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If the word "Kansas" conjures up images of tallgrass prairies and herds of bison, fair enough. My home state certainly provides the stereotypical scenery that inspired its state song, Home on the Range. But it also has plenty of other experiences for the art, foodie, history, sports, and nightlife loving traveler. Here's what you should do, see, and eat when you visit Kansas.
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Let's be honest: No matter where you go in Kansas, you're basically guaranteed some sort of lovely view; however, these 10 Kansas towns have the crème de la crème of breathtaking views!
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Wearing a colorful Christmas-themed sweater, Connie Brunner seems comfortable among the vintage furniture and wares inside Cedar Street Market Antiques in downtown Abilene, Kansas. The store is an extension of her interior design business, Third and Vine. She uses pieces from the store to help arrange rooms, such as the work she did for the Engle House Bed and Breakfast.
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Abilene Flag Project
In 2019 we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the grand re-opening of the renovated Eisenhower Presidential Museum, as well as the 150th anniversary of the City of Abilene's incorporation. Visitors to Abilene frequently comment on the beautiful American flags lining Buckeye and 3rd Street. The American flags are one of the many wonderful things that make our community standout.
To continue this tradition, the City of Abilene's Convention & Visitors Bureau is seeking sponsors for the American flags, which are placed on poles from I-70 along Buckeye to the south city limits and from Buckeye west on 3rd Street. The flags are flown from the Eisenhower Marathon weekend through Veterans Day. Because they are displayed for seven months, the flags and poles are more prone to wear and tear. The City of Abilene's Public Works Department replaces them as needed.
Our goal this year is to purchase 200 flags for the 2019 season. The cost of each flag remains the same at $25, which includes the pole.
Volunteers from the American Legion and VFW attach the flags to the flagpoles. The Public Works Department, Eagle Communications, Abilene Rental, and Linder Electric install the flags on the light poles.
We rely on the community to provide funding for this project and hope you will consider purchasing one or more flags this year. Please complete the form below and return it to the Abilene CVB by January 8, 2019.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Julie Roller
Director, Abilene CVB
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Flag sponsors as of 1/9/2019
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Abilene Auto Parts Inc.
Abilene Haircuts, Russell Pitney owner
Abilene Machine Inc.
Abilene Printing & Office Products Co., Inc.
Abilene Rent-All & Sales
American Family Insurance
AuBurn Pharmacy
Bert & Wetta Sales Inc
Bill & Nanc Scholl
Black & Company Realtors
Bob Burns- State Farm Insurance Agent
Brian's Plumbing Inc
Brown Memorial Foundation
Bruce & Denise Youtsey
Casey & Jane Foltz
Central Kansas Free Fair
Copeland Insurance
Dan & Dana Eye
Dan & Marilyn Holt
Danner Funeral Home
Dennis & Teresa Weishaar
Don's Tire & Supply Inc
Dickinson County Heritage Center
Eisenhower Foundation
Everett's Inc.
Faith Lutheran Church
George & Carol McCormic
Geske Interiors
Greyhound Hall of Fame
Harold & Sue Courtois
Holm Automotive Center
Jessica Weissenbach
Jim & Pattie Mayhew
John & April Barker
Kay Quinn
Kenton & Stephanie Clark
KJIL - Mark Hinca
Kohler Family (Jason & Kim)
Dr. Lawrence Cooper
Larry & Tina Rankin
Linder Electric Inc.
M & M Tire & Auto
M & R Grill
Marcus Rothchild
Martin Becker Carlson Funeral
Martin Schneider in Memory of Jack Schneider
Memorial Health System
Mildred Hanson
OCCK, Inc.
Patterson Healthcare Pharmacy
Peterson Monuments & Designs, Inc.
Pinnacle Bank
Pottberg, Gassman & Hoffman
RHV / Ken & Ann Manning
Rick & Marcia Williamson
Rivendell Bookstore/Picture This Plus
Rob & Dawn Hammatt
Robson Oil Co Inc
Rod & Tracey Kuecker
Russell Stover Chocolates
Smart Insurance
Solomon State Bank
Sonic Drive In
Stan Foltz
Steve & Glenda Schmidt in memory of Lowell K. Schmidt, WWII Veteran
The Teck Shop
Tim & Kathy Horan
Tom & Janet Whitehair
Twila Jackson
UMB Bank
West's Plaza Country Mart
William & Phyllis Peterson
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Throwback Thursday
From Henry B. Jameson's Heroes by the Dozen
Abilene - Cattle Days to President Ike
The All-American City of 1960
The slogan "Biggest Little City" in the midwest is a most appropriate one for modern Abilene, which strikes strangers as being a considerably larger city than the 7,200 population counted by the assessors. Its tree-lined streets, fine homes, skyline, consolidated business district without the old fashioned town square, and many unusual attraction reflect the metropolitan atmosphere....
Following World War II much needed to be done. And the citizens, led mostly by younger men but with full support of the elders, met every challenge with spectacular results and developed a long-range program, which by 1961 had been virtually completed without a single setback or failure. Meanwhile, Abilene continued to move ahead in many fields.
Every progressive bond issue was approved to carry out this program involving hundreds of citizens directly and thousands more indirectly. The only local bond issue vote down in the two decades was for a downtown parking lot, in which personalities play a more important part than the issue itself. The city gained a statewide reputations for getting things done. It was cited in the Congressional Record and by both the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas Industrial Development Commission.
