Symphony in the Flint Hills Tickets  on Sale in Abilene!


Symphony in the Flint Hills to Celebrate Chisholm Trail
on June 10 with Michael Martin Murphey as Special Guest

Cottonwood Falls, Kan. - Symphony in the Flint Hills will bring the Chisholm Trail to life this year at its iconic annual prairie event on Saturday, June 10. For the event's finale, the sunset concert will feature the Kansas City Symphony with country western singer-songwriter Michael Martin Murphey, who will share his passion for cowboy culture and grasslands conservation.
 
"As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail at this summer's Symphony in the Flint Hills, we can't think of a better way to end our annual event than having a true cowboy - Michael Martin Murphey - perform with the Kansas City Symphony during the sunset concert," said Christy Davis, executive director for the Symphony in the Flint Hills. "Murphey is not only an iconic western musician, he's also an advocate for protecting and preserving grasslands. It's an honor to feature an artist who shares our passion for this landscape."
 
Michael Martin Murphey is best known for topping the charts in pop, country, bluegrass and western music. Known as the "Cosmic Cowboy" in the 1970s, Murphey has made more than 35 albums in his career with hits including "Wildfire," "Carolina in the Pines" and "What's Forever For." The real-life rancher with Texas roots has also been a long-time activist and outspoken supporter for the American West, which led to the creation of the Murphey Western Institute. "The goal of Murphey Western Institute is to protect the life-sustaining mountain, prairie and plain landscapes that continue to inspire my music," said Murphey.
 
This year's Symphony in the Flint Hills will take place at Deer Horn Ranch in Geary County. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the famous trail that brought cattle from Texas to Kansas in the years following the Civil War, there will be several surprises for attendees to enjoy. The day-long event will include presentations about the Chisholm Trail, education about the Flint Hills region, covered wagon rides, cowboy poetry, a silent art auction and food and beverage. After the sunset concert, the day will conclude with dancing, stargazing and a story circle.
 
Tickets for the 2017 Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event will go on sale at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 4. However, residents of Geary, Dickinson and Riley counties can purchase general admission tickets in advance from February 21-24. General admission tickets are $90 plus sales tax for adults and $50 plus sales tax for children 12 and under.
 
Advance Tickets on Sale for Geary, Dickinson and Riley County Residents:
Abilene & Junction City Convention and Visitors Bureaus
Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan
February 21-24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maximum of six tickets per person, must be purchased in person
Will be issued on first-come, first-served basis
Payment by credit card only
 
Tickets on Sale for the Public March 4:
Walk-Up Location
Kansas City Symphony Box Office, 1703 Wyandotte, Suite 200, KC, MO
Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 4
 
Phone and Online Orders
816-471-0400
www.kcsymphony.org
 
For more event information visit symphonyintheflinthills.org.
Support your Local Restaurants
KANSAS! Magazine Asks Readers to Pick their Favorite Local Eats in Kansas

KANSAS! magazine, the state's premier travel magazine, invites readers to nominate their favorite local place to eat in Kansas for the magazine's third annual readers' choice issue. Only local restaurants, cafes, food trucks, bakeries, and other eateries will be will be considered. Nominations opened Monday, January 30, 2017.

Click here to nominate for favorite Abilene restaurant!


Attraction Update:
Arts Council of Dickinson County
 
5th Annual Film Festival

Sponsored by: Arts Council of Dickinson County
 
Beginning Sunday, January 15 at 2:00 p.m. films will be shown at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitor's Center, 200 SE 4th Street.
 
All films are free of charge and popcorn will be provided.
 
A discussion will follow each film. 
 
*Please bring a non-perishable food item. 
*All items will benefit the Abilene Area Food and Clothing Bank.
 
The schedule and summary of the films are as follows:
 
February 19: The Martian  PG-13 An astronaut becomes stranded on Mars after his team assume him dead, and must rely on his ingenuity to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

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Arts Council of Dickinson County
PRESENTS
ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST and EXHIBIT
Thursday, March 9th

The theme for this year's photography contest is "Hometown History". 
Categories are as follows:
Youth (under 12)
Intermediate (12 - 17)
Adult (over 18)
Best in Show
Judge's Choice
 
Entries will be accepted Thursday, February 23rd, and Friday, February 24th from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Arts Council of Dickinson County's new location: The Sunflower Hotel, Suite B, 409 NW 3rd Street, Abilene.  We are pleased to have Michael Hook, director of the Heritage Center, as judge. 

Rules: Photos must be no larger than 8"x10", no smaller than 7"x9", no white borders on photos, and must be mounted on white mount board 11"x14". Mount board and sleeve ($1.50) are available for purchase at the Dickinson County Extension Office, 712 S. Buckeye, Abilene. A hanging hook must be placed in back so it is not visible while it is displayed. Do not frame. Photos must have been taken from March of 2015 forward, and not previously entered in this event. Photos are accepted in any format, such as camera, iPhone, etc. Entries will be judged on originality, technical excellence, presentation and adherence to theme. Three entries per person. Email:  artscouncilofdc@gmail.com for an entry form.  Entry forms are also available at the Arts Council office.  
Dickinson County Heritage Center


27th Annual Ida Stover-Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show
March 13-26, 2017
Dickinson County Heritage Center
412 S Campbell St, Abilene KS 67410
Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum


The Best of the West TALK Series
 
Talk about Literature in Kansas (TALK) is a series presented in partnership with the Kansas Humanities Council and the Abilene Public Library. This program is for every Kansan who loves to read and discuss good books. The Best of the West theme celebrates the Chisholm Trail 150th and Dwight Eisenhower's love of western novels.

The TALK series is free and open to the public. The books selected for discussion are available to check out from the Abilene Public Library or purchase at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Gift Shop
 
Good Land
March 13, 2017
7:00 p.m. -- Book TALK
Discussion facilitated by Margy Stewart

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Eisenhower and the Great War
March 2017 - March 2018
(Library)

War erupted in Europe in 1914 and soon involved nations around the globe. The Great War as it became known shocked the world with its massive scope and the industrial-like slaughter created by advances in military technology. The United States reluctantly joined the conflict in 1917 and began to build a large professional army from the ground up. One of the young officers who helped in this endeavor was a lieutenant by the name of Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower showed remarkable talent for organization and leadership during the years of American involvement in the war. Tasked with training thousands of inexperienced troops in the new and untested art of armored warfare, Eisenhower quickly built a strong and motivated group of soldiers while overcoming severe obstacles and setbacks. This exhibit tells the story of the Great War and its influence on Eisenhower's budding leadership abilities. World War I, as it would become known later in the century, proved critical to the making of this American Icon.
Greyhound Hall of Fame

Did you know greyhounds could compete in hurdles? The Greyhound Hall of Fame will soon have a trophy from the Raynham Park 1959 Hurdles Champion.
Great Plains Theatre

*Abilene Native* Geff Dawson - Cowboy Poetry & Western Music
February 25 - 7:00 p.m.

Geff was one of the featured cowboy western entertainers at Silver Dollar City's Salute to the Great American Cowboy in 2007, 2008, and again in 2012. He was the 2006 Silver Buckle Champion and Best of the Best winner at the world's only Western Legends Roundup Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in 2006. In 2009, he won the Best of the West Shootout. The events were held in Kanab, Utah where he competed against 70+ other contestants. He followed it with a trip to the Colorado State Fair, where he won the People's Choice Buckle, and was the Reserve Champion in their cowboy poetry competition. Most Recently, he was honored as a 2012 inductee into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

General Admission: $15, Table for Four $80

Cinema
Beginning Friday, February 10 - Rogue One

Click here for more information. 

Cinema



Seelye Mansion

Click image to view Facebook video


Last week we visited Terry Tietjens at the Seelye Mansion for a look inside this iconic home. To date, the video has reached more than 70,000 people!
Featured Restaurant : Garcia's Restaurant


1213 3rd Street NW
Abilene, KS
2017 Calendar
Click image to access calendar

Stay in Abilene
Abilene is home to 202 rooms. Whether you're in town to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, enjoy a show at the Great Plains Theatre, attend the Central Kansas Free Fair, meet with greyhound industry leaders or take a ride on the Abilene & Smokey Valley Railroad, we invite you to extend your visit and spend the night and enjoy all Abilene has to offer!

Click here to learn more about places to stay in Abilene!
Help us, help you
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to: director@abilenecityhall.com.
We do our best to make sure all information is correct. 
It is advisable to always call ahead before visiting.
Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau | 785.263.2231 | Email | Website

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