5th Annual Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival

Spend your Saturday somewhere beautiful.

The 5th Annual Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival returns to Sesquicentennial Point Park in Lawrence for a full day of original art, incredible makers, great food, live music and one of the most beautiful outdoor settings in the area.

Great Plains Fest takes place on a natural grass hillside overlooking the countryside toward Clinton Lake and the Wakarusa River Valley. Bring a folding lawn chair or picnic blanket, find a spot on the hillside, explore the festival at your own pace and stay for the sunset.

ART & MAKERS

Explore a curated collection of original artists, independent makers, craftspeople, specialty food producers and creative small businesses from across the region.

Meet the actual people who make what they sell. Discover original artwork, handmade goods and one-of-a-kind pieces you won't find everywhere else.

This is about creativity, craftsmanship and originality — not rows of mass-produced merchandise.

FOOD & DRINKS

Come hungry. Enjoy food and drinks from festival vendors throughout the day, grab lunch or dinner, and take it back to your chair or blanket while you listen to the music.

FOUR OUTSTANDING LIVE BANDS

Live music is a major part of Great Plains Fest, with four completely different musical experiences throughout the day:

Legerdemain — steel-pan-led jazz, funk, world music and progressive fusion.

DaNoyze featuring Kenny Watson Jr. — groove-heavy fusion-funk, R&B, jazz and neo-soul.

The Midland Band — 1970s jazz-rock, progressive rock, funk and free-flowing jam-band improvisation influenced by artists ranging from Steely Dan and Frank Zappa to the Grateful Dead.

Rhythm Republic featuring Stanley Sheldon — Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin jazz and jazz-fusion featuring legendary bassist Stanley Sheldon, known for his longtime work with Peter Frampton.

All four bands are included with festival admission.

MAKE A DAY OF IT

Stay all day or come and go throughout the festival.

Explore the artists and makers. Grab some food. Catch a band. Visit downtown Lawrence or Clinton Lake and come back for the evening music.

But whatever you do, try to be back for sunset.

As evening arrives, the light changes across the hillside and the final music of the day fills the park. That combination of live music, artists, food, friends and a Kansas sunset is what Great Plains Fest is all about.

Saturday, September 26, 2026

11:30 AM – Evening

Sesquicentennial Point Park • Lawrence, Kansas

Early Bird Admission: $8 • Available Now–Aug. 31

Advance Admission: $10 • Sept. 1–25

Festival Day Admission: $12 • Sept. 26

Kids 15 & under FREE

Rain or shine • Come and go throughout the day

Bring a folding lawn chair or picnic blanket

No pets or animals except service animals as required by law

ART • FOOD • MAKERS • LIVE MUSIC • STUNNING VIEWS