OTHER FESTIVALS

In addition to Fiesta Mexicana, Topeka is home to a number of annual cultural festivals and celebrations the public is able to take part in throughout the year.

Dia De Los Muertos

Irishfest

Irish or not, all are welcome to enjoy the Topeka IrishFest! Held each year on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, this annual celebration of Irish culture and heritage promises a day full of fun for the whole family. The 2023 festival is scheduled for March 18 at downtown’s Evergy Plaza. Festivities are expected to include a 5K fun run, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, beer garden, games, live bands and Irish dancing.

Diwali

Diwali is a five-day celebration full of colorful decorations, lights, sweets, fireworks, family gatherings and a way to celebrate the good over evil. In Topeka the Indian community comes together to pray, eat, watch the performances put on by the community, share laughter and get together with the other family and friends to celebrate Diwali.

Aaron Douglas Art Fair

The Aaron Douglas Art Fair takes place each September at Aaron Douglas Park in central Topeka. Since 2006, the art fair has been held to celebrate the legacy of Topeka native Aaron Douglas, a world-renowned artist and esteemed African American painter who was active in the Harlem Renaissance. The free one-day festival typically showcases 30-50 talented emerging artists, who perform near the park’s one-of-a-kind mural wall.

Juneteenth

Each year, Topekans come together to celebrate the traditions and heritage of the area’s Black community through the annual Juneteenth Festival, put on each summer by the Topeka Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration committee. Festivities include the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant, a unity walk, downtown parade, essay contest, and the Juneteenth Gospel Extravaganza. Open to all, these experiences offer a chance to reflect and learn more about the Black experience in the Topeka area. For a lineup of 2023 activities, visit tffjc.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

Topeka has a proud history of Black excellence. Yes the city is known for Brown v Board of Education, but the city is also proud of Topeka natives that include Harlem Renaissance poet, novelist, and playwright Langston Hughes; Nick Chiles, editor and publisher of the Topeka Plaindealer, the longest running Black Newspaper in the United States; and Lizzie Riddick, who along with Edward Stephens, would found the second-oldest Black college in Kansas in Topeka. This college, the Kansas Industrial and Educational Institute, would receive the support of Booker T. Washington and come to be known as the Tuskegee of the West.

Kansas Pride

Equality House

Perhaps Topeka’s best-known monuments to the LGBTQ+ community, the Equality House and adjacent Mott House are iconic landmarks in the capital city. Managed by the nonprofit Planting Peace, these Topeka homes are painted with colors representing the LGBTQ+ movement. See the “Equality House” section on page 37 of this guide for more information!

Noto

Where art and activism collide, Topeka’s NOTO Arts & Entertainment District is a cultural hub in the city. Stroll across NOTO’s rainbow crosswalk (and snap a photo!) or shop for your favorite Pride gear at Pinkadilly, an eclectic boutique featuring gifts, clothing, and novelties. Finally, wind down at Studio 62, a popular art bar featuring live drag performances and more each week.

PRIDE!

Topeka Pride and Pride

Kansas are two nonprofits that call Topeka home. They host events year-round that promote awareness and inclusivity. Keep an eye out for the statewide Pride festival held in Topeka each September. To learn more, follow Topeka Pride and Pride Kansas on Facebook and Instagram, or check out PrideKansas.org!

SPRING: ST. PATRICK’S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Topeka IrishFest — For more than 40 years, this parade has wound through downtown in celebration of the beloved Irish holiday. The parade is bookended by Topeka IrishFest, which includes a fun run, Irish food, live music and more.

Easter

The Governor’s Easter Egg Hunt — Hosted by the Kansas governor and first spouse each year at Cedar Crest, the governor’s mansion, this annual event usually begins at 10 a.m. on the Saturday before Palm Sunday.

HOLIDAY & SEASONAL EVENTS

SUMMER: INDEPENDENCE DAY

Spirit of Kansas Festival — This annual 4th of July celebration at Lake Shawnee features a car show, golf tournament, blues festival, food and craft vendors, and more. Following this afternoon of live blues music, stick around for a fireworks show that will have you in awe.

FALL: CIDER DAYS

Northeast Kansas’ premier fall festival, Cider Days is an annual destination for thousands of area residents. The twoday event, held each year in September, features food vendors, art booths, craft demonstrations, live music and much more. Roasted turkey legs, kettle corn, Indian tacos, buffalo burgers and freshsqueezed lemonade? Yes, please!

Halloween

Boo at the Zoo — When Halloween is just around the corner, you can count on the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center to welcome friendly ghosts and ghouls. Boo at the Zoo is an annual event that offers fun and safe trick-or-treating for kids of all ages. Wear your Halloween costume and trick-or-treat at various locations throughout the zoo.

Veterans Day

Sunflower Salute Veterans Parade

— This parade is organized each year to respectfully honor and celebrate veterans, past and present. It often includes flyovers, and a number of community organizations create floats for the occasion. Find more information on Facebook by searching for @SunflowerSalute.

HOLIDAY & SEASONAL EVENTS

Winter

CHRISTMAS

Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade

— This annual favorite features a holiday-themed parade complete with decorated floats, local marching bands, Santa and ice skating at Evergy Plaza.

Winter Wonderland — View dazzling holiday light displays, while winding through a two-mile scenic drive at Lake Shawnee. Donations from this local tradition support TARC, a nonprofit provider that supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Topeka Zoo Lights — Walk through the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center, as it comes alive with the glow of holiday lights. Enjoy festival activities and a visit with Santa to complete your family’s experience!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Celebrate the new year at multiple locations in the capital city! From the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District’s Red Bud Park celebration and ball drop to festive downtown events like those at the Cyrus Hotel and Townsite Tower, Topeka’s New Year’s Eve parties are sure to excite.

Chill Out

Rent

Topeka Zoo Lights

The Topeka Zoo Lights presented by Evergy is an exciting annual tradition for people across northeast Kansas! The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center has created a dazzling light show featuring thousands of lights, holiday décor frames and displays! The event continues to grow larger each year, adding more displays, and expanding throughout the zoo. The event runs from November 18 to December 28. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance to take photos and show off one of their favorite reindeer, Yeti. For a more intimate evening under the lights, guests can rent a private Igloo which includes optional spiked hot cocoa, chili, and more!

DID YOU KNOW...

The cold never bothered us anyway! Ice Skating is now available at Evergy Plaza each winter. Local Tip: The rink is set up for Ice Hockey each Monday evening in the winter.

Evergy Plaza

Evergy Plaza is at the heart of downtown Topeka. This vibrant city plaza features more than 200 events each year, delighting visitors with a splashpad and nightly fountain shows in the summer and ice skating in the winter! Enjoy free concerts, movie nights, cultural festivals, food trucks and more at this premier outdoor entertainment venue. To learn more about what the plaza offers, visit EvergyPlaza.com.