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WHAT’S HAPPENING
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUMMER
JUNE FEATURED EVENT
KANSAS CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
June 15
In its fourth year, the Kansas Chocolate Festival is expected to once again draw thousands of people to downtown Topeka for a celebration of chocolate treats and culinary feats. Following previous years’ formats, the 2019 one-day event includes two separate portions running from 10 am–5 pm. The outdoor street festival, which is free to enter, closes off portions of Kansas Avenue to create a pedestrian avenue of music, food vendors, entertainment and more. A gathering at the Topeka Performing Arts Center is accessed by ticket purchase and includes gourmet cooking demonstrations, a chocolate fondue bar and more. New this year is a baking contest with $475 in cash prizes for the best original creations. A full lineup of events, as well as information on purchasing advance tickets or entering the baking contest, can be found online at kansaschocolatefestival.com.
June 1–15
The Explorers’ Club Topeka Civic Theatre presents a comedy of an imperial-era British gentlemen’s club faced with the prospect of admitting (gasp!) a talented female candidate. For performance times, dates and ticket options, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
Photography courtesy (from top) Shutterstock, Studio 831 and Shutterstock.
June 7 (and the first Friday of each month)
First Friday Artwalk Topeka’s galleries, studios, event spaces and businesses open their doors for curated exhibitions and new showings, often with entertainment or other events. For a full listing of participating venues, go online at artsconnecttopeka.org.
June 7
Cactus Flowers Studio 831 hosts the opening of a month-long exhibition of cactus flowers paintings by artist Hi Stockwell. The exhibition continues through July. For more information, look for the Studio 831 Facebook page online.
June 8
Knit in Public Day The big holiday you might not know you needed. Knitting enthusiasts gather to do what they do best in public spots across the nation. In Topeka, knitting central is the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library where like-minded crafters are invited to congregate from noon–4 pm. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
June 8
Heartland Military Day The Kansas National Guard Museum invites guests to celebrate the 75th anniversary in the WW II liberation of Europe. Events will include a pancake feed, band concert and more. Access is free with donations to the museum accepted. For more information, go online at kansasguardmuseum.com.
June 14
Woman Suffrage in Kansas Part of the “Museum after Hours” program, a series of free lectures and events hosted by the Kansas History Museum, this presentation of “Politics on the Platform: Woman Suffrage at the Chautauqua” explores the history of events such as the Chautauqua programs and women’s councils that advanced the right of women
to vote in Kansas. For more information, go online at kshs.org.
June 15
Father’s Day Make-and-Take Crafts The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library hosts a makers’ space for young children to create personalized Father’s Day gifts to take home for a dad or anyone they wish to honor. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
June 21
Murder on the Plaza Topeka Civic Theatre presents its annual interactive murder mystery. This year’s event takes guest through five locations throughout Fairlawn Plaza where they gather clues (along with drinks and snacks) in order to solve the crime by the end of the tour. For more information or ticket reservations, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
June 21–29
Sunflower Music Festival A Topeka/Washburn University tradition since 1987, the Sunflower Music Festival presents 10 days of free jazz, chamber ensemble and chamber orchestra concerts from the White Concert Hall. For a full schedule of events and performances, go online at sunflowermusicfestival.org.
June 29
Sunshine Reggae Roots Festival It’s a reggae festival hosted in an Irish bar—an unexpected but winning combination now in its fourth year. NYC-based band The Slackers headlines a lineup of performers that will groove guests from 5 pm–1 am as they enjoy food trucks, beer gardens and street dancing. For more information, look for Sunshine Reggae Roots Festival on Facebook.
