COTTONWOOD FALLS — The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Cottonwood Falls will be hopping this holiday weekend with a host of Fourth of July activities.
The preserve, which is two miles north of Strong City on Kansas Highway 177 (the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway), will be open the entire holiday weekend. The events begin Friday and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a day of music and clogging in the historic barn. Participants can bring their instruments. Clogging demonstrations will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Saturday will bring a full day of activities for the preserve. Covered wagon rides will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides will depart every 20 to 30 minutes. On the rides, participants can visit with a blacksmith, watch wool spinning demonstrations and listen to historic music. Early cooking techniques will be demonstrated using an open flame, Dutch ovens and the ranch cook stove from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A special interpretive program on traditional cooking methods will run from 10 to 10:15 a.m. Period characters will enjoy the ranch-cooked meal from 12 to 1 p.m. and discuss the upcoming holiday activities, followed by a special interpretive program on historic wool spinning from 2:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Saturday evening will feature an old-fashioned barn dance with live music by the Tallgrass Express String Band in the 1880s limestone barn. The dance will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Dance instruction will be provided and refreshments will be served.
The activities will pick up again from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday with an old-fashioned egg toss, rope jumping, hoop and stick and a bucket brigade. Refreshments will be served.
For more information on this weekend’s acivities, call the preserve at (620) 273-8494 or visit the office in Cottonwood Falls at 226 Broadway St. More information also can be found at the Web site, www.nps.gov/tapr.