As summer winds down, there are some local activities to enjoy this holiday weekend.
Grinter Sunflower Farm is in bloom just in time for a Labor Day weekend photo opportunity.
This year there are about 35 acres, Kris Grinter said. Their flowers are planted in July, with an aim of blooming around Labor Day.
Grinter Farms is a corn and soybean farm, with the sunflowers grown for love of the game at this point, she said.
Her father-in-law started planting sunflowers in the ‘70s to produce biodiesel, but it didn’t end up working out. That didn’t stop them, though.
“The next year, he’s like, ‘Well, I liked those sunflowers. They were pretty.’ And he did the same thing, and then he did the same thing, and they’ve been doing it every year since,” Grinter said. “They’re not a lucrative crop, but it is a family tradition. That’s how we got here.”
She also opened a general store alongside the blooming of the sunflowers. She sells locally made goods and bakery items. The sunflowers are a way for her to support her love for art and have a business of her own. The store is open 9-5 through Sept. 17.
The Grinters have no way of knowing how many visitors they have each year, and just hope visitors will follow the rules they posted on Facebook.
“Be courteous. Be kind. Watch out for people, slow down. Get off your phones while you’re driving. No parking on the road,” Grinter said.
The flowers are in bloom for about two weeks before they burn up, then they are sent to a nearby store to be made into bird seed. The sunflowers don’t make them much money, but typically they don’t lose money on them, either, Grinter said.
This year’s heat hasn’t had much of an impact on their sunflowers because of the rain they got after being planted, she said. The heat does make them grow taller, though.
The farm is at 24154 Stillwell Road, Lawrence.
Parking and entrance to the farm is free, but they take donations in the red boxes. Grinter doesn’t encourage people to pick flowers, but if visitors do, they are encouraged to donate $1 per stem.
De Soto Days
Another option for Labor Day weekend is to take in the 59th annual De Soto Days festival, which begins Thursday evening (tonight) and wraps up Sunday morning.
The community and togetherness are what make De Soto Days special, as well as the business support, chairwoman Rhonda Patterson said.
The De Soto Days festival is organized by volunteers who take it upon themselves to plan, improve and carry on the event.
Patterson has been involved in planning De Soto Days for about 10 years and started as the parade chair. Each year, there’s something a little different, she said.
“This year we added the Miss and Little Miss De Soto Days. We’re adding more vendors. Each year, we’ve added something whether it be a car cruise or a pie baking contest,” Patterson said.
The group takes ideas from the community and tries to implement them each year, she said.
“For Eudora and De Soto, this is a great opportunity that blends the two communities together,” she said.
On Thursday, Evans Midland Carnival will open from 6 to 10 p.m. Wristbands for the evening are $25 cash. An ATM will be on-site for visitors. Face painting will be available from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sass Monkey will play on the main stage at 83rd and Shawnee streets at 6 p.m., while Middle Ground Band will play at 8 p.m.
Additional entertainment will be a White Tiger Martial Arts Demo on the west stage on the corner of 83rd and Peoria street at 7 p.m.
JT’s Grill kicks off Labor Day celebrations with its third annual treasure hunt. Participants will be on the hunt for a gold-colored medallion that’s hidden within the city, owner Scott Hill said.
The first clue will also be posted on Facebook (jtsgrilldesoto) starting Friday at 9 a.m. A new clue is posted every hour until 9 p.m. and will pick up again the next morning if the gold medallion hasn’t been found, Hill said. The winner receives a $500 cash prize.
As the rules explain, participants don’t have to dig, use tools or go inside buildings. The hunting will be mainly outdoors, Hill said. Official rules are found on Facebook.
“The first two years, it was found within the first eight clues,” Scott said. “In fact, the same person won it our first two years.”
Andy Martin is the consecutive winner of JT’s treasure hunt.
Friday evening celebrations continue with the Friday night Car Cruise starting at 6 p.m. at the VFW. Participants will cruise around town and finish at the City Hall parking lot.
The carnival will open from 6 to 11 p.m. Wristbands will be $25.
Cameron Keeling & The Runaway Train will perform on the main stage at 6 p.m. Steven Bankey & The Flatland Band will follow at 8 p.m. Karaoke with DJ Big Wheel KC will be on the west stage at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday celebrations are as follows:
The Rockin’ Rob Show & Arithmetic Band performs at 9 a.m. on the west stage.
“Get Hooked on De Soto” parade will begin at 10 a.m. It starts at Lexington Trails Middle School and will make its way through Penner Avenue. The parade will turn on Peoria Street to 84th Street and turn again on Delaware Street then to 83rd Street to accommodate the carnival setup downtown. The parade will end at Miller Park.
Parade judges will be set up on the corner of 83rd andDelaware streets. Participants will be awarded for: most original float, most spirited, most creative, best performance, best in parade and mayor’s choice. This year’s grand marshal is Emmet Kurtz.
The Dean Weller Memorial Car Show takes place at city hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees can vote for their favorite cars using a QR code.
Free events, including face painting at 11 a.m., caricatures at noon and balloon twisting at 1 p.m., will take place downtown.
A photo booth with special guests, including KC Wolf, SpongeBob, Ariel and Belle, starts at 11:30 a.m. It’ll be located near the information booth between Great American Bank and Anabel’s Makers Market on 83rd Street.
Additionally, the third annual fruit pie baking contest will be at Reach Church, 33085 W. 83rd St., starting at 11:30 a.m. Judging is at 1 p.m. and the results will be announced on the main stage at 4:30 p.m.
The contest pies will be available for purchase at $5 per slice or two canned goods. The proceeds will benefit the De Soto Food Pantry, according to De Soto Days.
A dunk tank will be set up next to the library from noon to 4 p.m. and is free for participants.
The carnival will be open for two sessions. The first is from noon to 5 p.m. The second session is at 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wristbands are $25 per session.
On the main stage, Bonfire Blues Band performs at noon followed by 3 Bricks Shy at 2 p.m. The Uproot continues with a performance at 4:30 p.m., while the last band for the night, 455 Rocket, takes the main stage at 8 p.m.
On the west stage, a variety of entertainment will take place starting with a performance by Dance Expressions at noon. Atomic Blonde will take the stage at 1 p.m. followed by Miss & Little Miss De Soto Days at 2:30 p.m.
Musical artist Trent Gaddie starts at 3 p.m. while Compati Studio begins at 4 p.m. Greenleaf Performing Arts Academy will perform at 5 p.m. and Dance Hues follows at 6 p.m.
Salsa Dancing will end the evening on the west stage. Performance begins at 7 p.m.
Beer 30 and El Patron are local vendors for the Beer Garden at 83rd and Shawnee streets.
A variety of food vendors will partake in the Labor Day weekend celebrations, including Jason’s Lunchbox, KC Popcorn, Logan’s Lemonade, Premier Shaved Ice and Texas BBQ House.
Additionally, commercial and craft vendors at De Soto Days include Abel Boards, Crooked Wicks Candles, Kingdom Cups, Mandala Style, Ree Ree’s Krunchies, WJP Aerial and more.
Labor Day weekend celebrations continue Sunday with the second annual 5K-9 race at 9 a.m. and family fun run/walk at 10 a.m. hosted by Always & Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary and the De Soto Veterinary Clinic.
Participants can bring their dogs for the run/walk and will also have a chance to see different dogs up for adoption.
More information about De Soto Days can be found online.
The annual doggie plunge will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the aquatics center. Only dogs will be allowed in the pool. Entry is $3 per dog.
Reach Sara Maloney and Katherine Diaz at [email protected]
