The Veterans Day Barbecue and Dance scheduled for Saturday has been canceled because of poor ticket sales.
Liz Martell, director of the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that fewer than 30 tickets had been sold for the event. Refunds are available at the bureau and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, both at 719 Commercial St.
“There just didn’t seem to be enough interest,” Martell said. “We have tried dinners in the past and they just don’t seem to be very popular. There’s too much of a demand on people’s time.”
The Balloon Glow will still be held at the American Legion at 6 p.m. and the Legion’s lounge will be open for anyone who wants to celebrate on their own.
The Tallgrass Big Band, which was scheduled to perform at the event, can also be heard at Friday’s USO Show at Albert Taylor Hall on the Emporia State University campus. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., but the band will provide pre-show music. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call the bureau at 342-1803.
Other events remain on the agenda:
Today
• World War II roundtable with Robert Mott, 7:30 p.m., Kanza Room in the Memorial Union, ESU. 342-1895
Friday
• “Business Salute to Veterans” luncheon, 11:45 a.m., American Legion Post 5, tickets are $8.50 for lunch and the first 50 veterans to register will eat free, for advanced registration, call 342-1803;
• Veterans Recognition and USO Show, 7:30 p.m., Albert Taylor Hall in Plumb Hall, Emporia State University. Pick up free tickets at the chamber office, 719 Commercial St.
Saturday
• Veterans breakfast, 7:15 a.m. with guest speaker Lee Hoskins, Emporia Presbyterian Manor, information: For information, call 343-2613.
• Parade, 9:30 a.m., downtown Emporia, 342-1119.
• Memorial Service, 11 a.m., guest speaker, Rep. Peggy Mast, Soden’s Grove All Veterans Memorial, 342-1119.
• Ham and Bean feed, noon, American Legion Post 5 and Veterans and Foreign Wars Post 1980. Donations accepted.
• Military exhibits and speakers, 1 to 5 p.m., Kansas Army National Guard, 1809 Merchant St., military exhibits and speakers, activities for children, climbing wall and military equipment.
• Barbecue dinner, balloon glow and dance featuring Tallgrass Big Band, 6 to 10 p.m., American Legion Post 5. Tickets are $20 each at the chamber office, 719 Commercial St.
Sunday
• Freedom run-walk, 8 a.m., Soden’s Grove All Veterans Memorial. To register, 340-6430 or www.emporiamainstreet.com.
• “How the Atomic Bomb Changed Our Lives,” with Don Coldsmith, World War II medic and author, 2:30 p.m., Emporia Public Library, 340-6462.
Monday
• Veterans dinner, 4 to 9 p.m., Golden Corral, free to all veterans.