The communities along the West Central K-96 Jaunt look forward each year to connecting and sharing a Kansas vision for a June Jaunt festival. Given the concerns around COVID-19 this year, however, the committee of communities have made the difficult decision to cancel the ninth-annual festival, Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said. 

“This was a tough call to make – the K-96 June Jaunt is an incredibly important event for each community along the highway – but the committee is determined to prioritize the health and safety of citizens, coordinators and the communities in general,” she said. “The group does not want to jeopardize the event name or any of the communities involved. Many of the individual events held within communities have already cancelled or postponed their activities.”

But, the committee remains committed to the June Jaunt festival, she said. “The K-96 June Jaunt provides an opportunity for central and western Kansas to showcase our communities with events and attractions by partnering together.”

Participants Great Bend, Ness City, Dighton, Scott City, Leoti and Tribune will continue to build a sense of community and common purpose for the June Jaunt in 2021. 

“Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through this process,” Hayes said. 

For more information about the K-96 June Jaunt, like the event on Facebook, follow it on Twitter or visit the web page at www.k96junejaunt.com.