Topeka Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Topeka, Kansas - KS, USA)

The summer months certainly come together to make a busy time in Topeka, when many of the biggest and most well-supported festivals take place, with a particularly extensive selection of annual events in September. The Landon Arena (Kansas Expocenter) is one of the city's principal venues and plays host to everything from concerts, livestock shows, exhibitions and trade shows, to indoor football, ice hockey and basketball games.

Each June, the Tinman Triathlon is followed by Tap That Topeka (a Capital Brew Festival), where you can spend all day sampling a seemingly endless selection of American Craft Beers. When July arrives, the Collins Park Independence Day Parade is a huge draw, as is the Spirit of Kansas Festival, both of which take place on July 4th. A parade through the Potwin neighborhood is another Independence Day event of note.

A chance to experience a taster of Native American life is on offer at the InterTribal Pow Wow, in the latter part of August, while in September, the Huff 'n' Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally is truly a spectacle, being held the first weekend after Labor Day since beginning in 1976. In total, there are around 30 balloons that take to the skies, in all shapes and sizes.

Topeka Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - third Monday in January, a public holiday throughout the US, remembering the life of this famous civil rights protester.

February

• Kansas Silent Film Festival - late February / early March, since 1997 this free two-day event has paid tribute to silent film.

March

• St. Patrick's Day Celebration - mid-March, held in the downtown district, this traditional parade is followed by a Celtic Street Fair and Irish music performances.

April

• Wamego Tulip Festival - second weekend of the month, held over two days in the Wamego City Park, approximately 45 miles / 72 km from Topeka. This gathering features craft shops, a children's train, bandstand entertainment, a specialty food court and much more.
• Easter Brunch - Easter themed activities take place around the Potwin neighborhood.

May

• Annual Kansas Sampler Festival - early May, staged at various communities around the state, with live entertainment, heritage and craft demonstrations, exhibitions and lots of tasty hot snacks. In recent years, this event has been held at the Wamego Dutch Mill and Prairie Village in nearby Wamego, roughly 50 minutes to the west.

June

• Tinman Triathlon - mid-June, one of America's oldest triathlons, competitors swim, cycle and run over the long or short course.
• Tap That Topeka (a Capital Brew Festival) - late June, over 21s get a chance to sample a choice from more than 50 different types of American Craft Beers whilst listening to live music.

July

• Collins Park Independence Day Parade - July 4th, residents gather to celebrate in the city's longest running parade.
• Spirit of Kansas Festival - July 4th, a chance to see a line up of blues performers for free.
• Fiesta Mexicana - mid-July, celebrating the culture and traditions of the Hispanic population in the city, held since 1933 and lasting seven days.
• Brew at the Zoo - mid-July, an adult-only function held at Topeka Zoo, with beer tasting, fun and games.

August

• InterTribal Pow Wow - late August / early September, this three-day gathering dates back to 1990 and celebrates the culture of local tribes, with dance, crafts (including beadwork) and Native American Indian food.

September

• Huff 'n' Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally - early September, with balloon launches, tethered flights, night glows and a balloon discovery workshop for children.
• Shawnee County's Largest Workout - mid-September, free keep-fit community event at Washburn University's Yager Stadium.
• Cider Days Fall Festival - late September, established in 1982, Cider Days is spread over two days, with freshly brewed cider sold on site and plenty of entertainment.
• Zoobiliee - late September, an adult-only fundraiser held at the Zoological Gardens, including a silent auction, 'grazing stations' and 'watering holes', animal encounters and live music.
• Aaron Douglas Art Fair - late September, established in 2005, the fair exhibits works of artists from in and around Topeka. Rosettes are awarded for Best Amateur, Best Professional, Best Student and the public choice.
• Gary's Pumpkin Patch and Family Fall Festival - late September to early November, located in Grantville, roughly ten minutes from Topeka, featuring pig races, a corn maze and a haunted house. The season always ends with a Pumpkin Bash.

October

• Business Expo - late-October, with approximately 100 exhibitors and over 1,000 visitors, this is a gathering to enable businesses to network.
• Topeka Boo at the Zoo - late October, visitors dress up for Halloween and follow a trick or treat route, with youngsters collecting treats along the way.

November

• Winter Wonderland - mid-November to late December, a charity festive lights drive-through, with the money raised going to the Topeka Association for Retarded Citizens (TARC).

December

• Children's Christmas Shopping Spree - mid-December, held at the Garfield Community Center, the event enables children to spend their own money on gifts for their parents, on items priced at ten dollars or less. This occasion has been running since 1981.