 |
|
Chisholm Trail Events Center Opening Soon
Abilene's newest venue, the Chisholm Trail Event Center is opening soon! The space is large enough to host meetings, weddings, reunions, auctions and more!
Open House:
Saturday, March 3
Noon-2:30 p.m.
The Chisholm Trail Events Center is located adjacent to Old Abilene Town at 108 SE 6th.
|
|
Abilene in the News
Not only is Abilene a great place to visit, it's a great place to retire!
A new study from
SmartAsset
ranked the
10 best places to retire in Kansas
. The study considers taxes (both income and sales), the number of doctors' offices and opportunity for recreation and social life. According to the study, Abilene ranked among the top spots in Kansas.
Thanks to the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle for breaking this story!
|
|
Abilene Farmers' Market Receives Grant
|
|
|
In 1912 Abilene leaders promoted their special crop industry as show in the postcard above.
|
The Abilene Farmers' Market was recently named as one of twelve recipients of a $3,000 grant* administered by the Kansas Department of Agriculture's
From the Land of Kansas program. The grant will assist with enhanced marketing efforts in order to create awareness, visitation and sales at the Abilene Farmers' Market.
In many communities the local farmers' market is also a tourist attraction providing a place for visitors to socialize with residents, learn about special crops unique to the region and support the local economy.
The Abilene Farmers' Market is located in the Abilene Visitors Center parking lot at the corner of NW 2nd and Buckeye and is open May 26, 2018 - October 6, 2018. The market hours are Saturday (7-11 a.m.) and Wednesday (4-7 p.m.).
For more information about the market, please contact the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Abilene Farmers' Market funds are held at the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation whose mission is to provide a vehicle by which individuals, families, businesses and organizations can financially support the needs of their communities.
*This grant is a part of the Farmers' Market Consumer Recruitment Campaign Grant, made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant which makes funds available to state departments of agriculture solely to enhance competitiveness of specialty crops.
|
|
Prairie Women: Engaging Women Of The Flint Hills
|
|
|
Click image to learn more
|
If you
love
the
Flint Hills
, you won't want to miss
Prairie Hollow Productions
' screening of "Prairie Women: Engaging Women Of The Flint Hills", a feature-length film profiling notable women promoting, preserving & protecting the Flint Hills, April 15 at
Great Plains Theatre
.
There is no charge for admission, but attendees are encouraged to register online.
Note: Those who love
Sunflower Journeys will remember Prairie Hollow Productions' co-founder, Dave Kendall as its host for nearly 30 years. Kendall also has ties to Dickinson County. We are pleased he chose Abilene's Great Plains Theatre as one of the theatres to screen "Prairie Women: Engaging Women of the Flint Hills."
|
|
Patriotism in Abilene
It's that time of year again! 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 Third Street. The flags are flown from the Eisenhower Marathon weekend through Veterans Day. Because they are flown 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 2018 season. The cost of each flag remains the same at $25, which includes the pole and bracket.
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.
Flag sponsors to date:
- M&M Tire & Auto
- Danner Funeral Home, Inc.
- Rivendell Bookstore
- John's Service
- Solomon State Bank
- Greyhound Hall of Fame
- Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home
- Bob Burns Isurance Agency, Inc.
- Next Home Unlimited
- Eisenhower Foundation
- Abilene Termite & Pest Control
- Memorial Health System
- Sonic
- Dr. Lawrence M. Cooper
- Abilene Machine
- GreatLife Golf & Fitness
- Abilene Rental-All & Sales, Inc.
- Black & Co Realtors
- Linder Electric
- The Teck Shop
- Abilene Auto Parts
- Great Plains Federal Credit Union
- Brian's Plumbing, Inc.
- Pottberg, Gassman & Hoffman, Chartered
- Prim & Popper Parlor
- West's Plaza Country Mart
- Holm Automotive Center
- Bill & Nanc Scholl
- Pioneer Farm & Ranch Supply
- Three One One
- Brown Memorial Foundation
- Robson Oil
- Dennis & Teresa Weishaar
- First Bank Kansas
- Stephens Chiropractic
- Rob & Dawn Hammatt
- UMB Bank
- Twila Jackson
- 24/7
- Smart Insurance
- Auburn Pharmacy
- Central Kansas Free Fair
- National Greyhound Association
- Mildred Hanson
- Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce
- Austin & Katrina Gilley
- Casey & Jane Foltz
- Julie Roller
Thank you for your continued support!
|
|
Eisenhower Marathon
Join runners from around the country for the annual Eisenhower Marathon!
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Marathon/Half start @ 7:00 a.m.
