By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Steve Harvey was not present at Saturday’s Hoisington Chamber banquet and awards. But Chamber Director Karen Baldyga was still able to reveal a big answer on the board during a Family Feud-style presentation: the carnival is coming back to Hoisington for the 2026 Labor Day Celebration.
“And not just any carnival,” Baldyga said. “We are welcoming back the fan-favorite, Weee Entertainment! You might be wondering how we pulled this off. It all comes down to a lucky break with the calendar. Because Labor Day falls late this year, Weee Entertainment’s usual stop in Stillwater, Okla., wraps up at the end of August, leaving their Labor Day weekend wide open.”
Weee Entertainment is a popular carnival host across many states. They picked Hoisington from a variety of locations, but Baldyga reminds fans that this is a calendar-dependent opportunity. When the calendar aligns, the Chamber may be able to lock them in for a year or two, then not see them again for another four years.
“We want Weee Entertainment to look at their books at the end of this summer and say, 'Hoisington is the place we have to be,'” Baldyga said. “We need to make it worth their while to keep choosing us over every other town in the region.”
With that, Baldyga challenged the community to make a statement by purchasing carnival wristbands and tickets, not just for themselves, but for children and grandchildren. She even encouraged community members to sponsor a child so even those in need can experience the magic of the carnival.
“Let’s show them what Hoisington pride looks like,” Baldyga told the crowd. “Let’s make this 130th celebration the biggest one yet, and ensure that whenever the dates fall right, the carnival knows exactly where its home is.”