This weekend is highlighted by two regional festivals — Madison Days in Madison and the Flinthills Folklife Festival in Cottonwood Falls.
Madison Days
The theme for Madison’s city festival this year is “Catch a Glimpse of Heaven in 2007.” Activities for the week will be:
FRIDAY
• Free Coke and hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The downtown flea market will begin at noon and run until 5 p.m.
• A free swim at the city pool will begin at 1 p.m.
• The Madison Depot Museum will feature the George Esslinger Farm beginning at 4 p.m.
• Starting at 6 p.m. will be a hamburger feed, a pie and ice cream social, a car cruise in the downtown and a performance by the Madison High School Band.
• Callahan’s Band will give a concert beginning at 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
• Biscuits and gravy will be served at 7 a.m. at the First Christian Church.
• Registration for the Verdigris Valley River Run will begin at 8 a.m. at the depot. Other Madison Days registration will be at the senior center. The run starts at 9 a.m.
• Also beginning at 9 a.m. will be the downtown flea market, a sporting clay tournament at the Lazy D Ranch, gold panning in front of the Food Basket, the Esslinger Farm exhibit at the depot museum, a display of hand-painted china at the Madison Library and caricature art by Josh Anzo at Third and Main. At the Sauder Center will be a display of painted birdhouses and gift baskets, a quilt show, Boy Scout and 4-H exhibits, a bass identification contest and a cupcake contest.
• Registration for the Verdigris Valley River Bike Ride will begin at 9 a.m. at the depot. The ride begins at 10 a.m. Also at 10 will be a historic review of Madison by Bob Robison, an appearance by Blossom the Clown at Third and Main, “Digging for Dollars” at the same location, and a dunk tank by the Boy Scouts.
• Toy train rides will run from 10 a.m. to noon.
• A scavenger hunt will begin at 10:30 a.m.
• At 11 a.m., chicken and noodles will be served at the Methodist Church. The Madison Lions Club will also offer a barbecue lunch. Finally, the cupcake walk will begin at Third and Main.
• At noon, a tae kwon do demonstration will be held at Third and Main.
• At 1 p.m., Jeremy Bell will perform on keyboard at Third and Main. A kids’ Olympics will begin in the city park.
• Inflatables will be at Third and Main from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.
• Lineup for the parade will begin at 2:15 p.m. at the Emch Elevator. The parade begins at 3 p.m.
• A button drawing will be held at 4 p.m.
• The Madison Pacesetters 4-H Club will have a pig roast at 6 p.m.
• An alumni banquet will begin at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. At the same time, Powder River will begin a concert that will last until 9 p.m.
• At 9:30 p.m. the “Fire in the Sky” fireworks display will begin.
SUNDAY
• A golf tournament will begin at 9 a.m.
• The Esslinger Farm exhibit at the depot museum will be open at 1 p.m.
Flinthills Folklife Festival
The annual celebration in Cottonwood Falls includes a mix of music, crafts and just plain fun. This year, the festival will be held at the T-Building in Swope Park because of construction at the Chase County Courthouse.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. During the festival, historical presenters in period skills will demonstrate the everyday skills needed in the 19th century. Items produced at the festival will be for sale.
Previous demonstrations at the festival have included basket and soap making, calligraphy, quilting, homemade root beer, live music and even an appearance by “Abraham Lincoln.”
As part of the festival, Tallgrass Gospel Pickin’ will be held at the Emma Chase Cafe at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The TallGrass Pickers will also jam there at 7:30 p.m. Saturday — bring your lawn chairs for that one.
Other events
• A quilt show at the Lee Beran Recreation Center by the Flint Hills Regional Quilt Guild, The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
• The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City will hold its Prairie Wildflower Weekend on June 9. For information call 620-273-8494.
• The Emporia Zoo will hold its second collectible coin auction at 10 a.m. Saturday at the zoo.
• The Town Crier Bookstore will have at least 40 local authors present Saturday for a book signing: Mary Jo Amirault, Debbie Brock Bateman, Alice Bertels, Barbara Baldwin, Polly Basore, Steve Baxter, Rod Beemer, Roy Bird, Doc Carson, JB Cheaney, Joseph Collins, Robert Collins, Don Coldsmith, Jay Davies, Jerry Engler, Karen Ross Epp, Mike Everhart, Stephen Farney, Susan Fowler, Lisa Harkraker, Duane Hermann, Jamie Hill, Jim Hoy, Doris Johnson, Lee Killough, Jackie Lakin, Denise Low, Mary Lucus, Tom Mach, Linda Madl, Sheri McGhaty, Judith Miller, Ken Ohm, John Scott O’Shea, Donald Pady, Tom Parker, Deborah Raney, Kim Sawyer, Linda Spry, Debra Stufflebean, Mike Williams and Anna Zernickow. The signing will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Girls 11 years old and older can take part in the Girl Scouts’ “Media Smart Girls — STEPS to Healthier Girls” workshops that run each Saturday through June 23. Registration is $2. The workshops encourage girls to think about the media’s role in encouraging their lifestyle and nutritional choices, and by the end of the series the girls will create their own positive message for healthier lifestyles. The workshops are held at the Amend Girl Scout Center, 1200 Burlingame Road. Girls who have registered may attend any or all of the workshops.