Memorial Day Weekend is coming up! This is one of the best weekends to travel around the state! The weather in Kansas during late May can be some of the nicest (or stormiest) times of the year! While we attract many avid storm-chasers to the area, I wouldn't recommend risking it unless you know what you are doing! Instead, keep your distance and just take a nice look up at the Kansas Sky, as during this time, it is downright stunning to look at!

So many communities in Kansas host regular events on Memorial Day Weekend. From the Busker Festival in Lawrence, Fort Wallace Rodeo, to Yates Center Days, you'll have your pick of what to do this Memorial Day Weekend.
 

Shout-out to the Lawrence Busker Festival!

Guess what is back? I personally can't wait for this! This will be my 3rd year in a row in attendance, and I can assure you that I will keep coming back as long as it is here. While I don't have any kids of my own, I have noticed that a lot of families bring young children with them. I'm assuming it might have something to do with the stimulation kids receive from watching the street performers? I'm not a child psychologist, but something has me thinking that if you have even a hint of kid left in you, then you'll want to be at this event!

Memorial Day Weekend

Events

Lawrence Busker Festival
May 23

Lawrence Busker Festival

The Busker Festival is on! It’s our once-a-year-get-weird-weekend where you will find unusual entertainment all over historic downtown…

Fort Wallace Memorial Weekend Rodeo
May 31

Fort Wallace Memorial Weekend Rodeo

Join us Way Out West in Wallace County for one of the oldest and grittiest rodeos in Kansas! The Annual Fort Wallace Memorial Weekend Rodeo…

ART TOUGEAU 2025
May 23

ART TOUGEAU 2025

IT'S TIME FOR ART TOUGEAU 2025! JOIN THE FUN! Friday, May 23th, 2025, 4:00 to 10:00p.m. Street party and Art Car show off Next to the Replay…

Santa Fe Trail Days Rodeo
May 23

Santa Fe Trail Days Rodeo

Hitch up your wagons and come on down, Santa Fe Trail Days is coming to town! Save the dates for our 33rd annual Santa Fe Trail Days in…

Weekly Racing at Lakeside Speedway
May 23

Weekly Racing at Lakeside Speedway

Weekly Racing Event Times Pits Open 5:00 PM Gates Open 6:00 PM Hot Laps At 7:00 PM Racing Starts 7:30 PM Classes Pure Stocks E-Mods USRA B…

Wilson County PRCA Pro Rodeo
May 23

Wilson County PRCA Pro Rodeo

Get ready to enjoy two nights of premier rodeo featuring top cowboys and cowgirls from around the country competing in the 2025 Wilson…

World Turtle Day
May 23

World Turtle Day

World Turtle Day is not only about showing love and adoration towards turtles but also making sure we can protect them as well as their…

Asian Night Market
May 24

Asian Night Market

Experience the vibrant flavors, sights, and sounds of Asia at the 2025 Wichita Asian Night Market! Indulge in mouthwatering food, shop for…

Picnic in the PARC
May 24

Picnic in the PARC

Kickstart your Summer at our Picnic in the PARC! Join us for an unforgettable day at the Hays ARC Park & Splash Pad! Food Trucks, Games…

RPM Speedway IMCA Races
May 24

RPM Speedway IMCA Races

Witness the power and precision of stock car racing as drivers navigate the track in lightning-fast cars. The thunderous roar of engines and…

Beginner's Stained Glass Workshop
May 24

Beginner's Stained Glass Workshop

Join us in making a stained glass hanging! Learn the art of stained glass soldering! In this workshop, we will learn how to foil, solder and…

Florence Grand Prix
May 25

Florence Grand Prix

Florence Grand Prix From 1972 through 1978 up to 600 riders and 10k spectators filled the small city of Florence Kansas each year during…

Outdoor Activities

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Kansas is a great destination for all outdoor enthusiasts, whether they enjoy fishing, hiking, mountain biking, gravel cycling, or disc golfing. One great thing about these activities in Kansas is that you can find all of them at our State Parks. These activities are surprisingly plentiful out here in the Sunflower State. Consider Kansas's "wide open space" more like a wide open invitation for adventure!

Outdoor Activities

State Parks

In a nation of natural treasures, Kansas’ state parks shine like diamonds.

Hiking

Lace up your boots and pick from among thousands of miles of trails in Kansas. 

Fishing

Cast your line at one of the state's 24 major reservoirs, 40 regularly stocked state fishing lakes, or more than 200 community and…

Disc Golf

Kansas has more than 200 disc golf courses ready to welcome you! Many Kansas communities host disc golf courses in their central parks. A…

Gravel Cycling

The gravel scene in Kansas is everything you’re looking for – a top destination for gravel enthusiasts of all kinds…

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking in the flatlands? You’ll be amazed by the terrain opportunities in Kansas! Whether you’re an experienced rider…

Road Trip Ideas!

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In Kansas, we have a lot of road miles. In fact, we have over 286,000 miles of roadways; that's the 5th most of any state, despite only being the 15th largest in terms of land area. Needless to say, we also have a lot of Byways & Highways for you to enjoy a road trip this weekend!
 

Historic Byways

Western Vistas Historic Byway

Another excellent road trip to cross off your bucket list is to drive along the Western Vistas Historic Byway. This byway provides you access to some of my two favorite spots in Kansas: Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and Monument Rocks National Landmark.
 

Frontier Military Historic Byway

If you love military history then drive along the Frontier Military Historic Byway. This byway is the longest in our state and takes you through notable places like Fort Leavenworth, and Fort Scott. You can learn more about the historical attractions on the byway here.

Western Vistas

Visit a rugged landscape on the culturally and visually fascinating route known as the Western Vistas Historic Byway. 

Frontier Military

Travel through time, visiting multiple forts along the Frontier Military Historic Byway.  Originally built to move soldiers and…

Scenic Byways

Smoky Valley Scenic Byway

The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway is one of the "best little-known secrets" of Kansas. This Byway can easily be accessed off I-70 and spans across the Smoky Hills near Cedar Bluff State Park. The U-shaped route is easy to navigate and runs an ideal distance of about 60 miles. Go ahead and cross this little known secret off your bucket list?
 

Glacial Hills Scenic Byway

If you keep driving north on the Frontier Military Byway, you'll eventually transition to the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway. This beautiful scenery leads you through the very Northeast edge of the state to the city of Atchison. Both of these byways are excellent drives that really let you see the amazing greenery of the far eastern edge of Kansas.
 

Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway

The Wetlands & Wildlife Byway is one of the two nationally recognized scenic byways in Kansas (the other being the Flint Hills Byway). The Wetlands & Wildlife Byway is exactly what it sounds like in that the route weaves through nationally protected wetlands, Quivira and Cheyenne Bottoms, where wildlife is very abundant. While this route can be harder to navigate, it's 100% worth it, since getting lost will also take you to places you wish you had been before!

Smoky Valley

Named for their hazy, blue appearance at sunrise and sunset, the Smoky Hills divide the more easterly mixed-grass prairie from the…

Glacial Hills

The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway gets its name from the rolling hills and rock-strewn valleys carved by ancient glaciers. 

Wetlands & Wildlife

Along the byway, you'll encounter landscapes and communities shaped by the powerful forces of motion and change. You're entering a…

Byways

Kansas has twelve byways, nine scenic, two of which are National Scenic Byways and three historic byways. 

Highways

Want to make your trip a journey rather than just a race to the destination? The highways across Kansas are packed with fun things to do, unique…