Events for 2012
JANUARY 28, 2012: Kansas Statehood Ball ---Come to Abilene to celebrate the statehood of Kansas which tool place on January 29, 1861. The 17th year for this annual event, it is a fun activity for the whole family, the Kansas Brigade Band plays 1860's period music and many like to dress in period clothes and learn some of the dances that were popular in 1861. Sterl Hall, 7:00 to 10:00 PM, on the County Fairground in Abilene. Although 1860's clothing is not required, dancers from all over the state come in period dress and join local residents. This is an event for the entire family. The ball begins with the "Grand March" and is follow by a waltz. Other dances scheduled include the Virginia Reel, the Jenny Lind Polka and the Hat dance. Refreshments will be served. Admission: $5.00 for non-members, $3.00 for DCHS members, $2.00 for children under 12 years of age. For more info call the Heritage Center 785-263-2681
January 29 through February 5: Heritage Art Show -- All school chrildren from Kindergarten through high school are encouraged to enter art work from there art classes. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, January 29 at 2:pm. For more information contact the Heritage Center 785-263-2681 or email heritagecenterjs@ sbcglobal. net.
2011 Quilt Give-Away! The quilt was won by Donna Andrews of Colorado Springs during the Chisholm Trail Day Festival on October 2. The Dickinson County Historical Society raised $660 on donations.
Thank you to Doris "Linder" Hoover for the donation of this beautiful quilt.
MARCH 12-25, 2012: 23rd Annual Ida Stover Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show ---in the museum.
Winner of the 2011 Best in Show
Jean Chamberlin of Chapman, KS
JUNE 4-8, 2012: Pioneer Camp I
JUNE 11-15, 2012: Pioneer Camp II
PIONEER CAMP --- An opportunity for youth this years' second grade through fifth grade to experience the ways of their ancestors. Sessions use the Heritage Center's cabin setting and involve participants in cooking, cleaning and other daily living activities required 100 years ago on the Kansas prairie. Skills include churning butter and baking the bread to spread it on. Visitors to the center during the two weeks of the camps often become involved in the activities, adding to the education process as well as the fun had by the 'campers'. Reservations are required. Both Sessions for 2012 are full but we are putting names on a waiting list. Call Heritage Center 785-263-2681
JUNE and JULY : Memories of the Prairie --- A 30 to 40 minute program on the pioneer history of the city, county and state presented each Saturday night in June and July each year. Visitors to Abilene are invited to the programs which are free of charge. Programs begin at 7:00 PM in the Heritage Center's Historical Museum. For addition information, call the Heritage Center 785-263-2681.
2012 Schedule:
To Be Announced
July 28, 2012: National Day of the Cowboy Celebration--- 11am--8pm.To be held in Old Abilene Town.
OCTOBER 6: 34th Annual Chisholm Trail Days Festival --- 10 am - 4 pm.
The festival includes live entertainment, historical presentations, folk
craft demonstrations and an antique farm show featuring the INtrantional Tractors this
year.
Admission. $5.00 per person with children under 12 $2.00. Held
annually the first Saturday of October on the
grounds of the Heritage Center, this annual festival celebrates Dickinson
County's role in the massive cattle drives, especially Abilene, the trailhead
at the "End of the Chisholm Trail" where the cattle finally met
their ride to the eas
tern markets.
The festival spills over from Heritage Center grounds into the street and the Eisenhower Center and Old Abilene Town..
FEATURED MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT FOR 2011:
Classic Heart - Music of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s
Tallgrass Express String Band- Bluegrass and Folk Music
Dave "ZERF" Zerfas - Cowboy and Kansas Ballads
Wilma and Lori Howie - Bluegrass
Joe Basso - The Origins of Old Expressions
Randy Schumock - Country and Western Songs
ANTIQUE
FARM SHOW: There will be living history
demonstrations, farming demonstrations and antique gasoline engines, antique car and antique farm shows.
The Antique Farm Show in 2012 features the International tractors and
equipment, but
all makes of tractors are welcome to participate. There will be threshing
demonstrations throughout the day and don't forget the Parade of Power
scheduled for 1:00 PM.
There will also be tractor games.
Kids Pedal Tractor Pull - Registration at 8 am Pull begins at 10 am
KIDS AREA: Kids Area to include an inflatable.
