The Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair takes place on Saturday, September 22 in and around the Smoky Hill Museum at 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. The Street Fair is a FREE day of celebration with music, participatory crafts and activities, demonstrators, food vendors and, of course, tours of the museum itself.
The Street Fair celebrations begins at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional parade. Due to construction on Santa Fe, the parade will go down Seventh Street from Elm to South Street by the Masonic Temple. This year's them is "Notorious & Notable Characters of Kansas." The parade will feature bands, dancers, businesses, military and much more.
The museum gallery is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. for everyone to enjoy the new special exhibit, Notorious. In addition, there is the popular hands-on interactive exhibit, The Curiosity Shop.
This year's entertainment is concentrated on one stage with the addition of a roaming performer. Cheryl Rutz and Lewis Street Soul start off the entertainment, followed by the Ruble Family, Sara Hocking. Closing out the event is Bootleg Mercy. Our roaming performer is a balloon artist Caded with Color Me Crazy! Balloon Twisting.
Based in Salina, Cheryl Rutz and Lewis Street Soul perform blues with an attitude and rock-n-roll with style. Vocalist Cheryl Rutz and Lewis Street Soul formed to have a good time and enjoy each other's talents. Lewis Street Soul hopes you will jump in and enjoy the ride with them! They perform at 12 noon.
The Ruble Family from Concordia is keeping the family tradition of bluegrass alive, at least when their nationally recognized boys aren't on the road with their own all-youth bands. This four piece band specializes in traditional bluegrass and gospel with a little old country thrown in for good measure. If you are looking for excellent musicianship, family harmonies and down home country, you can find it here. The Ruble Family will perform at 1 p.m.
Sara Hocking from Minneapolis plays anything country and soul! But really all kinds of music! Sara Hocking has been singing and playing the piano since she was 5 years old. She will be performing at 2:00 p.m.
Bootleg Mercy plays at 3:00 p.m. and will close out the event. When asked to describe themselves, they answer, "We're a rock band! What would you expect?" With high energy performances and songs that turn heads, Bootleg Mercy is an exciting new band bringing modern rock from the depths of Salina, Kansas.
Demonstrators will be on hand from 11:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. featuring Priti Gulati Cox with Rangoli (Indian Floor Design); Tim Brady with the North Central Kansas Woodworkers Guild; Brenda Smith, a Zentangle artist; Jeff Hansen making paper with native plants. Caricaturists Rachel Herms and Marie Taylor are back by popular demand as is Color Me Crazy! Face Painting. In addition, visitors can also make rope with Dean Gipe.
Favorite activities for kids of most ages include free make-and-take crafts and, with the purchase of a $5 wristband, they can jump on the inflatables the whole day.
And what is the Street Fair without food? You will have your choice of Navajo Tacos, Texas Reds BBQ, kettle corn, Sno Wizard's snow cones, Relish, and good old American fare with Skips Concessions.
Thanks to sponsorships from many dedicated Salina residents and businesses, there is not cost to attend this day of celebrations. The museum especially wishes to thank the following generous businesses and organizations for their sponsorship: Salina Downtown Inc., Cox Communications, Mowery Clinic, Rocking M Radio, Precision Electrical Contractors, OCCK INC, Salina Ortho, Salina Regional Health Foundation, Salina Journal, Redfin, Systems 4, Team Employment LLC, Friends of the Smoky Hill Museum and the City of Salina.
Watch the museum website, www.smokyhillmuseumorg, for the most up-to-date information and come celebrate autumn on September 22 at the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair.