Visit Emporia

09/03/2025

Whether you’re ready to lift or just want to watch, the Howe Hoist Stone Lifting Competition is happening this Saturday, September 6 from 5–8 PM at the Howe House & Welsh Farmstead!

Inspired by legendary stonemason Richard Howe, this event challenges lifters to raise stones weighing 100–300 lbs, cut straight from the Flint Hills. Successful lifts earn a permanent spot in the Howe Hoist registry.

📍 Howe House & Welsh Farmstead | 315 E Logan Ave
🎟 Free for spectators | $30 registration for lifters

👉 register here: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/pLvEGMnYCrjhe0wXAhur?notrack=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawMlMwdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDNjRLcmpPU08yUjhscTFRAR6N83hIst1MthzbPeEl5cZeg1QisDW9xh6EV7Emlqxxma-SHJ26o70NdoT0zA_aem_YTl942d1CieH8R6IY1Xljg

GoodMuscle Lyon County History Center

09/03/2025

Don’t forget, this Friday, September 5, Downtown Emporia lights up with Emporia First Friday from 5–8 pm! Come enjoy inspiring art from talented artists, and challenge yourself to fill out a passport for a chance at prizes, and explore local venues!

09/02/2025

This Week in Emporia | September 5–9
From art walks and car shows to trivia nights and stargazing, there’s plenty to enjoy in Emporia this week:

visitemporia.com/events

📆 Friday, September 5
Emporia First Friday Art Walk | 5:00–8:00 PM | Downtown Emporia
Explore galleries, meet artists, and enjoy the downtown vibe. Pick up a passport for a chance to win prizes.

First Friday Flash Sale | 5:00–8:00 PM | 618 Mechanic St
Shop great deals while supporting Friends of the Emporia Public Library!

📆 Saturday, September 6
Flash Sale (Day 2) | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | 618 Mechanic St
More chances to shop and support the library!

Hope with Horsepower Car Show | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | Soden’s Grove
Rev up for a cause! Enjoy classic cars and community fun while supporting veteran su***de prevention. | $25

Howe Hoist | 5:00–8:00 PM | Howe House, 315 E Logan Ave
Watch (or join!) this one-of-a-kind stone lifting contest honoring Emporia’s early history. | $30 to participate

📆 Sunday, September 7
Sundaes on Sunday | 3:00–4:30 PM | Emporia Public Library
Celebrate Grandparents’ Day with ice cream, crafts, and fun photo ops. Free!

Good Way Gardens Concert | 4:00–6:00 PM | Howe House, 315 E Logan Ave
Relax with live music in the gardens. Free, family-friendly, and picnic-friendly (no alcohol). Donations welcome.

📆 Tuesday, September 9
Family Trivia | 6:30–7:30 PM | Emporia Public Library, 110 E. 6th Ave
Curious minds of all ages team up for trivia fun, winners take home bragging rights (and prizes). Free!

Planetarium Show: Stars, Spells & Celestial Secrets | 7:00–7:30 PM | Peterson Planetarium, ESU
Explore the night sky and magical connections in this special Harry Potter–themed program. Free!

09/02/2025

Got an event coming up? Festival, fundraiser, concert, car show, we want to help you spread the word!

Share your event with Visit Emporia on our website, and we’ll feature it on the community calendar. Not only does this get your event in front of locals, it also helps us market it outside of Emporia to new visitors looking for reasons to come experience our town.

👉 Submit your event here: visitemporia.com/events/community/add/

Let’s keep Emporia buzzing with things to do - and show visitors what makes our community shine!

08/30/2025

We’re just ONE WEEK AWAY from the Howe Hoist!
Come watch the challenge, cheer on the lifters, and celebrate a tradition rooted in history, strength, and community pride.

📅 Sept 6 | 5–8 PM
📍 Howe House & Welsh Farmstead, 315 E Logan Ave
Free for spectators | $30 to register and lift

Registration: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/pLvEGMnYCrjhe0wXAhur?notrack=true

GoodMuscle Lyon County History Center

08/27/2025

Live music for a cause! 🎶

This Friday, August 29 (7–9 PM), head out to 1382 Road 210 in Emporia for Radical Life Jam, an evening of music under the summer sky.

Enjoy performances by Lora McDonald, The Bunkhouse Squatters, and Sam Bland & The Firewatchers while supporting a great local cause, Radical Life.

Suggested donation: $10/person
All ages welcome; bring your lawn chairs, friends, and family for a night of music and community.

Learn more about Radical Life here ➡️ facebook.com/RadicalLifeInc

08/27/2025

Head to Welch Stadium tomorrow for ESU’s first football game of the season against Minot State!
This year, General Admission is free; just show up and cheer on the Hornets!

8.28.25 - Blackout Welch

W.I.N.

08/26/2025

What's Going on in Emporia | August 29–September 7
From community concerts and art walks to sweet celebrations and unique traditions, here’s what’s happening around town:

https://visitemporia.com/events/

📆 Friday, August 29
Radical Life Jam | 7:00–9:00 PM | 1382 RD 210
Enjoy a night of live music featuring Lora McDonald, Durst & Friends, and Sam Bland & The Firewatchers. Entry by donation (suggested $10) supports Radical Life. All ages welcome!

📆 Wednesday, September 3
Group Lunch | 12:00–1:00 PM | Emporia Area Chamber, 719 Commercial St
Meet new faces over lunch! Get matched with a group at a local Chamber member restaurant. Registration required; lunch is on your own.

📆 Friday, September 5
Emporia First Friday Art Walk | 5:00–8:00 PM | Downtown Emporia
Explore galleries, meet local artists, and enjoy the downtown vibe. Pick up a passport at any venue for a chance to win prizes.

First Friday Flash Sale | 5:00–8:00 PM | 618 Mechanic St
Shop and support Emporia Public Library programs and services!

First Friday Exhibit Reception: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World | 5:00–8:00 PM | William Allen White Library, ESU
Explore the fascinating connections between Renaissance traditions and the magical world of Harry Potter in this traveling exhibit.

📆 Saturday, September 6
Flash Sale (Day 2) | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | 618 Mechanic St
Continue the library fundraiser shopping fun on Saturday morning!

Howe Hoist | 5:00–8:00 PM | Howe House & Welsh Farmstead, 315 E. Logan Ave
A one-of-a-kind stone lifting competition honoring early settler Richard Howe. Participants lift stones weighing up to 300 pounds! Registration: $30. Free to watch.

📆 Sunday, September 7
Sundaes on Sunday | 3:00–4:30 PM | Emporia Public Library, 110 E. 6th Ave
Celebrate Grandparents’ Day with a sweet ice cream treat, fun photo ops, and crafts. Free event!

Good Way Gardens Concert | 4:00–6:00 PM | Howe House & Welsh Farmstead, 315 E. Logan Ave
Part of the Good Way Sunday Concert Series—bring a chair, enjoy live music, and relax in the gardens. Free-will donations welcome.

08/23/2025

Looking for something truly unique? The Howe Hoist in Emporia is a stone lifting competition inspired by the life and legacy of Richard Howe, a Welsh immigrant and master stonemason who helped build the foundations of this community.

This event isn’t just about muscle. It’s about tradition, storytelling, and celebrating the grit that shaped Emporia’s history. Participants will take on stones ranging from 100–300 lbs, each one quarried from the Flint Hills. Successful lifts earn a place in the official Howe Hoist registry, ensuring your name lives on with the stones.

Join us at the Howe House & Welsh Farmstead for an evening filled with strength, history, and community pride. Cheer on the lifters, enjoy the atmosphere at the Howe House, and join a celebration that brings history and strength together.

📅 Saturday, September 6 | 5–8 PM | 📍 315 E Logan Ave (Howe House)
$30 registration for lifters | Free admission for spectators

GoodMuscle Lyon County History Center

08/22/2025

Have you heard the news? Emporia State University is offering free general admission to all home athletic events for the 2025–26 season. It’s part of ESU’s Year of Celebration, a way to thank the community and welcome even more fans into Hornet Nation.

Here’s what’s happening next week:
Monday, Aug. 25 – Women's Soccer scrimmage vs. William Jewell at the ESU Soccer Pitch
Thursday, Aug. 28 – Football season opener vs. Minot State at Welch Stadium, 7 p.m. (Blackout Night)

Bring a friend, bring the family, and come cheer on the Hornets!

Emporia State Athletics Emporia State University

08/21/2025

What’s going on in Emporia | August 23–September 6 🎉
Late summer nights and early fall fun are here! From live music and community jams to art walks and sales, here’s what’s happening in Emporia:

https://visitemporia.com/events/

📆 Saturday, August 23
Brickhorse | 10:00 PM | Bourbon Cowboy, 605 Commercial St
Hometown favorite Brickhorse returns to the stage! Doors open at 6 PM, show starts at 10 pm.

📆 Friday, August 29
Radical Life Jam | 7:00–9:00 PM | 1382 Road 210 in Emporia, KS
A night of live music featuring Lora McDonald, Durst & Friends, and Sam Bland & The Firewatchers. Entry by donation (suggested $10) with proceeds benefiting Radical Life. All ages welcome!

📆 Wednesday, September 3
Group Lunch | 12:00–1:00 PM
Meet new faces over lunch! Get matched with a group at a local Chamber member restaurant. Registration required; lunch is on your own. Contact the Emporia Area Chamber for more details.

📆 Friday, September 5
Emporia First Friday Art Walk | 5:00–8:00 PM | Downtown Emporia
Explore galleries, meet local artists, and enjoy the downtown scene. Pick up a passport at any venue and collect stamps for a chance to win prizes.

📆 Friday–Saturday, September 5–6
First Friday & Saturday Flash Book Sale | Friday: 5 - 8pm; Saturday: 9am - 12 pm| 618 Mechanic St
Support Emporia Public Library programs and services by shopping this special two-day book sale!

📆 Saturday, September 6
Howe Hoist | 5:00–8:00 PM | Howe House & Welsh Farmstead, 315 E. Logan Ave
Test your strength in this one-of-a-kind stone-lifting competition honoring settler and stone mason Richard Howe. Participants lift stones up to 300 pounds! Registration: $30

08/19/2025

Mark your calendars for Chalk Fest 2025 in Emporia! On Saturday, September 27 (9AM–7PM), downtown sidewalks transform into a giant canvas filled with color, creativity, and community spirit.

From incredible chalk art to live music, family-friendly activities, and food trucks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re an artist, a spectator, or just looking for a fun fall day trip, this one-of-a-kind festival celebrates the imagination and talent that make Emporia so special.

Come see the streets come alive, connect with local creators, and be part of a community that truly embraces the arts.

Full schedule + registration info at https://emporiaksarts.org/chalk-fest/ or stop by the Emporia Arts Council at 815 Commercial St.

📸 Isaac Cushenbery

Emporia Arts Council The Flint Hills Optimist Club