Ready for some Labor Day Weekend fun? Kansas has some amazing local events in store just for you!
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Little Balkans Days Festival - Pittsburg
This festival is sure to be a blast for the entire family! You'll find a number of events at Little Balkans Days in Pittsburg, from a quilting bootcamp to special museum tours to polka bands to a food truck festival, car show, and so much more! This festival is a celebration of the unique ethnic diversity of the region. The southeast Kansas region is rich in mining history, and many immigrants moved to the area to find work in the mines. This made the area perfect for a little American melting pot of diversity.
After 1900, many immigrants who came to the area hailed from the Balkans, a region of southeastern Europe. Because so many of the residents of the area came from the Balkan region of Europe and because the economic and political climates of both regions were so volatile in the early 1900s, the coal fields came to be called the Balkans of Kansas. Although once a pejorative term for the region, Little Balkans of Kansas is now an expression of pride that celebrates the region’s diverse cultural and ethnic heritage and rich history. The Festival has been held annually on Labor Day weekend since 1985 to pay homage to the region’s history, ethnic diversity, and community spirit.
Lovewell Lake Fireworks Show - Webber
Love a good fireworks display? Lovewell State Park is the place to be this weekend! You'll find a 30-minute fireworks display (beginning at dust) that will rock your family's world. Make it an all-day event by grabbing a good spot early and spending the day at the lake! Lovewell offers a blend of camping, fishing, wildlife watching, and special events. You’ll discover plenty of variety in the day-use areas. A historic limestone schoolhouse hosts summer church services every Sunday. A seven-station, 14-target archery range is located north of the Cottonwood shower building. Lovewell Marina serves a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu from April to September, and boasts the best barbecue around!
Old Settlers Day - Russell Springs
BBQ. Music. Parade. Homemade ice cream. Car show. Add a dash of history, and you've got the Old Settler's Day Weekend in Russell Springs! This annual event is a must-attend in the area! Don't forget to check out the amazing Butterfield Trail Museum while you're there! This museum displays and preserves the history of the Butterfield Overland Despatch stagecoach line that passed through the area to get riders to Colorado. The museum is housed in the old Logan County Courthouse, which recently had a window and exterior painting restoration, so make sure to admire the beautiful handiwork done by a local craftsman!
Sunflower Festival - Buhler
What's more Kansas than a Sunflower Festival!? This festival is a multi-weekend that is sure to be fun for all and a great place to take a family Christmas card photo.... There are 16+ acres of sunflowers for you to explore, with trails perfect for an Instaworthy 'hike'. Saturday, September 4th is also geared up for the Sunflower Market, an event filled with vintage items, uniquely crafted homemade decor, good food and live music. Sunday, September 5 will have a 'Art in the Sunflowers' painting class, but get your tickets fast! The class is capped at 20 artists!
18th Annual Labor Day Quilt Display - Strong City
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is home to more than just the beautiful Flint Hills; it's also home to an Annual Labor Day Quilt Display! This 2023 Labor Day Weekend event will feature quilts made in the 9-patch and 4-patch designs. This artistic pastime was an outlet for many when the stress of the global health crisis got too much. This FREE event is held in the historic barn on the property. But don't leave after viewing the quilt show! Make sure to explore the prairie while you're there! The tallgrass prairie that once covered 170 million acres of North America has mostly been transformed to suit modern uses, and today less than 4% remains (mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills). This preserve protects a significant remnant of the once vast tallgrass prairie. Here the tallgrass makes its last stand.
You can immerse yourself in the prairie by using 40 miles of nature and hiking trails, view bison and cattle herds, explore the Spring Hill Ranch House (a grand four-level home added to the property in 1881), photograph the popular Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse and take a look at the massive 1882 barn where the quilt show is held.
Walnut Days Labor Day Celebration - Walnut
Celebrate small-town rural life at Walnut Days, held annually on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. There are tons of activities happening all day long throughout the town. The morning kicks off with a 5K Fun Run at 7 AM. After the fun run at 9 AM is when the Car Show and Farmers' Market open up. The Parade will start around 10 AM and have tons of kid-friendly activities, including bounce houses and petting zoos. There will also be a series of competitive games such as a horseshoe, egg toss, and cornhole tournament. The Labor Day Celebration concludes with Live Music by the Cody M. Johnson Band at 8 PM.
Labor Day Celebration at Fort Larned - Larned
Labor Day Weekend marks the end of our summer season activities. Volunteer re-enactors and staff bring the fort back to life to round out the season.
50th Annual Burdick Labor Day Celebration - Burdick
This September 3rd and 4th, head on over to Burdick for the 50th Annual Labor Day Celebration! We will be having food, a fun run, a bounce house, a corn hole competition, a pie auction, and a parade. You won't want to miss this ultimate small-town celebration!
127th Annual Labor Day Celebration - Hoisington
Hoisington will celebrate its 127th annual Labor Day celebration September 1st-4th. This Labor Day celebration, believe it or not, is the largest in the state! The theme for this year is "Shifting Gears," so you won't wanna miss this one!
138th Annual Labor Day Celebration - Atlanta
Atlanta's historic Annual Labor Day Celebration is celebrating its 138th year! The parade will make its way around Atlanta, KS on Labor Day itself Activities include a potluck BBQ, a horseshoe tournament, inflatables, games, and family activities round out the fabulous holiday weekend.
