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Wetlanders Festival to hold full day of events
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The Red Neck Tour, held as a part of the Wetlanders Festival in Hoisington, will give viewers the opportunity to see the Barton County alligator while travelling through Cheyenne Bottoms. Tours begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. - photo by COURTESY PHOTO

HOISINGTON — For those aiming for adventure in their own county, the City of Hoisington will be filled with activities on Saturday, April 16, for the sixth-annual Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlander’s Festival. There will be tours to Cheyenne Bottoms, hands-on talks about the Bottoms, and contests for kids and adults.

Bubba, Billy Bob and other red neck buddies will entertain those interested in lighter fare on the Redneck Tours which start at 1:30 p.m. Using an open-air mode of transportation, usually called a boat, riders will have the opportunity to be entertained with skits, and see what the tour givers call the center of the United States, as well as the Bottoms. The tours will run hourly and the cost is $10.

Spring migration is in full swing, and Eric Giesing, educator at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, will give a regular tour of Cheyenne Bottoms at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors will travel by bus through Nature Conservancy/Cheyenne Bottoms wildlife area. The cost is $10. Meet at Hoisington Main Street Inc., 115 N. Main.

Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars to see the unique sights the area has to offer including pelicans, black-necked stilts, avocets, yellow legs and more.

The new executive director of HMSI is also excited about the weekend. "I think the festival is going to be an exceptional event," said Michelle Winiecke. "We hope to increase the number of attendees."

The morning start at 7:30 a.m. with a 5K run beginning at Elton Brown Stadium and winding its way through town, ending at the Hoisington Main Street Inc. office. There will be categories for all ages. The cost is $5 on race day.

Game warden Brian Hanzlik of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will give a dog demonstration. The demonstration will begin at 10 a.m.

An archery skill-building class will be held. There will be a youth and adult duck calling clinic and a geocaching contest.

Throughout the day, there will also be retail vendors, wood carving, virtual hunting, pole art hunt, a kid’s bounce house and other events.

The festival is sponsored by the Hoisington Main Street Inc. promotion committee. For more event details go to www.wetlanders.org or contact the Hoisington Main Street Welcome Center at 620-653-2208.