By DENA WEIGEL BELL
WaKeeney Travel Blog
WAKEENEY–There’s nothing like hittin’ the road for a long distance ride along our beautiful Trego County landscape. On June 11th and 12th over seven hundred cyclists will do just that as they continue their ride during the annual “Biking Across Kansas” (BAK) cycling tour.
This is the second time the predetermined route has been mapped through our county. Thirty-five years ago, in 1982, WaKeeney played host to the BAK cyclists and we’re excited to welcome them back a second time.
The group of between 700-800 riders, aged 9-90, will ride into town from the south on Hwy. 283, spending the night in WaKeeney before continuing on northeast to their next stop in Plainville, but not before seeing the best our county has to offer when we welcome them at our “Party in the Park!”
The event will be held at the Swimming Pool Park from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with activities, food, drinks, and lots of fun ready for all! WaKeeney’s restaurants and many of our retail stores around town will stay open, with special hours on Sunday, and a “pop up” food court sponsored by local businesses and organizations will be set up in the park from 1-8 p.m. for riders and spectators. Look for these yummy treats and their sponsors at the park:
Beer garden and brats – Eagles Lodge
Hamburgers & hot dogs – K-18 Baseball Teams
Bottled water, lemonade, ice tea & Snacks – Keeney Queens Red Hats
Beef/chicken & noodles, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and bread – Leap of Faith
Smoked meats & sides – Rods and Ribs BBQ
Snow cones – Sno Days
Homemade baked goods, pies, cakes, & cookies – Trego County 4-H Clubs
Soft-serve Ice Cream – Trego Manor
Sloppy Joes, salads, & desserts – United Methodist Church, Eve Circle (serving from 5–8 pm)
Trego – Rec Center_Summer 2017.1
June 11th Activities
In addition to that, participants can cool off at the WaKeeney Water Park & Pool (1-8 pm), visit the Trego County Historical Museum (1-6 pm, free entrance), enjoy a handmade soda at Gibson Healthmart’s old-fashioned soda fountain (1-5 pm), or attend a wine tasting at The Studio & Kansas Art Gallery, where wines from Shiloh Vineyard, Trego County’s only vineyard, will be featured (1-5 pm).
Later in the day there will be a Washer Tournament sponsored by WaKeeney Federated Wrestling Club at the Swimming Pool Park and the band “Gypsy KS” (formerly Flatland Band) will play bluegrass, country and rock n roll at a free concert (1–8 pm and sponsored by Biking Across Kansas, WaKeeney Lions Club and WaKeeney Travel & Tourism.)
Overnight indoor and outdoor camping accommodations are being readied at the Trego Community High School gym and practice field, and of course our local hotels and campground are happy to provide comfortable accommodations, too.
June 12th Activities
The next morning the people of WaKeeney will say good-bye to the cyclists at the Trego County Fairgrounds’ Commercial Building at a biscuits and sausage gravy breakfast sponsored by the Trego County Historical Society from 5:30-8:30 am. (Vegan options available.)
It’ll be an exciting weekend as WaKeeney welcomes cyclists from across the United States in their third stretch of the annual “Biking Across Kansas” ride on June 11th and 12th. Join us in cheering them on at the Swimming Pool Park, where you’ll be able to get in on the fun, games, and great food that will showcase the best of Trego County!