A Kansas staple is marking its final year in Winfield next month.
As The Wichita Eagle reports, The Kansas Sampler Festival, billed as the largest travel show in Kansas, is marking its 28th and final year as what started as a book-signing party for Milferd and Marci Penner’s “Kansas Weekend Guide” book.
The festival encourages Kansans to explore the Sunflower State and discover its secrets and landscape, daring people to “do the dirt” and explore back roads, talk to locals and spend money in small towns. It has promoted what the Kansas Sampler Foundation has set forth as eight rural culture elements: art, architecture, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history and people.
This year’s festival is organized by the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and features representatives from 130 Kansas towns and includes crafts, food, musicians, artists and dancers with the primary focus of giving people ideas for Kansas day trips.
The final festival is scheduled to take place on May 6 and 7 at Winfield’s Island Park.