It’s party time again.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Emporia will be celebrating its 150th birthday for the second time this year. Bands, booths and a big parade will mesh with the usual Fourth of July festivities to make one big blowout.
And to answer the most frequently
asked question: Yes, if you ordered a history book, it will be waiting for you. Even if all the other copies sell out.
“We’re not going to sell your book,” said Angie Schreiber, a coordinator of the 150th anniversary celebration. “If you pre-ordered it, we will not sell it out from under you.”
There have been a few last-minute changes and additions as the event grows close, but it should still be a busy time for the town. Among other things, two new booths have been added to Wednesday’s street fair — one with fresh-squeezed drinks and one with products by ABC New Dimensions — bringing the total to 57 booths all together. Souvenirs will be for sale at the fair.
The overall schedule will be:
Tuesday
• 9 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Re-airing of the Feb. 20 birthday party for Emporia on Cable One Channel 20. A DVD of the party may be ordered for $20 at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau or at one of the souvenir booths during the July 4 street fair.
• 7:30 p.m. — Concert by Kelley Hunt in Albert Taylor Hall, with a pre-show by Callie Agler Chambliss. Both singers are former Emporians. Tickets are $10.
Wednesday
• 9a.m. to 3 p.m. — Street festival on Mechanic Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Participants include local churches, restaurants, businesses and civic groups. A wide number of interests can be found, whether it’s Civil War re-enactment or really good chocolate. Several stages will also be set up for performing acts (see below).
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — “Celebrating with Art,” a new display of artwork from across Kansas, will be shown at the Emporia Arts Center. The exhibit came together through the Emporia Arts Council, the Friends of the Emporia Public Library and the Girl Scouts of the Flint Hills.
• 10 a.m. — The 150th Celebration parade will march from Fourth Avenue to 12th Avenue on Commercial Street. About 60 entrants have signed up. Ron Thomas of KVOE will be the parade’s master of ceremonies. Parade marshals will be descendants of the Folwer, Hammond, Hayworth, Plumb and Soden families, who were all among the founding families of Emporia. Co-chairs Ron Slaymaker and Evora Wheeler are also parade marshals. The parade will not be broadcast live on television but will be re-broadcast by Channel 20 at a date to be announced. DVDs of the parade will be for sale at the Emporia Chamber and Visitors Bureau and will be recorded by Marvin Tajchman.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — The Lyon County Historical Museum will be open, complete with exhibits on the history of Emporia and Lyon County, the Victorian era, sports, the military and of course the miniature train.
• 10 a.m. to 4p.m. — The Lyon County Historical Archives will be open, where serveral people will be knitting, crocheting and doing other handicrafts. Samples of their work will be on display and photo albums, scrapbooks and maps may be perused.
• 11 a.m. — Young pianist Jeremy Bell will perform at the Heritage Stage in the Capitol Federal Parking Lot. The Ecuador Dancers will perform at the Civic Stage on Seventh Avenue, followed by the Studio 2B Folkloric Dancers. The cake walk will be held at the street fair until 1 p.m. or the cakes run out.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — The zoo docents will be in the Children’s Area (the arts council parking lot and grassy area near Navrats).
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — The Art Mobile will be in the Children’s Area along with clowns, balloons, face painting, tattoos and games. Camp Alexander will also have a water slide, parachute games and the big ball.
• 11:30 a.m. — Storytime in the Emporia Public Library courtyard. Passersby can hear stories from the past and have their picture taken with historical greats Abigail Morse and Preston Plumb.
• Noon — The Wichita Caledonian Pipes and Drums perform at the Heritage Stage. Aaron Schopper will present selections from the comedy “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” at the Civic Stage.
• 12:10 p.m. — Gretchen Schreiber will present a humorous performance at the Civic Stage.
• 12:30 p.m. — Storytime at the library courtyard.
• 12:40 p.m. — Sweetwater will perform at the Civic Stage.
• 1 p.m. — The Wes Windholz Polka Band will perform at the Heritage Stage.
• 1:30 p.m. — Lyndie Moe and Family Martial Arts will perform at the Civic Stage. Storytime at the library courtyard.
• 2 p.m. — El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco will perform at the Heritage Stage.
• 2:20 p.m. — The Petroglyphs will perform at the Civic Stage.
• 2:30 p.m. — Storytime at the library courtyard.
• 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Farmer’s market in the Seventh Avenue and Merchant Street parking lot.
• 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks show at the Lyon County Fairgrounds.
NEWS YOUCAN USE
The Emporia Gazette
If you’re planning to attend the fireworks show Wednesday at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, the Emporia police would like you to know how to get home. Here are the basics as shown on the map at left.
North of the fairgrounds
Stanton Street: will be northbound only as soon as the fireworks start.
12th Avenue: will be eastbound only when exiting after the fireworks.
West of the fairgrounds
Industrial Road: northbound will be blocked off at U.S. 50. Southbound in the inside land will go south on Industrial; southbound in the outside lane will go west on U.S. 50. At 12th and 15th avenues, outside lanes are northbound only; inside lane is northbound and westbound. Headed south, inside lane is southbound only; outside lane is southbound or westbound. No turns eastbound onto 12th and 15th.
South of the fairgrounds
U.S. 50: Eastbound will be a single (outside) lane from Ninth Avenue to just east of south fairgrounds exit. Those exiting from fairgrounds may turn east or west. Those parking at Arby’s or the old Big Lots property will be able to turn right only and head east.
East of the fairgrounds
Prairie Street: no northbound at Sixth Avenue; eastbound only at Ninth and 12th avenues; east or northbound at 15th Avenue; northbound or westbound at 18th Avenue.