By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A big weekend of activities in Ellinwood is officially underway. The 3-day 53rd Annual After Harvest Festival kicked off this morning, and will wrap up Saturday evening with a street dance featuring the Llew Brown Band. But first, tonight's lineup features the community barbecue at 6:30 p.m. at the Wolf Park Bandshell. The car show also begins at 6:30 p.m., with Cruise Night on the Bricks to follow at 8:30.
“We have activities for all age groups going on,” said AHF Chair Nancy Baird. “The barbecue is hamburgers and hot dogs. It’s $5 a plate. The Ellinwood Community Church will have their famous ice cream and pie that will be available to purchase.”
Baird said the car show continues to grow, and hopes that will continue to be the case with no admission to bring a vehicle and show it. Anyone and everyone is invited to bring their special vehicle for the show. Participants are asked to arrive by 6 p.m. to begin set-up. Baird also thanked the many sponsors who are able to keep the barbecue at just $5 a plate, and provide all the kids’ events at no cost.
“We’ll have face painting,” she said. “We have several different inflatables. The high school cheer squad is going to be leading some arts and crafts, some yard games, some fun games for kids to participate in. The Army National Guard will be there with their rock-climbing wall. We’ll have the barrel train rides that will be going on.”
New this year is a junior cornhole tournament for kids ages 10-18. The event is a way to involve more age groups into the After Harvest Festival. Participants are asked to arrive between 5:45 and 6 p.m. to register.
Returning on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is the Topeka Children’s Mobile Museum at the Wolf Park Bandshell on Main Street. The exhibit features approximately 15 hands-on activities for various ages.
“It’s something we brought in last year, and it was such a hit that people asked me if we could bring it back,” Baird said. “It’s pretty awesome. It’s basically a replica of the Topeka Children’s Museum. There are hands-on activities for kids to explore and do, and they’re bringing it to Central Kansas. Maybe not all kids will have the opportunity to do that.”
Also back this year is the 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Instead of facing the July heat at noon on Saturday, the event will take place in the north gym of the climate-controlled Ellinwood High School.