Chase County Courthouse's Sesquicentennial Celebration

FRIDAY

10am-3pm Chase County Historical Museum & Library-Visit the Special Display of Courthouse memorabilia and collectables and Vintage Quilt Display. Purchase the Sesquicentennial Book, Woven Throws featuring the courthouse and other local landmarks and Garden Flags featuring the Chase County Flag.

10:30-4 Burnley Memorial Library will have the contents of a “Settler’s Trunk from the 1800’s” on display from the Kansas Historical Museum.

1-5pm Roniger Memorial Museum-Located behind the courthouse will be open for visitors.

12-4pm Open House at the Chase County Chamber office-stop by and see the recently completed renovations funded by the TEEFI-SEED Grant! This will also be an opportunity to shop early for commemorative T-Shirts, Ornaments, Cutting Boards, Boot Jacks, Key Chains, Koozies, Coasters, Tea Towels and Lapel Pins. Cash or Check only, please!

2pm Homecoming & Sesquicentennial Parade-the parade will start at the north end of Broadway and end in front of the courthouse. If you would like to be part of the parade contact ldrake@usd284.org  Everyone is then invited to the Chase County Junior-Senior High School for the pep rally! (enter on the southwest corner).

5-6:30pm Homecoming Football game Tailgate Party-Everyone is invited! Hamburger & Hotdog meal deals! Sponsored by the Parents and Friends Bulldog Booster Club. Proceeds go to student activities.

The Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned @6:30 before the game starts.

7pm Chase County Bulldog Homecoming Football Game-Entry to the game is $5 for adults, $3 for kids K-12. Our game is the "Game of the Week",  so if you can't attend, tune to KVOE radio and listen live! 

7-10pm 1873 Victorian Ball at the Chase County Old Elementary School all ages are welcome. Doors open at 7:00 pm, with beginner/refresher instruction. Dancing to begin at 7:30. The Kansas Brigade Band will be providing the music. Refreshments will be provided. Period dress is optional...Chase County Quilts Display will be a beautiful "backdrop" for the Grand Ball! Quilts will hang through the day on Saturday, as well.

7:30-10pm Emma Chase Friday Night Free Music Jam-every one is welcome to join the musicians! Inside at Prairie PastTimes 220 1/2 Broadway.

SATURDAY

THE TROLLEY WILL RUN BETWEEN THE PARKING AREA at SWOPE PARK, THE OLD SCHOOL, STRONG CITY DEPOT MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY AND THE COURTHOUSE IN COTTONWOOD FALLS FOR FREE!!  9AM-10PM MAP

8-10am All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Feed at the corner of Broadway & Pearl, Cottonwood Falls. Proceeds go to Chase County Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) group $7 for adults, $5 for kids 10 and under.

8am-12pm Diamond 4-H Bake Sale-located on the Symphony in the Flint Hills patio area.

8am-2pm Prairie PastTimes-The fabulous food artists at Lotus cafe & sweets  and Jacalito Family Restaurant  will be serving cinnamon rolls, donuts, and nachos in front of Prairie PastTimes!

8am-1:30pm Burnley Memorial Library will have the contents of a “Settler’s Trunk from the 1800’s” on display from the Kansas Historical Museum.

 8:30am 1K & 5K Run/Walk Register the day of the run at the courthouse or prior here: Old School 1k & 5k run/walk 

9am Start time in front of the Courthouse. 

8am Cars & Coffee at Chase County Old Elementary School enjoy coffee and visit with classic car owners from the area.

10am-6pm Fall Show at the Flint Hills Gallery featuring Jessica Bell.

10am-5pm Old School Activities include: Quilt show, all quilts have a connection to Chase County; PEO Display of Courthouse memorabilia; Coloring project from Pre-K thru 2nd Grades from Chase County Elementary School will be displayed; 12:30-4pm Emporia Art Council Artmobile will have face painting, all at the Old School!

10am-4pm Model Train Display located in the Depot at Strong City Kids will be given the opportunity to control some of the trains! Provided by the Members of the Chisholm Trail Division of the National Model Railroad Association. Ride the Trolley for a unique experience.

THE TROLLEY WILL RUN BETWEEN THE PARKING AREA at SWOPE PARK, THE OLD SCHOOL, STRONG CITY MODEL DEPOT TRAIN DISPLAY AND THE COURTHOUSE IN COTTONWOOD FALLS FOR FREE!! 9AM-10PM  MAP

10am-8pm Fall Gathering in Matfield Green-Celebrating the 8th year of the Tallgrass Artist Residency in Matfield Green!

10am-4pm Courthouse Tours require a ticket (free), get yours on the courthouse lawn. Tours of 20 people will be given every 15 minutes. Your tour guides will include Dot & Frances, daughters of Sheriff Towle who lived with their family in the courthouse. They will have photos of their life on display in the courtroom and stories to tell! Ken Grochowsky, Assistant Director of the Chase County Chamber, and expert tour guide will also be there.

10am-5pm Chase County Historical Museum & Library-Visit the Special Display of Courthouse memorabilia and collectables and Vintage Quilt Display. Purchase the Sesquicentennial Book, Woven Throws featuring the courthouse and other local landmarks and Garden Flags featuring the Chase County Flag.

