Rimsie McConiga
Special to the Citizen
Camp Leavenworth is about to launch Sept. 20-21. The two-day free festival will be held in parking lots, streets and areas surrounding Leavenworth Landing Park. The city anticipates about 5,000 attendees.
The city of Leavenworth, Kan. will host the festival and city leaders look forward to seeing the result of their year of planning for this first-of-its-kind event in the area. They hope to not only bring local residents together but also bring in neighbors in Weston, Platte City, Dearborn and Edgerton.
“With having the city festival, our hope is to give back to the community through having a quality event and having something for everyone of all ages and abilities,” said Taylour Tedder, Leavenworth assistant city manager. “The draw from the bands and festival in general of people outside the community reinforces the community’s economy and showcases the heart of our historic downtown through shopping, eating, and staying in the hotels — the very reason the festival is possible. Our friends in Weston and Platte City also are very meaningful to the attendance as this is a way to promote regional growth, give back to those in the area, and patrons of the festival may explore surrounding communities to the festival as well.”
Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Angie Mutti believes all the nearby communities in the bi-state area have a multitude of festivals to share.
“I’ve discovered when we embrace our surrounding communities rather than try to compete, it creates such a positive synergy for the Platte City area it becomes a win for us all,” Mutti said.
Several food vendors will be on site, including a ’Smores Station and a Build-Your-Own Trail Mix station. Organizers said the food will be an eclectic mix with something for everyone including Black Belt BBQ, Da Poke Wagon, Taco Republic Truck, Kansas Citrus Crushers, Kona Ice, Auntie Anne’s, The Food Spot and Mrs. Kettle Pop.
Vendors at the trading post will include several artisan merchants and craft vendors, such as Happy Shirt Printing Company, Evelyn Grae Collections, The Crafty Knicket, Pumpcans, Candle Queen Candles Gift Boutique and NAMASTAMY.
Activities at Camp Leavenworth include a mobile zip line, tree climbing, axe throwing, a photo booth, children’s crafts, an inflatable obstacle course, a rock wall and a silent disco.Some activities are free while others will require a ticket. Details on each activity are on campleavenworth.com
Bands featured at the event will be Ryan Manuel and the Getaway, Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle, Heather Newman Band, DeMaur, LA Jones, Grand Maquis, Big Time Grain Co., Maria the Mexican, Drew Six, Tyler Gregory, Bob and Una Walkenhorst, Sky Smeed, Sara Morgan and Ha Ha Tonka, which is a rock band from Camdenton, Mo.
The 14 bands will perform on two stages. The silent disco with DJ Joe will present a unique way to disco the night away. The attendees will be supplied with wireless headphones and onlookers will see people dancing but only the dancers will hear the music.
“The majority of activities are kid friendly, but some should be especially exciting for them,” Tedder said. “The C.W. Parker Carousel Museum is located within the festival grounds and will be open both days until 7 p.m. The National Guard is supplying a rock wall and obstacle course as well as Top Golf with an inflatable version of their popular location in Overland Park. A children’s activity area will have a balloon artist and a craft tent with Camp Leavenworth themed activities including making paracord bracelets, beaded keychains and tree-branch tic-tac-toe. The Create-Your-Own Trail Mix station will also be in this area.”
City of Leavenworth staff are working closely with the festival management firm O’Neill Events & Marketing in the organization, coordination and execution of the festival. The event is primarily funded by the city, but several sponsors have also donated resources, including Saint John Hospital, Greenamyre Rentals, CoreCivic Foundation, Whiskey Design, United Healthcare, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Standard Beverage.
Both nights of the festival will end with a fireworks display over the Missouri River.
“Leavenworth has every intention to make this an annual event,” Tedder said. “We hope to take the positives and lessons learned from this initial year to see what works, what we can do to improve on the festival, and build future festivals based on the feedback. Other than the action-packed band line-up, I’m most looking forward to the Axe Throwing by Blade and Timber, as well as the zip line. We will also have some other unique experiences that require reservations such as the ‘Show Me The Ropes’ guided tree climbing activity. The 45-minute-long sessions will allow for climbers of all abilities and will be a fun and worthwhile activity. We’ve also been lucky to secure the Astronomical Society of Kansas City on Friday evening to offer stargazing through telescopes near the river from 8 – 10 p.m.”