By Payton Tholstrup
Concordia’s Tourism partners are coming together again this year to host events during the overnight stay for Bike Across Kansas that is set to take place on Wednesday, June 12th. Concordia USD333 Schools and Cloud County Community College will assist in the overnight stay of the riders.
Participating partners include Cloud County Tourism, The City of Concordia, Concordia Broadway Plaza, The Brown Grand Theatre, WWII POW Camp Concordia, Concordia Chamber of Commerce, The National Orphan Train Complex, The Sisters of St. Joseph Nazareth Convent, Frank Carlson Library, and The Cloud County Historical Society Museum.
Many of these organizations will have fundraisers/activities to fund missions in the community
The events/activities that each tourism partner will offer are listed below.
Cloud County Tourism will be hosting an art exhibit called “WenDee Rowan: From the Seat of a Bike”. The display will be shown at Panther Pride at 124 W. 6th Street from June 10th-22nd and will be open daily from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The City of Concordia will be offering sleeping arrangements and amenities for the riders. They will also offer a free swim night at the Concordia Municipal Pool from 7-9 p.m. Youth Baseball will be playing that evening as well at the Concordia Sports Complex.
Concordia Broadway Plaza will have food trucks on the plaza including Taco Grande and Paradise Eats. They will be showing the movie, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on the screen throughout the day, with showtimes at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Brown Grand Opera House will offer tours beginning at 1:00 p.m. They will also have a Potato Bar Fundraiser from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. for $10 a plate, with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available. The funds raised will go towards the purchase of a new projector.
WWII German POW Camp Concordia will also be offering tours beginning at 5 p.m. with a free will donation appreciated. They’ll host Pie at the Plaza, a fundraiser to help with a new roof for T-9. The Concordia 1st United Methodist Church will also be there offering an ice cream booth as a fundraiser set up next to the Pie at the Plaza Fundraiser.
Concordia Chamber of Commerce: Downtown businesses will be welcoming riders during regular hours.
The National Orphan Train Complex will have extended hours on June 12th and offer tours for a free will donation. The hours will be 9:00 a.m. – noon and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Cloud County Historical Museum will be open regular hours and have a Bamboo Bicycle and a High Wheeler Bicycle on display.
The Frank Carlson Library will be open until 8:00 p.m. and will have yard games, board games, and card games available. They also have Wi-Fi, printers, and computers available. will be open
Sisters of St. Joseph Nazareth Convent will have the Convent Grounds open so participants can walk around.
