2023 Events

The Methodist Church in Agenda welcome BKRT visitors to a Loaded Baked Potato Bar featuring all your favorite toppings. Look for this lunch event in downtown Agenda in the building next to Hope Floats.

Stop by the Rae Hobson Memorial Library to play a round or two of bingo. Winners will be presented with baskets created by local volunteers and filled with books, beverages, and adult and children's goodies. Bingo begins at 11 a.m. and goes until all the baskets have been won. A free will donation will be accepted. The Rae Hobson Memorial Library was built in 1921 to memorialize Rae who die during World War I. The library is open Tuesday and Thursday 1-6:00 p.m. BKRT visitors are invited to stop by while exploring Republic County.

Union veteran John Davidson came to Cuba in 1884 and built a native limestone blacksmith shop, which he operated until 1892. Closed in 1970, the shop has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Demonstrations will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Hosts will be available to answer any questions throughout the day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. From Baird, 1/2 block west on Lynn.

C & C High Tunnel Farms is a small urban farm inside the city limits of Scandia. We raise vegetables and produce year round. We have a small retail store in downtown Scandia and deliver produce directly to your door through our Community Supported Agriculture Program, CSA. We would love to show you our farm this spring and will give 4 tours each day. Meet us at our Downtown Scandia Farmstore at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.. We will take you around the corner, show you our farm, and answer any questions you might have. Tours last approximately 30 minutes. RSVP by emailing us at candchightunnelfarms@gmail.com

Irrigation Ales is hosting a canal driving tour from Courtland to Lovewell Reservoir dam and back. You will drive your own vehicle on gravel or dirt (weather permitting) and make a few stops to learn about surface water irrigation in the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District between Republic and Jewell Counties. This trip should take 1.5 hours and can also be self guided if you miss this window Saturday. NOTE: For those with limited time, you can be a part of the tour for 15 minutes or longer if you wish. The tour will leave from Irrigation Ales in Courtland.

Sidewalk chalk drawing contest around the square in downtown Belleville. Open all hours of the day, to all ages and free to enter. Chalk can be found in front of businesses around the square. To enter, take a photo of your drawing and post it on your Facebook page. Use the hashtag #chalkitupbelleville. Sponsored by Belleville Chamber and Main Street. Winners will be contacted via Facebook.

Come have coffee with the local farmers, retired business people and wives of the area. Kolaches for sale with the coffee. It's reported a huge number of problems are solved at these coffee times each week. 7:30-9:30 a.m. or until you fill up on coffee.

The Courtland Community Library will be hosting Courtland history trivia. Pick up a trivia playing card between 1-3 p.m. Saturday and walk around Courtland to different businesses for the answers. Return the completed card back to the library before 4 p.m. Saturday to be entered into a drawing for fun prizes.

Each March community boosters host a week-long Rock-a-Thon at Cuba's 1930 auditorium, Ceska-Narodin-Sin (Bohemian Hall). Two rocking chairs are kept rocking 24 hours a day for an entire week. You pay to rock, and proceeds go to community projects. The famous chairs will be set up in the basement level (handicap accessible) and available to BKRT visitors for rockin! Look for the display of black and white photos featured in National Geographic taken by Kansas photographer, Jim Richardson. Czech out the original Prague Square backdrop on the stage, too. Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Scandia is a town with a Scandinavian heritage so it's the perfect place to decorate your very own Swedish Dala Horse sugar cookie. A Dala horse is a traditional carved, brightly-painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna. The story of the Dala Horse dates back to 1716 when, during a cold, cruel winter, one soldier carved a horse in his spare time, painted it red, and presented it to the little girl where he was staying. Event takes place downtown at the Scandia City Library.

Experience picking fresh asparagus at our farm 8 miles straight south of the Depot Market, 1101 30 Rd, Courtland. Picked asparagus will be charged by the pound. Don't forget to bring a cooler to take home your fresh asparagus. Three picking times to choose from. Thursday, May 4 and Friday, May 5 at 11am, 1pm or 3pm.

4-H'ers are known for their baking skills! While you are out and about, grab some baked goods from the Eager Beavers 4-H Club! Funds assist the Eager Beavers with scholarships for members to attends camp, provide community service to our towns, and more! Bake sale will start at 11am until supplies run out! Cash only.

