"Kansas 150 Festival," Concert and Parade Celebrate State's Sesquicentennial This October 8 in Wichita

TOPEKA, Kan., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready to light the candles! The State of Kansas will celebrate its sesquicentennial with the "Kansas 150 Festival Day" on Saturday, Oct. 8 in downtown Wichita, Kansas.

"We have held a number of events recognizing the sesquicentennial of Kansas. But celebrating a birthday for a state as big as Kansas requires an equally big celebration – and that's exactly what will take place during the Kansas 150 Festival in Wichita," Governor Brownback said. "From Atchison to Elkhart, Baxter Springs to Goodland - everyone in Kansas is invited to join in the state's birthday bash. I can guarantee you the Festival will be a once-in-a-lifetime party that Kansans won't want to miss."

The festival starts with the "Kansas Sunflower Parade" along Main St. onto Douglas Ave. in front of the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. More than 100 entries from across the state include marching bands from Goodland to Erie, the Mahaffie stagecoach, current and former Miss Kansas pageant winners, a 400-member Wichita JROTC, and a calliope from the American Guild of Organists.

An open-air encampment and fair will be set up on the west side of Century II with booths displaying Kansas-made food, arts and crafts, and community groups. In addition there will be information about the Kansas Historical Society and attractions such as the Kansas Underground Salt Museum and the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Water Park.

The festival concludes with a special "Kansas: Home on the Range" concert. More than 60 performers will present the state's history and culture through a combination of songs, poetry and video.

"The festival offers Kansans from across the state to come together and celebrate our state's great history. Beginning with the 'Bleeding Kansas' battle over slavery to the days of the wild-west cattle drives and ultimately becoming the nation's breadbasket and supplier of the world's energy and aviation needs, we are proud of our great heritage," Brownback said.

Business and civic leaders from across Kansas joined forces to organize the festival and raise financial contributions to pay for the event. The City of Wichita and Go Wichita are jointly handling festival logistics.

Admission is free for the parade and encampment. Tickets for the "Kansas: Home on the Range" concert are $5. For more information about the Kansas 150 Festival, please visit www.ks150.org.

For more information, visit www.TravelKS.com. Find the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TravelKS and on Twitter at  @TravelKS.

SOURCE The Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism