The Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair is almost here!
Billed as a free day of celebration with music, participatory crafts and activities, demonstrators, food vendors, and museum tours, the street fair is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in and around the Smoky Hill Museum, which is located at 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina.
A parade will kick things off, but because of the construction work on Santa Fe, the parade is scheduled to travel on Seventh Street from Elm Street to South Street. This year’s theme is “Notorious & Notable Characters of Kansas.” The parade will feature bands, dancers, businesses, military and much more.
The museum gallery is open from 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, and Bootleg Mercy. The roaming performer is a balloon artist 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 are scheduled to perform at 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 fun, you can find it here. The Ruble family is scheduled to perform at 1 p.m.
Sara Hocking from Minneapolis plays anything country and soul! But really all kinds of music! Hocking has been singing and playing the piano since she was five years old. She is scheduled to perform at 2 p.m.
Bootleg Mercy is scheduled to close out the event beginning at 3 p.m. When asked to describe themselves, they said, “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.
Demonstrators are scheduled for 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and feature Priti Gulati Cox with Rangoli (Indian floor design); Tim Brady with the North Central Kansas Woodworkers Guild; Brenda Smith, a Zentangle artist; and Jeff Hansen making paper with native plants. Caricaturists Rachel Hermes 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? Choices include Navajo Tacos, Texas Reds BBQ, Kettle Corn, Sno Wizard’s snow cones, Relish, and good old American fare with Skip’s Concessions.
Watch the museum website, www.smokyhillmuseum.org, for the most up-to-date information and celebrate autumn on Saturday at the Smoky Hill Museum Street Fair.