LIVING HISTORY
DEMONSTRATIONS: Among the living history demonstrations will be cane squeezing, saw mill and cider press. Pioneer cooking
demonstrations will include molasses cooking, break baking, and pioneer cooking.
See Quilting demonstrations. There also
will be blacksmithing, rope-making, corn shelling, chair caning,
spinning and weaving, and the saw mill all on the grounds.
We would like to thank the 2011 Sponsors for helping make this year possible!
Longhorn Sponsors: Duckwall-Alco; Smart Insurance; Brierton Engineering
Drover Sponsors: West Country Mart; Holm Automotive Center; Pinnacle Bank; Dr. Keneth Hansen DDS
Wangler: Wyatt land Title Services; Bert & Wetta; Cook Real Estate; Zey's Market; Solomon State Bank of Abilene; Solomon State Bank of Solomon; First Bank Kansas; Abilene Termite & Pest Control; American Family Insurance; M & M Tire & Auto; Don's Tire & Supply; Mr. K's Farmhouse; Reynold's Real Estate & Auction Co.;Geske's Interiors; Mid-Kansas Cooperative Assn.; Abilene Reflector-Chronicle; Barbieri Insurance Services; First National Bank of Hope.
Don't forget the rides on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Train with pickup at the Heritage Center. The 1919 Baldwin Steam Locomotive will be running that day. For the special price you will need to purchase the Festival button. Special rate is $15.00 for adults and $7.50 for those 12 and under. 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The 1903 Band Organ will be playing the
traditional Carousel music as you ride the 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel. The restored
Band Organ was built in 1903 by the Deklestian Band 
Organ
Company, the company that later would be known as the Wurlitzer Company.
When Rudolph Wurlitzer purchased the company in 1907 he converted the band
organs to a roll mechanism. The Carousel will be steam powered
during the festival.
This caoursel is a National Historic Landmark; a National Historic Carousel and was vote as one of the Top Eight Wonders of Kansas Customs.
Rides are $1.00 (half-priced that day only)
Don't forget to visit the Heritage Center Museums and the special exhibits while at the Festival -- admission to museum is free during the festival. Also remember there will be several food vendors on the grounds. Entertainment is funded in part by the Kansas Arts Commission, The Arts Council of Dickinson County, and local businesses and sponsors.
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OCTOBER : Volunteer Luncheon -- Annual appreciate luncheon for the many people who volunteer their time at the Heritage Center. These include docents, office help, mowing, painting, events, board members, Pioneer Camp assistants, committee chairs for various events, etc. Call the center for additional information about the Volunteer Program.
NOVEMBER 15, 2012: Annual Meeting and Dinner, Dickinson County Historical Society.--- 2012 is the 84th anniversary of the Society Dinner. All members and their guests are invited to attend. Includes annual reports, election of new board members, entertainment, and dinner, catered by Mr.K's Farmhouse. A special program will be given. Tickets for dinner - $12.50, available at the Heritage Center. 6:00 PM - Location St. Andrew's Parish Hall in Abilene (Click here for addition information about DCHS membership.)
DECEMBER 1 & 2, 2012: Christmas Tour of Area Historic Home --- 4 to 8 PM on Saturday, & 1 to 5 PM on Sunday. -- One of the many charms of Dickinson County is its magnificent collection of stately homes dating from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Working in conjunction with the Heritage Homes Association of Dickinson County, the first weekend of December you are invited to tour Historic Homes in the area which have been decorated for the holidays. This will be the 30th year for the annual tour. Refreshments will be served at the Heritage Center. You can also purchase you tickets at the Center. Tickets are $15 per person. Call the Heritage Center for information and list of homes.
DECEMBER 2, 2012: Christmas in the Cabin --- 6 - 8 PM Christmas is a magical time and when you visit the pioneer family preparing for the holidays, take a ride in a horse pulled wagon and visit the Burklund Store you begin to feel what Christmas was like when Kansas was first a state. You will also want to ride the carousel which will be playing Christmas music from the band organ. Emphasis is on the simple and traditional in the cabin with even a visit from St. Nick. Refreshments are served. Admission is free. On the grounds of the Heritage Center's Out-of-Door Museum./Pioneer Village.
The Heritage Center of Dickinson
County