The 16th Annual Hartford Harvest Day is Saturday with events spanning the entire day. Bettina Shank, chairperson of the Hartford Harvest Day Committee said a few new highlights were added this year. A 3-point basketball contest begins at 11 a.m. with winners receiving a bottle of pop. Children 10 and under can sing during an open mic session at 2 p.m. and at 3 p.m. the lawn mower races will take off at a healthy clip.
All-day events include a car, truck and motorcycle show, quilt, local art and collectible exhibits, antique tractor display and Mexican Fiesta.
Saturday is also National Hunting and Fishing Day. The Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge will have a tent set up with information and activities.
Other Hartford events on the schedule include a 5k walk/run at 8 a.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m. This year’s “Rock ‘N Roll Harvest” parade will begin at 10 a.m.
Children’s games, a farmers’ walk, and a cake walk start at 11 a.m. Awards will be presented for parade winners and Little Mr. and Miss Harvest at 11:30 a.m. A tae kwon do demonstration is set for noon, followed by bingo and horseshoe pitching. Bed races will begin at 4 p.m. after the lawn-mower races.
Evening entertainment begins with a talent show at 5 p.m. in the high school. The evening barbecue will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Events end with dancing in the street; the street dance steps off at 8 p.m.
For those who missed the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield last weekend, there is a second chance with the fourth annual Broom Weed Bluegrass Jam in Cottonwood Falls this weekend.
The music begins Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with the K-177 BlueGrass Pickin’ Jam at the Emma Chase Cafe on Broadway Street. Guests are welcome to listen and participate. Starting Saturday morning, organizer Sue Smith of the Emma Chase Cafe said, whoever wants to get into groups can play up and down Broadway. Scheduled groups begin at 2 p.m. with the Prairie Acre group from Lawrence. Smith said they will play outside, weather permitting. At 3 p.m., Elexa Dawson, a local musician, will perform. At 4 p.m., Tallgrass Express, an area band, will play.
Evening entertainment opens with Instant Grits at 6:30 p.m. The area group will perform for an hour to welcome Nick Charles. Charles of Victoria Australia performs finger-pickin’ style guitar. Charles will begin to play at 7:30 p.m. Smith said he is expected to play for a couple of hours. This is Charles’ fourth appearance in Cottonwood Falls.
All day Sunday, Smith said, musicians are welcome to come play at anytime. Participants are welcome to jam with all musicians throughout the weekend.
The event is drug- and alcohol-free. Smith suggests people bring lawn chairs for seating. The music will be moved inside in the event of bad weather. For more information call Smith at (620) 273-6020 or go to www.emmachasecafe.com.
Also this weekend is the 16th annual Tandem Wing Fly-In. The event starts Friday when planes will arrive at the Emporia Municipal Airport. The main event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, when the public will be able to see the homebuilt planes on the ground and in the sky. Visitors will also be able to talk to owners of the planes.
Other events this weekend include:
F The Walk for Diabetes, 9 a.m. Saturday at Emporia State University.
F A reception for photographer Brian Merriman from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Emporia Arts Center, 618 Mechanic St.