A relative newcomer is the Santa Fe Trails Bluegrass Festival, which just had its third annual showing last weekend (May 19-21). Held in Bonner Springs, Kansas, just west of Kansas City, at the grounds of the Agricultural Hall of Fame. The main force behind it is Leo Eilts, of the band Spontaneous Combustion. Winfield regulars will remember them (reference Sorcha's post, two above as I write this). It is similar in style to the Walnut Valley Festival, but with a higher proportion of bluegrass and more regional talent.

The festival has been combined with the annual Blue Devil Barbecue Contest (some contestants offer sampler plates after their competition, but it's not a barbecue feast for the festival attendees) and the Prairie Winds Kite Festival--some darned impressive kites and kite-flying demonstrations. There was also a fair number of kids' activities, with various games and activities, little giveaway items (balloon hats, flower seeds the kids plant in soil in a bag and take home to nurture, etc.), and a stage with kid-oriented music and other performances such as yo-yo demonstrations.

Four regular stages plus a campground stage plus the Songwriters Circle Showcase stage (local songwriters performing their own stuff). Bigger names this year were John McCutheon, Connie Dover & Roger Landres, Rhonda Vincent, and the Del McCoury Band.

Good quality arts & crafts vendors, reasonable selection of food vendors, various campground jams, youth fiddle contest. The Ag Hall of Fame Museum, a Farmer's Museum, several relocated old buildings typical of rural/small town life earlier in the century, mini train ride around the lake, nature trail through mostly wooded area.

Alcohol prohibited in stage areas, beer vendor among food concessions.

Pretty nice campground, though shade is rather scarce. RV hookups (at least electric) available, enough port-a-pots, rather long trek for water.

Many attendees are Winfield regulars, probably appreciate the noticeably smaller crowd (a few thousand?).