Festivals and Special Events, Fort Scott

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Once a year Fort Scott puts on the Pioneer Harvest Festival. This is a show case for old tractors and farm equipment. There is a wide range of things going on.

There are a large number of demonstrations like old saw mills, steam engines and threshers. There are tons of old restored tractors. Huge swap meet of all things rural.

There is food and lots of fun things for kids.

It is a great way to kick off your fall. It makes for a great day trip.

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Each year in midsummer the residents of Fort Scott have a big town festival. It is Called Good Old Days. There is a parade. This is the classic town parade, Police, Fireman, Tractors, Boy Scouts, Shriners, Horses & Lots of other stuff.

The Historic downtown is then turned over to music, street dances, vendors and fun activities. You can also visit the National Historic Site at the end of downtown. The whole town turns out and there is a very friendly exciting energy.

The weenie dog race was outstanding this year.

There is a great slide show on the website.

Once every two years the Fort Scott Garden Club puts on a tour of private gardens in and around Fort Scott. For a small town we have a very active and gifted garden club. It is usually towards mid-June.

Many of the owners are gifted and very welcoming. There is a special pre-tour the evening before. It is a great way to really get to know Fort Scott and it’s people.

This is the Garden Club’s fund raiser the gardeners are donating their time and effort.

So make a weekend of it and do something that was once common but now rare.

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The area around Fort Scott has a rich ranch history. The ranch near my farm was so large that it had it’s own railroad station and hotel. So a festival celebrating the cowboy is a natural.

Every June there is a really fantastic cowboy poetry and music festival. The talent is from all over the American west. The Echoes of the Trails is large enough to bring in great talent yet small enough to be really enjoyable.

For three days there are great Western Performers on stage and just hanging around. There is food made over campfires. There are vendors of Cowboy gear and lots of nice people.

If you are from outside the U.S. this is a great way to get a little taste of the American west. Don’t miss it. If you live within driving distance this makes a great weekend trip.

It is a great break from art fairs and classical concerts in the park. June is also pretty nice for weather here in Fort Scott.

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Small county fairs that have agriculture as it’s focus are quickly disappearing. We have a really great one here in Bourbon County.

There are kids showing the farm animals they have raised. The animals are in accessible stalls for the whole weekend. A great chance for those unfamiliar with livestock to get up close and personal.

There is a rodeo. Not like on ESPN. These are working cowboys. The roping competition is a wonder to behold. This rodeo is like the ones I use to see as a boy in west Texas. As working with horses gets more rare so will these kind of events. So do not hesitate.

To top it off there is a carnival with food that is bad for you and rides to get dizzy on.

It is usually in mid July. I remember having some very nice summer evenings at the fair. It is a big hit with friends’ kids when they visit.