By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
What a difference a week makes. Temperatures in Central Kansas soared past 100 degrees from July 12-15. With Ellinwood's 51st After Harvest Festival kicking off Thursday, the mid-summer event will feature highs mostly in the 80s and evening lows in the 60s. AHF Chair Nancy Baird hopes that means bigger crowds for the party of the summer.
"We're very thankful for the predicted forecast of much cooler temperatures, which hopefully will bring people out to the barbecue and car show on Thursday night, out to the 5K run and Steel Skarecrow Band on Friday night, then the parade Saturday morning with all the activities happening on Saturday."
The street dance Saturday night kicks off at 9 p.m. and will feature Aces & Eights. Guitar player Kendall Kaufman has Ellinwood ties, and bassist Colin Hammeke and singer Elly Somers are from Great Bend.
"We've got some local talent coming back to the area to perform," Baird said. "They're going to be doing a wide range of music. We'd love to have everybody come out and join us to finish off the 51st annual After Harvest Fest. It's $10 at the gate, cash only."
Being a July event in Kansas, the After Harvest Festival can be a hot one. With the more mild temperatures predicted for this year's event, Baird said it will be a good year to try new things.
"We have a lot of fun, free activities that are family-friendly, but we have a lot of fun adult activities you can participate in," she said. "With the weather being awesome, don't you want to be in the horseshoe tournament, or in the cornhole tournament? Or play 3-on-3 basketball? Or just be out and about visiting, joining in the watermelon eating contest? There are so many activities for so many different age levels for people to participate in."
Action kicks off Thursday morning at 9 a.m. with the Pool Olympics at the Ellinwood City Pool. Evening activities begin at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Ellinwood. Check out a full schedule of events on the AHF Facebook page.