Abilene Tourism Advocate - March 10, 2022

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Abilene Tourism Advocate

March 10, 2022

Best Historic Small Town - USA Today Readers (2021)

10 Spring Events You Won't Want to Miss!

The sun is shining, temperatures are rising, and event planners are busy coordinating these ten awesome spring events you won't want to miss!

10 Spring Events You Won't Want to Miss!

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Nominate Abilene

In 2021, TravelAwaits named Abilene Best U.S. Small Town to Visit and we need your help to keep the title!

Please nominate Abilene in the 2022 Best of Travel Awards.

Nominate Abilene

6 Ways to Spend a Saturday in Abilene

With warmer weather and vaccinations increasing, more and more people are excited about a change of scenery. Enter: Travel. Accessible via Ike's Interstate System - Kansas I-70 - and Kansas Highway 15, Abilene is a convenient destination to spend your Saturday.

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Visit Like A Local

Get the inside scoop about visiting Abilene here!

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Women's History Month

March is Women’s History Month and Dickinson County is rich with iconic women from Elizabeth Hersey, who gave Abilene its name, to Ida Stover Eisenhower, mother of President Eisenhower.

In 1920, the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially took effect. Not long after its ratification on March 7, 1922, Dickinson County native, Mrs. Jessie F. Beeghly was appointed by Governor Allen to serve as Dickinson County Probate Judge following the death of Judge Anderson.

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Upcoming Events

March

16-27

Ida Stover-Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show

1945 Kansas Mother of the Year, Ida Stover Eisenhower was a woman of many talents, one of which was quilting. For the past 26 years, Ida’s name has been associated with the quilt show at the Dickinson County Heritage Center. This annual event features some amazingly talented women and their beautiful works of art. New, antique, and vintage quilts are displayed for the public to feast their eyes upon.

The Ida Stover Eisenhower Quilt Show will be held beginning Wednesday, March 16 and will run through Sunday, March 27. The hours for the event are March 16 through March 18 and March 23 through 26, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and March 27, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to come to the museum and vote on their favorite quilt. The entry fee into the museum will be $6 for ages 15-61, $5 for ages 62 and up, $3 for members, and $2 for ages 2-14, which also includes a carousel ticket.

The winner of this event will receive two prime rib dinners courtesy of the Hitching Post Restaurant in Abilene. Make sure to come to the Heritage Center and feast your eyes upon a variety of colorful quilts that know Ida would approve of.

March

28-29

Saturday & Sunday

Sunflower Journey Quilt Show

Join us for the Sunflower Journey Quilt Show on March 28th & 29th. Saturday's hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM and features an amazing Merchant Mall, Silent Auction, Door Prizes, Lunch Available for purchase, and more. Admission is $5.00 - 10 & Under free.

April

25-29

National Greyhound Association Spring Meet

The Greyhound Capital of the World, Abilene invites you to celebrate the world's fastest canine. Watch the timed trials and see these incredible dogs in action!! More Info

April

Saturday

Eisenhower Marathon

The Eisenhower Marathon returns on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Join runners from across the country to run through the same territory cattlemen followed when bringing their herds to Abilene on the Chisholm Trail in the 1800s. Runners love this mostly flat and all-paved course.

Will you join others in setting a personal record at the Eisenhower Marathon? There’s only one way to find out! Register today! More Info

May

Saturday

Saturday Mother's Day Brunch Train

Enjoy a leisurely mid-morning brunch with Mom as you enjoy a round trip train ride through Smoky Hill River valley between Abilene and Enterprise.

Amanda's Bistro is catering a great meal for you to enjoy.

You will ride and dine in our 1902 "Enterprise" dining car or our 1940s "Chicago" dining car.

The Ride takes about 2.5 hours. At Enterprise you will have an opportunity to visit the Hoffman Grist Mill and gift shop to see how flour is made and learn of the Hoffman Mill history. More Info

May

Friday

Meadowlark Concert - Kansas All Star Big Band at Dickinson County Heritage Center

The Kansas All Star Big Band has emerged! The All Stars include the very best jazz musicians in the state of Kansas. Many of our members are jazz educators from Hays to Wichita to Lawrence and everywhere in between. Several musicians have doctorate degrees in jazz studies or their respective instruments. Coming from the military, cruise ship or professional big band backgrounds, these professional jazz musicians bring to Kansas the very best in big band entertainment! They all have a connection to the state in some way. Whether they are former students, natives of the area or highly sought after talent making a rare appearance, they are pleased to call Kansas home.