10k/5k start @ 7:30 a.m.
|
|
Reitz & Rust Vintage Market and Camper Show
As featured in
SouthernLiving and back by popular demand, the Reitz & Rust Vintage Market's Camper Show!
|
|
Arts & Ales
Save the date! Join the Arts Council of Dickinson County for their inaugural Arts & Ales fundraiser featuring craft beer samples from Kansas breweries, live music and silent auction.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Little Ike Park / Parking Lot
Downtown Abilene
More information about tickets coming soon!
|
|
Vendors Wanted
Abilene will be the scene of its first ever outdoor antique festival in the downtown area on May 12. Five blocks will be closed to traffic and filled with vendors selling vintage, retro, antique furniture and decor, repurposed items, and food. The event is being presented by two downtown antique malls, Mud Creek and Abilene Downtown Antique Mall and is being organized by volunteers who plan to make this an annual event.
|
|
|
|
|
For more than 100 years, Abilene businesses have supported a theatre in Abilene.
|
|
Throwback Thursday
For more than 100 years, Abilene residents and visitors have enjoyed the theatre.
From the Abilene Daily Chronicle, October 6, 1900:
Theatre is Ready.
Dr. A.B. Seelye's New Theatre the Pride of Abilene.
Handsomest in Central Kansas.
The Citizens of Abilene Should Attend the Opening Attraction and see the Beautiful Play House.
When it was first known in Abilene that Dr. A.B. Seelye, of the Seelye Medicine Co., has purchased the Bonebrake opera house the people wondered if he would improve it or let it remain the unsightly play room that it had been for years. A visit to the building now will show to what extent Mr. Seelye has gone I order to give the people of his home city a theatre that is up-to-date and commensurate with his push and energy. A finer theatre does not exist in the state and there are few in the West that will compare with it in beauty and convenience.
The stage is 30 by 65 feet and has an opening 32 feet wide by 21 feet high. This is a three feet wider opening than has the Coates opera house at Kansas City.
All of the scenery is fine was made by the Kansas City Scenic Co., especially for this building. There are scenes for parlor settings, street, woods, lawns, gardens, ocean, etc. The parlor and drawing room scenery is composed of 13 pieces and can be shifted to present different rooms to the audience. The scenery is drawn up and is handled from a rigging loft. From the floor of the stage to the top of the loft is 40 feet.
Connecting with the stage are four dressing rooms fitted with all of the modern conveniences for the comfort and help of the actors, including hot and cold water, toilet rooms, etc. There are also four dressing rooms in the basement that are similarly fitted up.
Around the stage opening, the balcony and the boxes plastic relief is used as a finish. This was made and put in place by a St. Louis firm is painted in ivory color, trimmed in gold and green and under the bright light of many electric globes is very gorgeous.
There are eight rows of seats in the orchestra circle, seven in the dress circle and seven in the balcony seating about 800 persons. The chairs below are finished in imitation mahogany and those in the balcony are cherry.
The boxes, aisles and foyer are all carpeted with the best Brussels carpets. The stairways are padded and carpeted so that absolutely no noise is made in ascending. The rear of the auditorium and the boxes are hung with the finest of tapestries.
The sidewalls are painted a watermelon pink and the ceiling is painted ivory trimmed with green.
The entrance to the building is at the southwest corner. The box office is right of the entrance. The stairways are in both of the west corners.
The architect who planned the building was J.C. Holland of Topeka. The work was done by J. Kruger, of this city.
The color designs of the building throughout was the work of George Upshaw who got his idea from a ripe watermelon and the effect is very beautiful.
The carpets, tapestries and upholstering was the work of the Upshaw Furniture & Carpet Co.
This is but a meager description of the building, but a correct idea of its magnificence cannot be obtained without a visit to it and tonight when "The Price of the World" will be presented by Hal Reid will be a most opportune time to make a visit and at the same time show appreciation of the enterprise shown by Dr. Seelye in giving the people of Abilene the finest theatre in the state.
|
|
5 Star Reviews - M&R Grill
We had a family reunion in Abilene and ate here the first night. Everything was spectacular, from the service, food, and price. We were only in town 3 days but made a second trip to this restaurant. The chicken fried steak was excellent!!! I plan to go back just for the handmade onion rings!!!! The ONLY complaint I have is that I don't live in Abilene where I could eat here frequently!
-smiles19481
Topeka, Kansas
|
"The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene."
Dwight D. Eisenhower
June 22, 1945
|
|
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad's 2018 schedule is now available online. Book early to reserve prime dates!
|
|
Arts Council of Dickinson County
The Arts Council of Dickinson County presents its Annual Winter Film Fest, showing at the Eisenhower Presidential
Library Visitor Center beginning Sunday, Jan. 14, and will run through Feb.18. Movies will start at 2 p.m.
