ELLINWOOD — If you didn’t get enough midway action last weekend at the Barton County Fair in Great Bend, you’ll get a second chance this weekend in Ellinwood. It’s time for the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival. All activities, unless otherwise listed, will take place at Ellinwood City Park this year.
Thursday, July 19, the festival starts with a community coffee sponsored by the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. at The Museum of Ellinwood, and kids games at the Ellinwood City Pool happening at the same time.
At 5 p.m. with the community barbecue at Ellinwood City Park. Hamburgers, hotdogs and sides available for a nominal fee. This year, no coolers will be admitted into the fenced area where AHF activities are planned. This, according to the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival website, explains why:
“For this year’s AHF, the City of Ellinwood, attorney for the city, local law enforcement, Kansas Sidewinders Motorcycle Club, several volunteers, and the Chamber of Commerce are working together again to provide Ellinwood with the opportunity to have another AHF. Organizers and helping agencies agreed on a no cooler policy at the dance in order to provide a safe and fun family-friendly event, while complying with local, state, and federal laws and licensing regulations. Many months of consideration went into this decision, and it is a very complex issue. Some of the issues being addressed by this policy change include safety, resources, legal responsibility, liability, atmosphere, and criminal activities that have taken place in the past. It is true in this case that the actions of a few, in excessive consumption and irresponsible behavior, can impact the majority and their experience thereafter.”
The barbecue will be followed by the AHF Family Variety Show at 5:30 p.m. Performances by Danceography, Central Kansas Karate Academy, Future Eagles, and Ellinwood dancers are just some of what is in store.
The Sidewinders motorcycle club are organizing and operating the AHF beer garden again this year. The beer garden opens at 7 p.m., and live music provided by Rice County Line begins at 8 p.m. There will be several food cart vendors offering non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. The American Legion Post 320 is also hosting live music provided by The Soul Preachers Thursday, starting at 9 p.m.
Wee Carnival opens Thursday from 7 to 11 p.m. nightly Thursday and Friday are designated wristband nights, with unlimited rides for those purchasing the wrist band. On Thursday night, adults ride free. Wristbands will be honored until 11 p.m.

Friday
The fun returns early Friday morning with the AHF Pancake Feed at 7 a.m. at Ellinwood City Park. The feed is sponsored this year by the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce, Cal-Main and EPPI. A freewill offering will be accepted.
The Outdoor Beer Garden and food vendors will open again at 5 p.m. at Ellinwood City Park. The carnival reopens at 7 p.m., with wristbands honored until 11 p.m. From 8 p.m. to midnight, Jaron Bell will bring live music and a dance to the beer garden.

Saturday
Get plenty of sleep Friday night, because Saturday is going to be packed, starting with the AHF Family Fun Run and Walk 5K Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. at Ellinwood’s City Park. The starting line will be at 6th and Fritz. The event will be professionally timed. There will be photos taken at the finish line.
There will be two medal winners (male and female) in each age category, and a male and a female Champion trophy winner overall. Early registration is passed, but day-of registrants are welcome. Proceeds from the race will help fund community education offered through the Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic.
According to Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic Foundation Director Lindsay Bogner, “The timing is a great way for runners to get an accurate measurement of how they’re doing in a running program, or where they’re at in preparation for another race. This is not a qualifier. It’s more of a helpful practice run. The photos are available free on social media as soon as we get them. They will be posted on Facebook.”
Also Saturday morning is the 45th Annual After Harvest Festival Parade, sponsored by Ellinwood’s Rotary Club, at 10 a.m., preceded by the annual Kids Parade at 9:30 a.m. People’s Choice favorites will be determined by text voting. Participants text the float number of their favorite float to 620-639-VOTE.
The Ellinwood Historical Society will serve brats and sauerkraut at the museum beginning at 9 a.m.
“Celebrating People, Petroleum, & Progress!” is the theme chosen this year from suggestions submitted to the club in May, said Rosie Joiner, club member and Ellinwood Rotary AHF Parade Committee chair.
This gives the community a chance to recognize all individuals who are providing humanitarian services by volunteering their time and talents to help others; celebrate the petroleum industry’s contributions to the community; and embrace the progress of our community.
The 2018 Rotary Citizen of the Year, Justin Joiner, and 2018 AHF Parade Grand Marshal Ruth Corbett will have positions of distinction in the parade lineup.
Awards will be given in the following categories: All-Around; Antique Tractor; Antique/Classic Vehicles; Commercial; Most Original; Religious Float; Theme; Youth Entry; Reunions.
Following the parade, a Family Fun Fair is planned at Ellinwood City Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with food vendors open . There will be a petting zoo and face painting, free snow cones and kid’s games, plus turtle races at 11:30 a.m., and kids tractor pull at 12:15 p.m. (registration starts at 11:45 a.m.), and at 1 p.m. a watermelon eating contest. The Ellinwood Touch-a-Truck display at the park will also be open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Starting at 11 a.m. is the horseshoe tournament at Wolf Pond.
Saturday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m. at the Ellinwood Swimming Pool, the Ellinwood Fire Department returns with the 2018 Santa Fe Duck Run suck race. Ducks can be sponsored for $5 each from firefighters , and are eligible for valuable prizes. Proceeds will help purchase Christmas candy and pay for technical gear and training for firefighters.
The carnival is open for its final night Saturday, and The Sidewinders beer garden will be open throughout the Day and night. Saturday night, there will be another dance starting at 8 p.m. featuring the band Second Nature.