pancake skillets clutched tightly to their apron-covered chests as they race. But that just means it's Pancake Day, a holiday all of Liberal celebrates.

Pancake Day dates back to 1445. It all started in Olney, England, when one woman was busy preparing her pancakes and the bell rang to go to church to be "shriven" of her sins. She grabbed up her griddle and pancakes and ran in her apron to the church, becoming the first pancake racer.

Since then , Olney has declared Shrove Tuesday the official Pancake Day in England. Every year on this day, women from Olney race with skillets and pancakes to the church, just as it was done in 1445.

In 1950, the Liberal Jaycees contacted the Rev. R.W. Collins, Vicar in Olney, to propose an international competition. Since then, Olney and Liberal have raced against each other, keeping a running score of race winners.

Over the years a three day celebration has grown up around the event in Liberal. The festivities include a pancake feed, eating and flipping contests, musical programs and a talent show. Other activities, including old-time artisans displaying their crafts and the Miss Liberal pageant are included in the weekend's events as well.

The Pancake Race begins at the intersection of Sixth street and Kansas Avenue and finishes at the intersection of Third Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Web: www.pancakeday.net

2 - 3 Spring Fling Arts & Crafts Fair - Address: Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Ave. , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Fee: Free

9 Liberal's Largest Rummage Sale - Liberal's Largest Rummage Sale is back! One day only, free admission. Over 30 booths filled with treasures in a climate controlled atmosphere. Don't miss the treasures!

Address: Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Ave , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Fax: 620-626-3317
Email: eventcenter@sewardcountyks.org
Web: www.sewardcountyks.org
Fee: Free to public

9 Liberal's Largest Rummage Sale - Liberal's Largest Rummage Sale is back! One day only, free admission. Over 30 booths filled with treasures in a climate controlled atmosphere. Don't miss the treasures!

Address: Event Center, 810 Stadium Rd , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Fee: Free

April

2 - 3 Annual Gas Compressor Institute - Address: Seward County Event Center , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3855 (Always call and confirm events)

May

17 - 21 Pride of Texas Carnival - Open to Public. Mother's Day Special!

Address: Seward County Fairgrounds 1501 8th Street , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Fax: 620-626-3317
Email: jlewis@sewardcountyks.org
Web: www.sewardcountyks.org

20KS1019015e021 - Liberal Old Time Country Jamboree - An old time country music jamboree featuring 16 year old Chelsea Beck from Kingfisher, Oklahoma, a Grammy winner with the Academy of Western Artists, and 17 year old fiddle champion, Jake Simpson from Wyandotte, Oklahoma. Also performing will be award-winning musicians, "Call of the West" and Tex and Mary Schutz. Fun for the entire family - no alcohol.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Jesse Nelson Medical Fund. Door prizes and Special Mothers' recognition for Mother's Day.

Hope to see ya' there!!! Doors open at 5:00 P.M. with local talent performing from 5:30-7:00 P.M. Concert starts at 7:00 P.M.

Address: Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Ave , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 580-539-1017 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: linear@ptsi.net
Fee: $10 Advance- $12 Door -$5 age 12 & under -Under Age 5 FREE

4 Cinco de Mayo Celebration - Everyone is invited to participate in Cinco de Mayo events. Parade at 1 pm Downtown. Events begin at Seward County Event Center immediately after parade. Join in Hot Pepper Eating Contest, or Best Salsa Contest, and listen to bands. Folkloric Dancers will perform along with a Mariachi Band. Lots of food available. 1:00 PM TO 6:00 PM.

Address: Downtown and Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Ave. , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: jlewis@swko.net
Web: www.liberalkschamber.com

June

17 - 18 Affair of the Heart Quilt Show - Fabulous food, vendors, boutique with handmade items, quilt auction and of course hundreds of quilts!!

Special Exhibits:
God Bless America
Patriotic exhibit of small quilts from Judy Howard at Buckboard Antique Quilts in Oklahoma City.
The quilts are the result of a contest.
White Chocolate
Needles & Friends members will exhibit quilts made in a White Chocolate Workshop taught by Janet Jones Worley.

Silent Auction:
Each day of the show quilted items of various sizes will be on display for "silent bids" and the winning bidder will be announced at the end of the day. Funds raised are for community service projects and quilt show expenses.

Friday--9:00 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday--9:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Address: Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Road , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-7863 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: nfqgquiltshow@gmail.com
Web: www.wequilt.net
Fee: $8.00 per day or $12.00 for two days

6 - 9 Heart of America Carnival - Address: Seward County Fairgrounds 1501 8th Street , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: jlewis@sewardcounty.org
Web: www.sewardcountyks.org

July

12 - 13 Bazaar Days - Citywide sidewalk sales starting at 6 a.m. Thursday and continuing all day on Thursday and Friday.

Ph: 800-542-3725 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: info@visitliberal.com
Web: www.visitliberal.com
Fee: Free to public.

August

13 - 21KS1019015e003 - Liberal Five State Free Fair - If life in the Heartland is new to you, there's no better way to sample the best it has to offer than a visit to the Five State Free Fair. Attracting exhibitors and guests from Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and, of course, Kansas, the annual fair, which is over a week long, retains the simple pleasures of a small town event.

What could be more traditional than an afternoon in the bright summer sun, with lemonade to sip, with an array of home-made crafts and farm animals to observe? Only a ride on the ferris wheel as the sun sets and the sounds of carnival music drift up in the evening air.