Commenting on the All-American Cities award given by the National Municipal League, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce said about Abilene's being ranked among the finalists (the only Kansas city so honored): "It is a well deserved recognition of the 'Abilene Spirit' we have come to expect from the progressive and aggressive citizens of Abilene." The Kansas Industrial Development Commission added this: "The record that Abilene has made during recent years is an outstanding one. Your achievements are well known and recognized by all of us - and even have been cited as examples to others." Abilene was cited again in the Congressional Record for the All-American award and received a commendation from former President Eisenhower.
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5 Star Reviews - Joe Snuffy's Old Fashioned Grill
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2019 Calendar of Events
2019 marks 150 years since the City of Abilene's official incorporation. Community events make Abilene not only a great place to live, but also a great place to visit. Make plans now to visit Abilene, Kansas and enjoy these great events!
Take the Abilene Event Challenge - how many can you attend? Snap a photo and tag us in your Facebook posts @VisitAbilene.
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EVENT
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WHEN
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LOCATION
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LEARN MORE
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Kansas Day Celebration
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Saturday, January 26 @ 2-5 pm
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Dickinson County Heritage Center
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Website |
| Plain Great Players Cabaret |
Saturday, January 26 @ 6 pm |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Moulin Rouge: A Party In Paris
GPT FUN-Raiser kicks off our 25th Anniversary Season in style!
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Saturday, February 23 @ 6 pm |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Les Misérables performed by PGP
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Thursday, February 28 @ 7 pm
Friday, March 1 @7 pm
Saturday, March 2 @7 pm
Sunday, March 3 @ 2 pm
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Great Plains Theatre
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| 30th Annual Ida Stover-Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show |
March 11-24 |
Dickinson County Heritage Center |
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| KS Gift & Craft Show |
Sunday, March 31 @ 1pm |
Sterl Hall |
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Eisenhower Marathon
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Saturday, April 6 @ 7 am
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St. Andrews Parish Hall
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| Easter Bunny Train |
Saturday, April 13 @ 1 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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| National Greyhound Association Spring Nationals |
April 15-20 |
National Greyhound Association |
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Reitz & Rust Vintage Market
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Saturday, April 27 @ 10 am
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Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
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| Arts & Ales |
Saturday, April 27 |
Downtown Abilene |
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| Abilene Aviation Association Fly-In |
Saturday, May 5 |
Abilene Municipal Airport |
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| National Travel & Tourism Week |
May 5-11 |
Abilene |
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| Antique Fest |
Saturday, May 11 |
Downtown Abilene |
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| Mother's Day Tea |
Saturday, May 11 |
Eisenhower Presidential Library |
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| Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides |
Saturday, May 25 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Sunday, May 26 @ 2 p.m.
Monday, May 27 @ 10 am & 2 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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Symphony at Sunset
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Saturday, June 1
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Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
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| 75th anniversary of D-Day |
Thursday, June 6 |
Eisenhower Presidential Museum |
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| Pirates of Penzance |
June 14-23 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| Heart of America Greyhound Gathering |
June 20-23 |
Sterl Hall |
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| Disaster! |
July 12-21 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration |
July 4 |
Eisenhower Park |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Thursday, July 4 @10 am & 2 pm
Friday, July 5 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Saturday, July 6 @10 am & 2 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo
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Wednesday, July 31 - Saturday, August 3
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Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
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Central Kansas Free Fair
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Wednesday, July 31 - Monday, August 5
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Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
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August 2-18 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo |
August 2-3 |
Shockey & Landes Building |
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| Vintage Base Ball Game |
August 3 |
Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds |
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| Chisholm Trail Days |
Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1 |
Old Abilene Town |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Saturday, August 31 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Sunday, September 1 @ 2 pm
Monday, September 2 @ 10 am & 2 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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| Heritage Days |
Saturday, October 5 |
Dickinson County Heritage Center |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Saturday, October 5 @ 10 am - 3 pm (hourly departures)
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Dickinson County Heritage Center |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Sunday, October 6 @ 2 pm (last steam run of the year)
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Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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| Empires Fall |
October 18-27 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| Tombstone Talks |
Saturday, October 26 |
Abilene Cemetery |
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| Makin' Magic - 25 Years of Fun |
November 29 - December 15 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| Abilene's Victorian Inn Christmas Afternoon Tea |
Saturday, December 7 |
Abilene's Victorian Inn |
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| Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour |
Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8 |
Varies each year |
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| Night of Christmas Magic |
Saturday, December 7 |
Downtown Abilene |
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Share your news!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to
[email protected].
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Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is closed. Check
archives.gov for details.
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Kansas Day Celebration
Join the Dickinson County Historical Society in a Kansas Day Celebration Saturday, January 26th from 2-5 p.m.
Activities include:
- Scavenger hunt with prizes
- Refreshments - cooking from the 1860s era complete with recipes
- Joe Bassoe sharing traditions and customs that people brought with them as they traveled from across the ocean to the east coast before eventually settling in Kansas.
- Games from the 1860s
- Photo booth with period costumes
- Music by Peggy Meuli
Admission: $5 (Includes copy of the Kansas History Journal featuring Joseph McCoy and the Chisholm Trail).
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Great Plains Theatre - Season Ticket Special
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About us
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
is the marketing arm of the City of Abilene and provides services to tourists and groups convening in Abilene.
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