Kansas Sampler Stores.
Kansas Sampler Festival
The 2012 Kansas Sampler Festival
- Light Park, 111 W. 11th Street, Liberal, Kansas
- May 5 & 6, 2012 and May 4 & 5, 2013
- Sat. - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Admission: Adults: $5; Children 7-12 years old - $3; 6 & under free
The Kansas Sampler Festival is like a living brochure of Kansas! In 2010, over 150 communities provided a sample of what there is to see, do, hear, taste, buy, and learn in Kansas! (see photo gallery below - click on photo for larger view)
The Kansas Sampler Festival was designed to bring communities and attractions from all over the state together to make it easy for the public to discover day trip possibilities. In other words, the primary purpose of the festival is to provide the public a sample of what there is to see and do in Kansas. Whether you are looking for hiking trails, historic sites, natural landmarks, unique restaurants, off-the-beaten track eateries, architectural gems, hole-in-wall performing centers, artists-at-work, specialty shops, or have-to-be-there Kansas events, this festival is for you!
HISTORY OF THE EVENT
In 1990, Mil and Marci Penner had a book signing party for their first Kansas guidebook, Kansas Weekend Guide. They invited places in the book to come help support the purpose of the book which was to inspire travel throughout Kansas. These attractions filled one big tent. It was a cold November day with rain turning into snow but still a thousand people came to the farm. The event became the Kansas Sampler Festival in 1991 and was held until 1997 on the Penner farm near Inman. In 1993 the Festival became a project of the newly formed Kansas Sampler Foundation.
It was decided to take the festival on the road starting in 1998 to expose more people to the festival exhibitors. After a bid process, Pratt was chosen to host the event in 1998 and 1999. Ottawa hosted the festival in 2000 and 2001. Independence was the host for the festival in 2002 and 2003, and Newton was the host in 2004 and 2005. Garden City was the host for 2006 and 2007 followed by Concordia in 2008 and 2009. Leavenworth will host the festival in 2010 and 2011. The new host for 2012 and 2013 is Liberal located in southwest Kansas.
FESTIVAL FEATURES:
- Dozens of entrepreneurs sell their Kansas-made products
- Cultural heritage demonstrations and displays;
- Kansas entertainers perform, sell CD's and showcase for future bookings;
- Historical performers provide a sampling of many characters;
- Kansas Wineries and Microbreweries provide taste testing;
- Kansas questions are asked at The Stump, prizes given;
- Food booths tell the Kansas story through their menu
HISTORY OF THE EVENT
In 1990, Mil and Marci Penner had a book signing party for their first
It was decided to take the festival on the road starting in 1998 to expose more people to the festival exhibitors. After a bid process,
- Dozens of entrepreneurs sell their Kansas-made products
- Cultural heritage demonstrations and displays;
- Kansas entertainers perform, sell CD's and showcase for future bookings;
- Historical performers provide a sampling of many characters;
- Kansas Wineries and Microbreweries provide taste testing;
- Kansas questions are asked at The Stump, prizes given;
- Food booths tell the Kansas story through their menu
Phone: 620-585-2374