One of two wooden-floor skating rinks along the BKRT, this one is located on the upstairs floor at the Cuba Community Hall, 216 Baird in Cuba. (The other rink is located in Formoso in Jewell County. See entry under Events> Formoso Skating Rink.) Rental for skates, but free to skate. Saturday 2-4 p.m.

The Courtland Volunteer Fire Department invites you to be a firefighter. Come gear up, see the trucks, equipment, and shoot some water at some targets. This event is free and open to all ages and will be located on Main Street (kids receive a free helmet and gift bag while supplies last).

How does Irrigation work? Enjoy a photo and history tour. Look in the business windows in downtown Courtland, the Surface Irrigation Capital of Kansas, and you'll see pictures and irrigation parts to showcase how the Bostwick Irrigation District canals work and how the system has evolved over the years.

Listen to live music by local favorite, Joe Strowig. The street in front of North Side Pizza, 1317 18th St, will be blocked off so visitors can enjoy some outdoor music. Jon is mainly a bassist, playing upright and electric bass for the Cloud County Community Jazz Ensemble, the Bourbon Street band, and Lix band. He'll play an acoustic set, guitar and singing rock/jazz/70’s to 2000’s music.

Come listen to live music by local band, "Short Notice: Final Notice," at the open area next to Adri's in downtown Courtland. Brought to you by Stateline Veterinary Services of Courtland.

Two friends bonded over their love of coffee mugs and it took them to renovating a vintage gas station and moving their business from their basements to what is now a thriving handmade jewelry and ceramics boutique. Spend some time shopping and try your hand at making your own necklace from Kansas clay! (Picture shown is an example only. Courtesy @soulsisterceramics)

Come to the Munden Community Center on May 5-6 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to see the work of these local artists: Ines Dejmal, Blanche Horak, Gerald Moore, Rose M. Splichal, Frantiska Palacek and others. Stop in the post office to see the famous Palacek Painting. Coffee and kolaches will be available to purchase from the Coffee Club.

Kansas State University’s Department of Agronomy hosts agronomic research of dryland crops and soils on this 40 acre site. Main crops are corn, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, and canola. Research trials and experimental treatments will be labeled. Visitors are welcome to drive through the farm on their own schedule or park and walk around. Please stay on grass driveways. No amenities on site. Contact Scott at 785.706.8450 with any questions.

"Nothing But The Dirt: Stories from an American Farm Town" was written by Kate Benz who embedded herself into Courtland's culture to learn about how agriculture and all its challenges impacted this community. An exhibit by book photographer, local Josey Hammer, enhances the content of the book. View the exhibit at the Courtland Arts Center 8 a .m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Meet the author and photographer during the special open house times on Friday 2-4 p.m. and Saturday 1-4 p.m.

Hand-crafted garden and fire fighting tools made from recycled agricultural disc blades. Rogue tools are used throughout the U.S. and Canada. Take a quick 20 minute tour and see for yourself how over 60 different tools are made.

Meals are free will donation inside the fire department building and to-go containers will be available for road trippers. Thanks to the Republic County Community Foundation and local donors, RFD #9 has been making much-needed updates to the building over the last few years, and will use all proceeds from this fundraiser to continue with further updates.

Meals are free will donation inside the fire department building and to-go containers will be available for road trippers. Thanks to the Republic County Community Foundation and local donors, RFD #9 has been making much-needed updates to the building over the last few years, and will use all proceeds from this fundraiser to continue with further updates.

Sing! Wherever you are on the BKRT at sunset, sing a verse of Home on the Range. If you want to share your song on social media, use #SingBKRT23.

For those interested in historic buildings, travel to Munden to see the restored Splichal Hardware store that now houses gas pumps, signs and Splichal Hardware items. Open Thursday only, 1-3 p.m. Tour should last about 20 minutes.

See the beautiful stained glass windows at St. George Catholic Church on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. Handout materials and a tour guide will be on hand. All are welcome to Saturday Mass at 4 p.m.

The best things in life in one spot! Participate in group yoga sponsored by Pivotal Health & Wellness (bring a yoga mat or buy one from Soul Sisters Ceramics). Grab brunch with mimosas or Bloody Marys at Adri's. After yoga, enjoy an Irrigation Ales beer.