No matter where you were in City Park during the Kansas Sampler Festival, the Motherhouse provided a striking backdrop.
With the threatened rain replaced by early afternoon sunshine, the Kansas Sampler Festival in Concordia’s City Park attracted visitors from across the state on its first day Saturday.
The festival, held for its second and final year in the municipal park across the street from the Motherhouse, continues until 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Volunteers gathered Saturday morning at the Motherhouse to review their assignments to host tours throughout the afternoon.
The Motherhouse is open for tours during the festival, and visitors can avoid the walk by using a trolley provided free of charge. Other trolley stops this year are the Brown Grand Theater, the National Orphan Train Complex and downtown Concordia.
At the Motherhouse, there is also an art exhibit of original work by a few of the sisters as well as displays about various missions and ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Numerous sisters and CSJ associates volunteered to be tour guides and to provide information at the displays, set up in the auditorium.
A view from the sixth floor of the tower at the Motherhouse shows a quiet City Park as the Kansas Sampler Festival opens Saturday morning.
The Sampler Festival, now in its 20th year, features displays from across the state, highlighting cities and towns, recreational areas, state and national parks, history, entertainment and food — lots of food. Admission to the festival, which takes up the entire City Park, is $5 for each day or $8 for a weekend pass. Admission to the other Concordia attractions — including the Motherhouse — was free of charge.
Bob Spear performed as Burl Ives early Saturday, much to the delight of an all-age crowd. Later in the day Spear took on the persona of Buffalo Bill.Varied entertainers took to the two stages Saturday, including Lynette, of the duo Kim & Lynette from Waterville, Kan.Kansas history was everywhere throughout City Park, including this odd juxtaposition of a 21st century young woman chatting with a frontiersman while a Civil War soldier stands nearby.Meanwhile, a Revolutionary War era re-enactor chats with a photographer.The biggest crowds early Saturday afternoon were around the food vendors, which were offering a wide variety of Kansas fare.Hours of touring through the multitude of tents and exhibits left some visitors looking for a place to rest — and hay bales were not the only seats available. Benches throughout City Park offered a welcome respite.Sister Judy Stephens leads a tour at the Motherhouse Saturday afternoon.Sister Carmel Garcia talks with a visitor about the sisters' fundraising efforts, in one of the numerous displays set up in the Motherhouse auditorium during the Kansas Sampler Festival.Sister Agnes Bernita Green serves as a 'hall monitor' Saturday, to help visitors who might get separated from their tour group.Crowds gathered for the Old West shootout see the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse as a striking backdrop.
We loved spending time with Sr. Mary Jo and visiting with the sisters during the sampler. It truly was a gorgeous day. Thank you for sharing your home and your hearts with us.
Great shots of the day! I took the Motherhouse tour and it was everything I hoped it would be. The Sampler Festival was its usual great celebration as well. It was a fun two years in Concordia.
Thanks, Sara, for the great pictures that captured the Sampler event so well. Felt like we were there. Also, we could visualize the buzz at the motherhouse too!
We sure appreciate our “new” website.
What a wonderful overview of the Kansas Sampler Festival! On Saturday evening Manna House hosted 23 members of the Historical Performers for dinner and a meeting place where they could rehearse and renew friendships. You can see some of the members of this group on the pictures above! We had Wild Bill and ladies of the night and more!
We loved spending time with Sr. Mary Jo and visiting with the sisters during the sampler. It truly was a gorgeous day. Thank you for sharing your home and your hearts with us.
Thank you for the wonderful photos! We love OUR Sisters!
Great shots of the day! I took the Motherhouse tour and it was everything I hoped it would be. The Sampler Festival was its usual great celebration as well. It was a fun two years in Concordia.
Thanks, Sara, for the great pictures that captured the Sampler event so well. Felt like we were there. Also, we could visualize the buzz at the motherhouse too!
We sure appreciate our “new” website.
What a wonderful overview of the Kansas Sampler Festival! On Saturday evening Manna House hosted 23 members of the Historical Performers for dinner and a meeting place where they could rehearse and renew friendships. You can see some of the members of this group on the pictures above! We had Wild Bill and ladies of the night and more!