The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Cottonwood Falls promises a day packed full of activities on Saturday for all ages.
The preserve is holding its annual Partnership for the Prairie event starting at 9 a.m. The schedule of events includes house and bus tours, hiking trails and the opening of Fox Creek Schoolhouse. Several other activities will be held throughout the day including fiber dyeing, spinning and weaving demonstrations and a chuckwagon barbecue by Flying W Ranch, which starts at 11 a.m
Other activities include:
- 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Backcountry hiking trails, permit required
- 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. — Hourly house tours
- 10 a.m. — Learn about veterinary services in the early 1900s from Dr. Gary Pottorff.
- 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. — Interpretive Wildflower Walk: Join Daryl Meierhoff for a casual walk along the Southwind Nature Trail.
- 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. — Prairie Bus Tour: scenic views by bus. Tickets are available at the bookstore and are $5 for adults and $3 for ages 5-18.
- 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. — Red House Discovery Hike: Kristen Hase will lead people on an exploration into the diverse life forms in the creeks and streams.
- 11:30 a.m. — Geology Hike with Bob Sawin and Rex Buchanan from the Kansas Geological Survey.
- 12 to 4 p.m. — Lower Fox Creek School is open.
- 1 p.m. — Benefit auction: Featuring a Judith Mackey original painting of the Historic Barn, along with many other Flint Hills items. Proceeds of the auction will benefit the development of a new visitor center.
- 2 p.m. — Fire and Grazing Practices at the Preserve presented by Brian Obermeyer.
Check out other events this weekend in and around Emporia:
- A candlelight vigil to honor prisoners or war and those missing in action will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Soden’s Grove All Veterans Memorial Park on South Commercial Street. The event, sponsored by the All Veterans Memorial Association, is being held in recognition of National POW-MIA Day.
- A Homecoming dinner will be served Friday at 5:30 p.m. by the After Prom Committee of Northern Heights High School. Hamburger, Polish sausage or bratwurst and chips, beans, tea and homemade pie will be offered at $5 per plate at the NHHS football field.
- K-177 Bluegrass Pickin’ will start at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Emma Chase Cafe, 317 Broadway in Cottonwood Falls. The show is held the third Friday of every month.
- A “Pickin’ the Blues” concert will follow on Saturday at the Emma Chase. The concert, featuring Dr. John Walker and Dan Bliss, will start at 7:30 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling Sue Smith, (620) 273-6020.
- The Emporia Airport will have an open house from 7:30 a.m. through the afternoon Saturday in conjunction with a tandem wing aircraft fly-in that starts on Friday and runs through Sunday. About 13 to 15 tandem wing aircraft is expected. There will be a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and a lunch at noon, both hosted by the local Pilots Association.
- Garage sales, a country breakfast and a semi-truck and fire truck are part of the display event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Reading. The breakfast of homemade biscuits and gravy, breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, juice and coffee will be served in the basement of the Reading Methodist Church. Donations will be accepted. Several garage sales will be in the yard of the Miracle Café and in other locations. Sponsors are the Reading Community Development Association, the Miracle Café and Reading United Methodist Women.
- Activities are planned throughout the day at the Burlington Transportation Show, which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday on Main Street. The show is open to all makes and models of vehicles, and awards will be presented at 3 p.m. More information may be had by calling (620) 364-2787.
- Smothered steak or baked ham meals, along with an auction of rugs, baked goods, noodles, collectibles and other items, will be part of the Annual Ingathering of the Virgil United Methodist Church at Fremont Hall in Virgil beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. A drawing for a quilt and a door prize will be held. The cost is $6.50 for adults and $3 for children under 8.
- Golfers can help fund Veterans Day activities and enjoy a four-man scramble tournament at the Municipal Golf Course on Saturday. Play begins at 9:30 with a shotgun start. The cost is $50 per person and includes greens fees, cart rental, lunch, and entries for prizes. Golfers who want an edge can buy two mulligans for $5.
- Emporia State University will face Pittsburg State in volleyball at 1 p.m. Saturday in W.L. White Auditorium.
- Kevin Rabas will read selected poems of William Allen White at Poetry on the Porch, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday at the White home, 927 Exchange St. Local poets also are invited to read their contemporary poetry, and a tour of the state historical site also will be offered.