Goodland Ready to Cruise Into the 39th Annual Flatlanders Fall Festival

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Goodland is getting ready to welcome one of its biggest weekends of the year as the Flatlanders Fall Festival returns for its 39th year!

The longtime Goodland tradition will fill downtown with classic cars, motorcycles, food, vendors, activities, live music and plenty of reasons to spend the weekend in town. Sherman County Community Development Director Jessica Dinkel joined Kristina with NWKS Radio to preview everything planned, and there is a lot happening.

“This is our annual big festival,” Dinkel said. “We close down our Main Street from 8th Street all the way to 17th Street.”

Friday Night Kicks Off the Fun

Flatlanders gets underway Friday evening at Chambers Park with activities from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

The band Funk It Up returns to Goodland for live music after getting a great response from the community during its previous visit.

Sherman County is also sponsoring free pulled pork sundae cups for the first 600 people in attendance.

Local first responders will add a little friendly competition with the Battle of the Badges Lemonade Stands. Local law enforcement, Northwest Kansas EMS and firefighters will each serve up their own lemonade creations, with festival-goers getting the chance to try them and vote for their favorite. Donations from the event will go back to help with local school lunches.

And apparently, some of those teams may have secret lemonade recipes, so choosing a winner could be serious business!

Downtown Goodland Comes Alive Saturday

The heart of Flatlanders takes over downtown Goodland Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Bricktop Cruisers Car Show and Bikes on the Bricks Motorcycle Show will anchor the festival, while more than 70 vendors are expected to fill the area between them.

Visitors will find food vendors, shopping, informational booths, activities and plenty of local businesses joining in on the fun. Fort Hays Tech | Northwest Kansas programs will also be represented with booths and activities.

There will be plenty for kids and families, too, including pumpkin decorating, mini golf and even a mechanical bull.

During the interview, Kristina challenged Dinkel to a mechanical bull showdown to see who could stay on longer. Whether that competition actually happens remains to be seen, but it might be worth keeping an eye out!

Traditions will also have a beer garden with stations located throughout the festival.

One of the things that makes Flatlanders special is how much of Goodland gets involved. Downtown businesses open their doors, while organizations and businesses from throughout the community bring games, activities and displays to Main Street.

And the crowds can be impressive. Dinkel said last year's car show featured around 262 vehicles, while the motorcycle show brought approximately 125 to 130 bikes.

The Fun Doesn't Stop at 4

After the daytime festival wraps up, don't head home just yet.

At 8 p.m., vehicles from the car and motorcycle shows will take part in the cruise parade on Main Street, giving everyone another chance to see the rides that spent the day on display.

Then it's time for more live music.

Paramount will perform at Freedom Hall near 9th and Main, while the Hot Rod Wall Duo will perform at Murray's Custom Body & Paint near 15th and Main. Both offer another chance to enjoy live music and keep the Flatlanders celebration going into Saturday night.

39 Years of Flatlanders

Flatlanders Fall Festival has become a major Goodland tradition, and this year marks the festival's 39th edition. After nearly four decades, it continues to bring residents and visitors together for a weekend celebrating the community.

“We welcome everyone,” Dinkel said. “We hope everybody can get out and enjoy it.”

From live music and free food Friday night to hundreds of cars and motorcycles, dozens of vendors, family activities and the Saturday night cruise, there really is something for just about everyone.

See more information and schedules at SCCD's webpage: thetopsideofkansas.org and on their SCCD Facebook page.

NWKS Radio will see you in Goodland this weekend for the 39th annual Flatlanders Fall Festival!