Festivals keep county hopping
Ellis County is home to numerous festivals throughout the summer months and into the fall, beginning in June and extending through October. From Riverfest to Oktoberfest, Ellis County residents can find a way to stay busy and entertained.
The first festival is Riverfest in Ellis. The event is put on by the Ellis Chamber of Commerce on the second weekend of June each year.
For more information about Riverfest, contact the Ellis Chamber of Commerce at (785) 726-2660.
The weekend nearest the Fourth of July is when Wild West Festival is in Hays at Municipal Park on south Main Street.
For more information about Wild West Festival, contact (785) 623-4476 or info@wildwestfestival.com. Visit the Wild West Festival website at www.wildwest festival.com.
Also in July is the Ellis County Fair, which was July 16 to 23 in 2011. Events at the fair include 4-H activities such as showing animals and fine arts.
For more information about the Ellis County Fair, visit www.elliscountyfair.com.
The Ellis Junior Free Fair annually is during the final week of July, beginning Tuesday and running through Saturday. The Free Fair features sand volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, baseball games, children's games and a free barbecue.
More information about the Ellis Free Fair can be found by calling (785) 726-3636.
The free Herzogfest is celebrating its 29th anniversary Aug. 12 and 13. Herzogfest features live music, a 5K run/walk, polka Mass, parade, talent show, fireworks and tractor and truck pull.
Herzogfest also will feature vendors, free concerts from Galen Schmidtberger and Joe Dolezal and Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations, as well as a featured concert from Candy Coburn.
For details on Herzogfest, visit www.herzogfest.com or email webmaster@herzogfest.com.
The first of two Oktoberfests in Ellis County is Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. In 2011, the event will be Sept. 17 and 18 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds in Hays.
The festival features German food, beverages, songs, dancing, crafts, games and numerous demonstrations in a celebration of the area's Volga-German heritage.
For details on Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest, visit www.midwestdeutschefest.com or contact Leo Dorzweiler at (785) 625-5394 or dorzweiler@ruraltel.net.
In 2011, the Volga German Society will put on its Oktoberfest on Oct. 7. This Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of the Germans from Russia heritage of Ellis County.
Oktoberfest is celebrated on the Friday before Fort Hays State University's homecoming celebration. In the past, the festival has brought nearly 10,000 people to Frontier Park for music, food, crafts, games and a beer garden.
The Volga German Society promotes the heritage of the German immigrants with various events and programs.
For more information, contact the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce at (785) 628-8201.