Gates open at 6:00 pm and the concert starts at 7:00 pm.

Come out to the Meadowlark Concert fundraiser for the Dickinson County Historical Society! There will be a dance floor set up so come on out and enjoy all your favorite big band tunes from Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Thad Jones, Count Basie and more.

May

Saturday

Abilene Downtown Antique Fest / Holm Automotive's Annual Free Car & Truck Show / Meadowlark Swap Meet / Arts & Ales

Save the date! Abilene is the place to be for lovers of all things old and classic. From shopping dozens of booths at Abilene Downtown Antique Fest to seeing hundreds of classic cars and trucks at Holm Automotive's Annual Free Car & Truck Show to celebrating the makers and demonstrating at the Dickinson County Heritage Center's Meadowlark Swap Meet, there will be plenty of things to see and do!

June

3-12

Footloose the Musical at Great Plains Theatre

Kick off your Sunday shoes with this classic movie turned musical about inspiring a town through the importance of love and dance while witnessing the powers of wisdom and forgiveness. Gotta cut loose! Learn more

June & July

24-3

Matilda the Musical at Great Plains Theatre

Follow the classic Roald Dahl story of an astonishingly witty girl with special powers that teaches us to use our extraordinary imaginations to change our destiny. Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty! Learn more

July

15-31

Jersey Boys - The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at Great Plains Theatre

Join us for the international musical phenomenon that takes you behind the story and music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Come be a part of the challenges, the rise, and the ultimate triumph a group’s music that became symbolic of a generation. Oh, what a night! Learn more

August

3-8

Central Kansas Free Fair

Located in Abilene, the Central Kansas Free Fair is one of the largest in the state. This family-friendly event offers educational activities and entertainment for all ages, including the Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo (August 3-6), which has been frequently voted one of the top outdoor rodeos. Join us for family fun in Abilene! Learn more

September

Saturday

Chisholm Trail Days

Celebrate the historic cattle trail at the end of the Chisholm Trail.

September

9-25

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Great Plains Theatre

The classic literary character of Sherlock Holmes is teamed up once again with John Watson and over 40 other characters to solve a kooky and educational whodunnit. “Elementary, my dear Watson, Elementary.”Learn more

September

Saturday

Abilene Oktoberfest

Abilene Oktoberfest is excited for its 5th Annual Oktoberfest held in Downtown Abilene. There will be German Dancers, Music, Authentic German Food, & Drinks. This year we will have 3 beer gardens, multiple food vendors, Masskrugstemmen, Hammerschlagen, a corn hole tournament, and a Kids Korner that will feature bouncy houses, outdoor games, crafts, face painting, and much more. Downtown Abilene has several wonderful stores that will be open for you to explore before and during the festivities! We will have a lot of exciting announcements coming soon! Make sure to mark September 17th on your Calendar! We are excited to see you at this year's Abilene Oktoberfest.

October

Saturday

Heritage Day Festival

Enjoy living history, steam engine carousel rides, antique tractor show, classic car show, food, and much more at the Dickinson County Heritage Center.

October

Saturday

Wild West Gravel Fest

In its third year, this premier gravel ride attracts riders from across the country! The Wild West Gravel Fest is a gravel bike race in Dickinson County, KS. With races ranging from 200k to 5k, Wild West Gravel Fest appeals to racers who are new to gravel and those who dare to push themselves to the extreme. And make sure to stick around for the after-party at Old Abilene Town. Learn more

November

Friday

Pink Friday

We've all heard of Black Friday, American Express Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, but what about Pink Friday?

Pink Friday is a small business spin on the traditional Black Friday shopping experience, reminding people to #ShopSmallFirst.

December

2-18

The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre

This Holiday treat will have you leaving the theatre with warm fuzzies about a story of the Great Lakes voyages of Christmas Tree ships and a family’s positive spirit to share the power of classic inspiration and Christmas miracles. The heartbeat of life is in our stories and our songs! Learn more

December

3-4

Saturday & Sunday

Cowtown Christmas

Visit Abilene December 3-4, 2022 for the Heritage Homes Association’s Homes for the Holidays Tour, enjoy an Old Fashioned Christmas at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Old Abilene Town, tour the historic Seelye Mansion and see more than 60 beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, ride the rails with Santa and the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, see the live production of The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre, take an evening cruise and see Griswold-style decorations, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see Santa, and remember to shop small all season long at Abilene’s small businesses.