Discover Salina Naturally celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. While it may still be relatively young for a festival, it’s coming into its own and growing fast. Discover Salina Naturally will introduce festival goers to area history, art, nature and entertainingly educate on the value of a responsible and sustainable future from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, at Lakewood Park in northeast Salina. This year will offer roughly 60 participating demonstrators, historical reenactors, artists, booths, vendors and clubs all in one place. There will also be food, entertainment, kids activities and more. Admission is free to attend. Free parking will be offered at Lakewood Middle School with free shuttles running between the school and the park. Temporary signs will provide directions.
“I knew this festival would be special,” said Barb Goode, cofounder of Discover Salina Naturally. Five years ago, Barb and Susan Gaskill put together the very first Discover Salina Naturally festival, although under a different name. “There’s nothing else quite like this in the region. It offers a dynamic mix and so many opportunities to learn, to connect and to have fun.”
Live entertainment will be featured throughout the day. “We’ve gone out of our way to find an eclectic blend of music,” said Mark Neubrand, chair of the festival planning committee. This year performance schedule: Mattson & Weaver: 11—noon; Kansas Wesleyan University Jazz Ensemble: 12—1:15 p.m.; Tim & Sarah Crews: 1:15—2:15 p.m.; Calibre Pesado: 2:15—3:15 p.m.; Western Kansas Prairie Pipers: 3:15-4 p.m. In addition, there’ll be a special treat in the children’s activity area with Birds in Song with Barry Jones, from noon until 1 p.m.
“Every booth and demonstrator has been selected to help people connect with their world and their community through history, culture, art, and just by getting outside and having fun,” said Neubrand. “This year will have some new information on pollinators which is fascinating and very timely. People are invited to just come on out for the whole day, there’s so much to do.”
In 2015, the festival attracted an estimated 4,500 visitors. It’s believed this year’s festival will be even bigger.
The 2016 planning committee is made up of representatives from the Kansas Native Plant Society, Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute, Lakewood Discovery Center, Prairie Long Rifles Black Powder Group, Salina Horticulture Club, Smoky Hills Audubon Society, Smoky Hill Museum, Saline County Conservation District, USD 305, The Resilience Group and many dedicated community volunteers. If you’re interested in serving on the committee for 2017, contact committee members who will be wearing bright green t-shirts during the festival. Funding for the festival is provided by the Greater Salina Community Foundation, Philips Lighting Company and OCCK, Inc.