Communities invited to participate in state?s 150th parade

From city-wide garage sales to an afternoon music marathon, organizers of Goessel?s Harvest Festival have planned a potpourri of activities for the weekend of Oct. 1-2.

The festival actually kicks off Friday night, Sept. 30, with the home high school football game between Goessel and Solomon.

Saturday is filled with activities, beginning with a 5-kilometer run at 8 a.m. starting at the high school. Pre-registration is $15 and will include a T-shirt. Forms are available at the city office or at Bethesda Home. Call 620-367-2291 for more information.

The city-wide garage sales begin at 9 a.m. A variety of homes in Goessel will be having yard sales. Maps will be available at Keith?s Foods, 216 E. Main, beginning Sept. 30.

Marion County Fire District No. 2 will serve pancakes, sausage and blueberry pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the fire station, 214 E. Main. Donations will go toward the purchase of a new tanker.

The Mennonite Heritage and Agri?cultural Museum is offering free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to its complex at 200 N. Poplar.

For kids, Jumpin? Js Inflat?ables will provide free bounce time from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. downtown along Main Street. The activity is sponsored by various businesses.

Members of the Newton R/C Club and other local remote-control-airplane enthusiasts will be demonstrating their flying skills at 3 p.m. on the vacant lot west of the ball diamonds at North Church Street and Athletic Park Drive.

For those who like to visit historical sites, Brian Stucky, local teacher, historian, author and storyteller, will lead an area tour from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Sponsored by Marion County Economic Development, the tour will last two hours and cover 50 miles, three counties and 45 points of interest ranging from the birthplace of a movie star, to graves of Civil War veterans and the birthplace of Bethel and Tabor colleges.

The cost is $12 per person.

To reserve a seat call 620-382-8830 or e-mail thuffman@marioncoks.net. Tour participants should meet at 12:30 p.m. at the Bloomfield School on the museum grounds to register and pay.

Bloomfield School also is the gathering place for the free covered-wagon rides Leroy Schmidt will offer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

People who enjoy playing for prizes can participate in a ping-pong ball drop at 4 p.m. in front of Keith?s Foods. The ping-pong balls they grab can be exchanged for prizes at the information booth.

The six-hour music marathon begins at 2 p.m. on Main Street, where a stage will be provided for various musical groups through 6 p.m. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and joy ?some toe-tapping music, good food and fun.? Following the afternoon session, Broken Within, a Christian rock band, will perform from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

As the groups perform, children are encouraged to take part in a pumpkin carving and decorating contest. Rules are available at 101 S. Cedar and Keith?s Foods.

The contest entries will be displayed at Bethesda Home throughout Saturday. Winners will be announced between musical groups. For more information call 620-367-8111.

Throughout the day, food vendors will sell food downtown. Various organizations will have booths.

The festival concludes Sun?day afternoon with a benefit tournament at Pine Edge Golf Course, located one mile north of Goessel on Kansas Highway 15 and 11?2 miles east on 130th.

The 18-hole, two-person scramble will begin with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.

The cost to participate is $25 per person. A meal is included with the fee, and prizes will be awarded. Proceeds will go toward the newly formed Goessel Community Foundation.

Organizers said outdoor activities Saturday will be canceled if it rains.

More from Hillsboro Free Press
DEATH: Robert Earl Stevens Ogle
Robert Earl Stevens Ogle, 78, Florence, died on Jan. 20, 2023, at...
Read More