10-6pm Official Event Souvenir Table in front of the Chase County Chamber of Commerce-Shop for commemorative T-Shirts, Ornaments, Cutting Boards, Boot Jacks, Key Chains, Koozies, Coasters, Tea Towels and Lapel Pins. Cash or Check only, please! Also stop by and see the recently completed renovations funded by the TEEFI-SEED Grant!  

10am-? CCJSHS Class of 2024 will be selling commemorative insulated metal cups in front of Tallgrass Antiques. Only limited number of these great cups made by Mrs. Scott's Tree Farm aka Stephanie Scott will be available.

10AM-6PM Photography & Art displays and contests at Symphony in the Flint Hills Gallery. Chase County Elementary School and Chase County Junior Senior High School Photo and Essay Contest displays, as well as, Amateur and Professional work will be displayed. Vote for your favorite Amateur and Professional photos and artwork, giving the winner bragging rights until 2073, the Bicentennial celebration! The contents of the time capsule for the celebration will also be available to view.

10am-8pm Food Vendors-Rick & Jenny's Rollin' Burger Joint, Shelby's Snack Shack, Taco's Food Truck, JD's Pizza & Freedom Freeze Shaved Ice! Freedom Freeze will be near the courthouse and the other food trucks will be located at the intersection of Broadway and Friend. 

10am-8pm Local Vendors-located in the downtown area, a variety of sellers from our community  will be offering a variety of items including handmade gifts, commemorative items, books and opportunities.

11am-1pm Elmdale Chili Cook-Off-Bake sale 11-1, Chili judge/vote 11-12, Chili Sale 12-1 Come to Elmdale and eat and judge! Proceeds benefit the Elmdale restoration project.

12-4pm Prairie PastTimes Open House-Artwork for sale inspired by the Courthouse & Free/Low cost artistic fun activities for all ages:  Color your own courthouse...ink drawing on paper and coloring pigments will be available-Free! Create your own Animal Mask, Halloween is coming up, use your imagination to create a mask for your costume.-Free!  Create a colored fabric Courthouse piece, we supply a line drawing of the Courthouse on white fabric that you can color using pigments!-$10

12-4pm KIDZONE on the courthouse lawn-Bouncy Houses (not responsible for accidents) & Caricature Artist Joe Worley-free first come first serve.

12:30-4pm Emporia Art Council Artmobile will have face painting, all at the Old School!

1-2:30pm FFA Petting Zoo at Burnley Memorial Library-Chase County Future Farmers of America sponsored.

1-5pm Roniger Memorial Museum-Located behind the courthouse will be open for visitors.

1-10pm Beer Garden at The Doghouse Saloon

2-4pm Cookies & Conversations-Chase County Ghost Towns at the Senior Center-Members of the community will share stories and memories of the once thriving towns of Clements, Elmdale, Hymer, Matfield Green and others.

1-5:30pm Live Local Bands Perform on the Stage in front of the Courthouse

        1:00 Jess Dean Band

        2:15 Kim Coslett & friends

        3:30 Tallgrass Express

        4:45 Weda Skirts

6:30 Time Capsule Ceremony

6:40 Courthouse Tribute

7:00 Michael Martin Murphey Concert Please, bring your lawn chairs and enjoy! Michael Martin Murphey’s musical journey has taken many unpredictable paths over the past 50 years.  Topping the Pop, Country, Western and Bluegrass charts, Murphey has never been one to rest on his laurels.

​A loyal American son from Texas, Murphey is best known for his chart-topping hits “Wildfire,” Carolina In The Pines,” “What’s Forever For,” “Long Line of Love,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac”, “Cowboy Logic,” and many more across his 35 albums released to date.

Murphey’s long-running incarnation as a purveyor of the music, lifestyle, and values of the American West is one of many musical mantles he has worn over the years. To track his career path is to span the country itself, from coming of age in the Texas folk music scene, to Los Angeles to Colorado to Nashville and then back to his native Texas. Now Cottonwood Falls, KS!

9pm Fireworks Display-Visible from anywhere in downtown Cottonwood Falls! Look north past the river!

Be sure to check out the discussion on our Facebook Event for even more details! Including posts from the vendors and local businesses!

Several of our local 4H groups will have tables with items for sale to support their clubs!

Be sure and visit our local businesses, many will have commemorative items and specials! 

!!!BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIRS & CELEBRATE WITH US!!!

!  IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER, AS MANY EVENTS AS POSSIBLE, WILL MOVE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL  !

!  CHECK THIS PAGE FOR DETAILS  !

Join us for the Chase County Courthouse Sesquicentennial Celebration Oct. 6-7, 2023. Various activities will fill the two-day 150th-anniversary celebration. Activities will include a Victorian grand ball, model train display, beer garden, fireworks, live entertainment, huge Kidzone, caricature artist, a car show, 5k run, food and craft vendors, a parade, time capsule and more

A fund at the Emporia Community Foundation is available for those interested in making a possible tax-deductible donation to the Chase County Courthouse Fund. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to support this celebration, please click here: Donate

 

THE TROLLEY WILL RUN BETWEEN THE PARKING AREA at SWOPE PARK, THE OLD SCHOOL, STRONG CITY MODEL DEPOT TRAIN DISPLAY AND THE COURTHOUSE IN COTTONWOOD FALLS FOR FREE!!  9AM-10PM MAP