At the county fairgrounds, just across Stadium Avenue, fairgoers can take in the final rounds of the KPRA rodeo each year, along with stock car races, a carnival, musical performances, and all the other standard fare of fairs.

Agricultural events are joined by quilt shows, ugly cake contests and even a special kids' day of games and contests. Naturally, there are dunking booths, hot dog stands and the famous tractor-pedal-pull competitions that pit miniature farmers in a contest of might.

Ph: 620-624-3712 (Always call and confirm events)

10KS1019015e023 - Liberal VFW Post 3166 Support Our Troops Car Show - Event will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Plaques will be awarded for Top 10 cars; Longest Distance and People's Choice.
There will be a 50/50 pot, concession on site, door prizes, etc.

Written inquiries may be sent to Brenda Mallory, 919 N. Purdue, Liberal, Ks 67901.

Address: 1851 West 2nd Street Road, Liberal, Ks , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-482-1128 (Always call and confirm events)
Fax: 620-626-1234
Email: bmallory_@hotmail.com or pbrink@ptsi.net
Fee: Pre Entry $25.00 Day of Show $30.00

September

Chili Cookoff - Businesses, civic organizations, and individuals participate in a chili cooking competition every September. People that attend the event sample and judge the chili and award the top choices with prizes. Tasting kits are available for sampling and a carnival with games helps keep the children busy and excited. The streets are blocked for accessibility and safety for individuals.

Ph: 620-624-3855 (Always call and confirm events)
Web: www.liberalisozsome.com

6 - 8 American Crown Circus - American Crown Circus returns to the Seward County Fairgrounds.

Address: 810 Stadium Ave , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3743 (Always call and confirm events)
Fax: 620-626-3317
Email: eventcenter@sewardcountyks.org
Web: www.sewardcountyks.org
Fee: Free Child with Paying Adult

7 Annual Duck Festival - The annual Duck Race, sponsored by the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, is fun for the entire family. Ducks are adopted by the citizens of the Liberal area, who cheer their ducks to the finish line in hopes of winning some great prizes. 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Come on out and watch the fire fighters in their water competition, Bounce Houses, Corporate Trike races and many fun activities.

Duck Race starts at 2:00pm, make sure to purchase your ducks for a chance to win money prizes! First place winner gets $5,000!

Stop by the Liberal Chamber of Commerce at 4 Rock Island road to get your duck tickets starting in August!

Address: Seward County Event Center 810 Stadium Ave , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-624-3855 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: info@visitliberal.com
Web: www.liberalkschamber.com/
Fee: Free to public

October

28 Ozfest - Ozfest, which is held the second weekend in October, has drawn more than 20,000 people in years past. The event attracts fans, “Oz-scholars” and cast members from the movie. Several of the original Munchkins have attended the event, along with Robert Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, (creator of Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz). Activities at the event include a downtown parade, appearances by the Munchkins, a Toto Trot, look –alike contests, an Oz theme hat contest, and a showing of the movie at the end of the festival.



Address: Dorothy's House & The Land of Oz, 567 E Cedar Street , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 800-542-3725 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: info@visitliberal.com
Web: www.visitliberal.com

November

Holiday Open House - Holiday Open House is Liberal's business' huge introduction to new holiday merchandise. At the beginning of every November, merchants offer special holiday hours as well as refreshments and drawings for prizes during this opening weekend of the holiday shopping season.

Ph: 620-624-3855 (Always call and confirm events)
Web: www.liberalisozsome.com

December

23 - 24 Folk Art Festival Craft Fair - The Folk Art Festival takes place the first full weekend in December. Over 100 booths featuring homemade craft items and food fill the Seward County Activity Center. This fair sponsored by SPBH, is open to the public free of charge.

Address: Seward County Event Center 810 Stadium Ave , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 800-542-3725 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: info@visitliberal.com
Web: www.visitliberal.com
Fee: Free to public

25 - 5 Christmas Hay Rides - Come ride with us around town and see the Christmas Lights and all of the decorations of Liberal. MUST PRE-REGISTER & PAY.

Hayride will start at the Rec center at 6:00 pm
Limited to 20 people per ride.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 2 weeks in December.

Address: Recreation Center, 1109 W 7th Street , Liberal, Kansas
Ph: 620-626-0133 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: info@visitliberal.com
Web: www.visitliberal.com
Fee: $2/person or $30 for a group of 20.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

International Pancake Race

A tradition since 1950, the International running of the Pancake Race has become a symbolic event of peace and unity between the Untied States and England. Pancake Day is always on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Some people refer to it as "Fat Tuesday."

Liberal, KS One Of A Kinds

Rock Island Depot

In April, 1888, the first train with goods other than construction materials arrived at the end of the new Rock Island line in Liberal, Kansas.

Liberal, KS Railroad History

Land of OZ Dorothy's House

Liberal's Dorothy's House was built in 1907 and donated to the Seward County Historical Society. It has been carefully restored and furnished with period furnishings to reproduce the warmth of the farmhouse where Dorothy realized that: "There's no place like home." In the "Land of Oz"

Liberal, KS Museums

Arkalon Park

Travelers on U.S. Highway 54, struck by the round horizon and massive skyscapes, would be surprised to find a series of ponds, streams, marshland and groves of cottonwood trees just north of the straight path they drive.

Liberal, KS RV Parks

Baker Arts Center

Known as a "cultural oasis on the prairie", the Baker Arts Center is an art education facility which promotes the arts in Southwest Kansas. A 5000 square foot three level handicap accessible building is the former home of Irene Dillon and Francis Marion Baker.

Liberal, KS Arts

Things to do near Liberal, KS