Topeka Magazine recommendations for August

WHAT’S HAPPENING

TOPEKA JAZZ WORKSHOP BAND

August 18

Topeka’s hometown big band of jazz opens the 51st annual concert season of the Topeka Jazz Concert Series. Hosted by the Topeka Jazz Workshop, this concert series includes a star lineup in the 2019–2020 season with Aaron Weinstein and the KC Strings, trumpeter Warren Vaché and the Jeff Hamilton Trio.

The season closes with a muchanticipated appearance by Laila Biali, vocalist and keyboard player who has taken top honors at Canada’s National Jazz Awards and performed across musical genres with a range of artists such as Sting, Chris Botti and Suzanne Vega.

Because the Topeka Jazz Concert Series operates as a membersonly series of concerts, tickets for individual shows are not available. To browse the full lineup of performances, schedule and membership rate options, go online at topekajazz.com before the season begins.

August 2 Story Slam Ten storytellers compete with 5-minute original stories on the theme “Stranger than Fiction.” The free event is hosted jointly by NOTO Arts Place and Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.

August 3 Downtown Farmers Market If you haven’t been dropping by the Saturday Downtown Farmers Market yet, this Saturday (and the following Saturdays in August) is your chance to catch the end of the summer growing season and the beginning of the fall harvest from dozens of local and regional growers. For a full listing of vendors and in-season updates, go online at downtowntopekafarmersmarket.com.

August 10 Topeka Highland Games Swagger out in that kilt of yours and get ready to toss some rocks and logs—it’s Topeka’s annual festival of Highland culture and competitions of raw strength and grit. For more information, look for “Topeka Classic Highland Games” on Facebook.

August 5 Kansas Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Meeting Kansas Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Meeting Quarterly meeting of group dedicated to assisting amateur and professional researchers in documenting and exploring Afro-American family heritage. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.

August 14–25 Capital City Classic Dog Show The Topeka Kennel Club hosts this regional competition at the Kansas Expocentre, free for public to attend. For more information, go online at ksexpo. com or topekakennelclub.org.

August 16–17 Big 94 Country Topeka Rodeo The North Topeka Saddle Club hosts this summer outdoor rodeo competition. For more information, look for event page link from the North Topeka Saddle Club’s Facebook listing.

August 17 WTCT Radio Players Topeka Civic Theatre’s resident old-time radio revival troupe presents an on-stage, live performance of popular radio melodramas from the 1930s–1950s. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.

August 24 Balloon Crew Training Learn how to assist with a hot air balloon launch and recovery ahead of the city’s annual Huff ’n’ Puff hot air balloon rally. This is hands-on instruction that leads to actual launch-day crewing. For more information, go online at huff-n-puff.org.

August 24–25 24 Hours of Lemons Show some love for the clunkers! Heartland Motorsports Park hosts the endurance racing tour for cars that cost $500 or less (not counting safety features). There are cars with better engines. There are cars with more power. But these cars have the biggest hearts. For ticket information, go online at heartlandmotorsports. us. For more information on the tour, go online at 24hoursoflemons.com.

August 31 Topeka to Auburn Half-Marathon It’s traditionally held in January, but severe weather has moved this popular racing event to August. Don’t worry—the hills will be just as challenging, which is part of the appeal of this difficult course that also manages to attract runners of all levels. For more information and links to registration pages, go online at sunflowerstriders.org.