Pack your sunscreen and a must-do attitude for a festival in one of several small towns across Kansas. Consider this list your pocket guide to summer’s can’t-miss celebrations.

Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest
June 7-8, 2024
High Park, Derby

The aroma of smoked meat fills the air at the 13th Annual Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest from June 7 to June 8, where professional and amateur teams compete in the Kansas City Barbecue Society BBQ Competition and Scholfield Honda Backyard BBQ Cook-Off for top honors. Bring your appetite to sample six two-ounce samples of competition barbecue entries and place your vote in the People’s Choice Tasting Contest on Friday at 7 pm. To participate, purchase a $5 tasting kit sold at the event.

At the Kids Corner, children can enjoy no-cost activities ranging from sing-alongs to foam parties and face-painting sessions. Near the amphitheater, live music performances attract an adult crowd who take breaks to visit vendor booths or order a cocktail or cold beer. 

Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest
2801 E. James St.
Derby, Kansas 67037
(316) 788-1519
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Smoky Hill River Festival
June 13-16, 2024
Oakdale Park, Salina

Art meets music at the Smoky Hill River Festival, a pay-to-enter celebration at Oakdale Park from June 13 to June 16. The Fine Art and Craft Show is the centerpiece of the two-day festival in a town known for its murals and sculpture installations. Searching for a decorative wall hanging, ceramic vase, or textile? Shop artisans' tents or stop to watch art in action as watercolor paintings or jewelry are created on-site. 

When you're craving a bite to eat, dozens of food trucks at Food Row serve traditional carnival fare and international cuisine. Order a funnel cake, freshly squeezed lemonade or a barbecue sandwich before finding a comfortable spot on the lawn to listen to musicians at the Festival Jam. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket for supreme comfort. 

To enter, purchase a four-day wristband for $20, a one-day wristband for $10 at the gate, or purchase in advance from May 1 to June 11 at the Salina Arts & Humanities Office, 211 W. Iron, or at participating retailers. Children 11 and under are admitted for free.

Smoky Hill River Festival
730 Oakdale Dr.
Salina, Kansas 67401
(785) 309-5770
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Party in the Park
Aug. 10, 2024
Veterans Memorial Park, Great Bend

On Aug. 10, Great Bend’s Party in the Park festival at Veterans Memorial Park features can’t-miss activities. The end-of-summer festival kicks off with a wet/dry parade, where onlookers and parade participants soak one another with water cannons. Attendees who prefer to stay dry can watch the action from the opposite side of the train tracks. 

The Party in the Park highlights include a car show, speed eating contests, a mud volleyball match and a maker’s market. Not to be missed, join cheering spectators at the Anything That Floats Race as boaters use human-powered, homemade watercraft in a high-energy race to the finish line.

Before dark, join others as they convene at the ballpark with a bagged chair in tow. The live outdoor concert performances precede a fireworks show, signaling the fun day’s conclusion as onlookers 'ooh and ahhh' at breathtaking bursts of color. Entry to the concert and fireworks show costs $5 (early bird) or $10 at the gate.

Party in the Park
1209 Williams
Great Bend, Kansas 67530
(620) 793-4111
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