This series is sponsored by the Arts Council of Dickinson County in Partnership with the Eisenhower Presidential Library
and Museum. In conjunction with the free movie series, the Arts Council is accepting canned goods to donate to the
Abilene Area Food Center. There will be an area near the popcorn to place canned goods at the theatre.
Admission to all movies is free and open to the public. Popcorn will be provided at no charge. Sodas may be purchased at
the Visitor Center Gift Shop.
Hidden Figures - PG - Sunday, February 18 @ 2:00 p.m.
The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
|
|
Dickinson County Heritage Center
Plans are underway to update the facade of the Dickinson County Heritage Center. The new space will provide:
- Additional space for rotating exhibits from 1900-present (adding another 100 years of history)
- Larger meeting space
- Exhibit hall for enhanced programming and educational seminars
- Accommodations for larger groups
- Additional restrooms
Contact the Dickinson County Heritage Center to learn more!
|
Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home
Save the date!
Lunch & Learn
WWI Soldier Poetry
Visitors Center Auditorium - February 22 at Noon
While poetry is not a common form of expression today, it was quite popular a century ago. Family and historical documents show that soldiers from every country involved in World War I (1917 - 1919) wrote poetry. While some critics have dismissed these writings as unworthy of serious attention, Tim Rives, deputy director and supervisory archivist of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, will share how important and useful this soldier poetry can be in studying the experiences of the common American service member in the First World War. The examples used in Rives' presentation all have a strong Kansas connection. A light lunch will be served
|
Great Plains Theatre
GPT's Reader's Theatre After Dark
February 17 @ 7:00 p.m.
Great Plains Theatre's new After Dark readers theatre series begins
February 17th at 7:00 PM with The Tree House Effect, a comedy written by two local playwrights: Brandon Jensen of Salina, and Great Plains Theatre's own Mark Warner.
The After Dark series aims to expose Great Plains Theatre's audience to different types of theatre and highlight stories that couldn't make it to the main stage, while also appealing to younger theatregoers who are looking for more contemporary works. With the popularity of streaming services and electronic gaming, it grows harder to pull audiences away from their devices and into seats. This problem of attracting younger patrons to what is often misconstrued as an "older generation" activity was what spurred Jensen and Warner to begin writing The Tree House Effect while attending Emporia State University.
Jensen and Warner saw a lack of student attendance at their events and queried that content might be the answer. They began brainstorming a show that could connect to their peers and those first ideas became the framework for the show, which will be performed in Reader's Theatre style at Great Plains Theatre on
February 17th at 7:30.
The first official production of The Tree House Effect resulted after a year of writing, re-writing, asking friends to read rough drafts, and putting on a staged reading. With the additional attention garnered from the staged reading, Emporia State produced Jensen and Warner's piece as main stage production. This run resulted in a marked increase in student attendance. The show was also chosen for the Kennedy Center America College Theater Festival and was performed for over 2,000 college students and professors from the Midwest.
Attendees of Great Plains Theatre's After Dark performance of The Tree House Effectwill experience the story of 3 friends reconnecting after years apart, using the same games they used to play as kids to help solve their real-world adult problems. Tyson, Jeremy, and Lucas would spend hours in Jeremy's backyard tree house, using their imagination to transform themselves into cowboys, and gladiators, and spacemen. Since adulthood, however, they've grown apart, until one day Jeremy calls them all back to their childhood tree house with some big news.
Tickets for The Tree House Effect are $5 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling Great Plains Theatre at (785) 263-4574; Season Ticket Holders enter for free! This performance does contain adult language and themes and is not intended for children. Following the performance there will be a brief Q and A with the original cast as well as both playwrights. Don't miss your one time chance to see The Tree House Effect.
Tickets - $5/per person and season ticket holders get in free.
**Warning: Adult content - language
GPT Cinema
Feb 16: The Greatest Showman
Feb 23: Paddington 2
|
Greyhound Hall of Fame
Abilene's Greyhound Hall of Fame is open daily. Stop by and say hi to resident greyhounds Gary and Ginger.
|
Seelye Mansion
Named an 8 Wonders of Kansas - Architecture winner, Abilene's Seelye Mansion is open daily for tours.
|
Coming soon:
- 1776 the Musical - March 1-4
- Easter Egg Roll at Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home - March 31
- K-State Skydivers at Abilene Municipal Airport - April 14
- Prairie Women: Engaging Women Of The Flint Hills - April 15
- National Greyhound Association's Spring Meet - April 16-21
- Reitz & Rust Spring Vintage Market - April 28
- Arts & Ales - April 28
- Antique Fest - May 12
|
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].
|
|
|
|
|
|
