These Small Towns In Kansas Come Alive In The Fall
When you talk about “America’s Heartland,” the state of Kansas has to be part of the conversation. Kansas is right in the middle of the country, with the geographic center of the lower 48 states near the town of Lebanon, and it is covered with millions of acres of farmland. Kansas’ rolling hills and flat plains are also dotted with hundreds of small towns, many of which celebrate autumn with community festivals that are definitely worth a visit. Exploring Kansas in autumn also means experiencing some fantastic fall foliage. We have listed seven great Kansas towns to help get your fall travel plans started.
Atchison
If you like your fall travels on the spooky side, check out Haunted Atchison, a schedule of events in the town of that name that runs from late September through Halloween. Headquartered at the Atchison County Historical Society Museum (also a historic railroad depot), Haunted Atchison events include haunted trolley and house tours, psychic readings, and much more. Atchison, located in northeast Kansas along the Missouri River, also offers a unique fall foliage viewing experience at the International Forest of Friendship, an arboretum and memorial forest set alongside Lake Warnock. Walk the forest trail not only for the colorful trees, but also to check out the granite plaques dedicated to over 1,200 notable individuals.
Baldwin City
Despite its name, Baldwin City is a small town of under 5,000 situated in the northeast part of the state. In 1958, a biology professor and other Baldwin City locals established a community festival for the third weekend of October, when they determined the area’s maple leaves were at their peak color. The Maple Leaf Festival has grown to include over 300 vendors, musical performances, a quilt show, a parade, a kids fun zone, and lots more. The event draws around 30,000 visitors annually, but if you prefer smaller crowds, visit the week before or after the festival to enjoy near-peak fall foliage in a more subdued setting.
Glen Elder
The tiny north-central Kansas town of Glen Elder sits along the northern side of Waconda Lake, a flood control reservoir, as does Glen Elder State Park. The park offers several hiking trails and boat launches that are great for leaf peeping in autumn and also hosts the annual Waconda Indian Festival in early October. The festival, which held its eighth edition in 2023, celebrates the history and culture of Native Americans who have called the region home for centuries. Along with authentic Native American dancers and drummers, the festival includes storytelling, craft and food vendors, and a replica of Waconda Springs, a Native holy site that was flooded by the reservoir in 1969.
Hiawatha
Like Baldwin City, the northeast Kansas town of Hiawatha holds an annual Maple Leaf Festival, but its event happens a few weeks earlier in late September. The leaves may not quite be at their peak color yet, but the festival is still great fun! While at a smaller scale than the Baldwin City festival, Hiawatha’s event includes a car show, bounce house, musical acts, and food vendors. In late October, Hiawatha also hosts what is believed to be the oldest continuously held Halloween parade in the nation (since 1914), the Halloween Frolic. In addition to these fun fall events, Hiawatha is home to two local museums, and three casinos are within easy driving distance.
Hutchinson
Hutchinson, the seat of Reno County in central Kansas, is affectionately called both “Hutch” and “Salt City.” The latter name comes from the abundant salt mines that fueled Hutchinson’s growth in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Each year since 1913, Hutchinson has greeted the arrival of fall in early-to-mid September by hosting the Kansas State Fair, with livestock exhibitions, live entertainment, amusements, and food and craft vendors spread over 280 acres. For autumn fun on a smaller scale, visit instead in early October, when the leaves are nearing full color, for the Hutchinson Fall Festival. This downtown event includes 5k/10k races and many activities for the entire family.
Liberal
The southwest Kansas town of Liberal is the self-proclaimed hometown of Dorothy Gale, the fictional protagonist of The Wizard of Oz. Liberal has a recreation of Dorothy’s farmhouse and the famous yellow brick road and tops things off by hosting an annual “OzFest” on the second Saturday of October. Whether you are a passionate fan of the Wizard of Oz or know it only by name, the festival’s costume contests, food and craft vendors, and entertainment are all great fun. You can expect colorful fall foliage along the Yellow Brick Road in mid-October, but wait until the end of the month to experience peak autumn color in southern Kansas.
Oakley
While Oakley occupies parts of three counties (Gove, Logan, and Thomas) in northwestern Kansas, it is actually just a small town of about 2,000 residents. Set in the high plains region of the state, Oakley does not have dense fall foliage but still offers a colorful landscape that typically peaks in late October and the beginning of November. Oakley is also known for the Monument Rocks area located nearby with impressive chalk formations. In early October, Oakley hosts its annual fall festival, full of the expected assortment of games, entertainment, crafts, food, and the like. The festival is held at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, which highlights Oakley’s “Wild West” past, while the town’s Fick Fossil and History Museum showcases local dinosaur fossils and other prehistoric relics.
From sprawling 10-day events like the state fair to one-day maple leaf festivals in quaint downtowns, Kansas, the Sunflower State welcomes fall with open arms. The comfortable weather makes autumn the perfect time of year for outdoor events in every corner of this sprawling state. So, whether you enjoy celebrating the harvest, Halloween, colorful leaves, or the Wizard of Oz, rest assured that there are small towns in Kansas with perfect fall events for you!
