The annual Biking Across Kansas ride will end its fifth and longest day of riding in Newton on Tuesday, June 13. Riders may choose one of two routes from Stafford to Newton -- a 79-mile ride that will bring them in by way of Burrton and Halstead, and a 100-mile ride that rolls through Halstead and Hesston. Both routes will travel north on Halstead Road out of Halstead and along 12th Street between Ridge and Meridian toward Newton.
Cyclists will be spending Tuesday night at Newton High School and will be leaving for Eureka on Wednesday morning. The entire BAK event covers nine days (June 9 to June 17) and more than 525 miles.
Click here for the event's official website. (Click on 2023 Route Map and then the View Route in Ridge with GPS for the exact route of each stage.)
More than 450 riders had registered through the end of May.
Cyclists are expected to arrive in Newton anywhere from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, depending on the route they choose and riding pace. The high school will open to cyclists for showers and sleeping area set-up beginning at noon. There will be an information booth on campus as well.
A charter bus will run from the high school with stops at a laundromat, downtown Newton, and the Kauffman Museum from 2 to 8 p.m. Lights out at the school is 10 p.m.
Fundraiser breakfasts will be open beginning at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and all cyclists are expected to be on their way by 9 a.m.
TRANS AM CYCLISTS ALSO COMING THROUGH
Coincidentally, the Trans Am Bike Race began the morning of June 4 in Astoria, Oregon, and the lead riders are putting in about 300 miles per 24 hours. With Newton at about the 2,400-mile mark on the Trans America trail, lead riders also could be coming through early next week. The field started with just 46 riders. Their progress can be followed here.
Mid America Youth Basketball is hosting its Summer Kickoff tournament throughout the Wichita area this weekend with boys and girls teams from first through 12th grades.
The eighth-grade boys and girls divisions -- with 40 teams in each -- will be playing games in Harvey County on Friday (June 9) and Saturday (June 10) before the final rounds in Wichita on Sunday. Games will be played at Newton High School, Bethel College, Hesston high and middle schools, and Halstead high and middle schools. Teams in these divisions are from Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Arkansas as well as Kansas.
The boys schedule can be found here and the girls schedule here.
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Don't forget that we have our Community Events Calendar on Choose-Newton.com and a digital billboard program as well as social media channels. If you have an event you would like promoted, send details a month ahead of time to Toby Carrig (tcarrig@newtonkansas.com).
The KSN TV Summer Road Trip will include broadcasting live from Newton on Friday, June 16, at Sixth and Main. News, weather and Good Day Kansas teams will be in Newton from 11:30 to 1 p.m. with live news at noon. The community can come out to meet the on-air talent, watch the live news, and get a close look at the Storm Tracker vehicle.
The calendar is loaded up for the next two months with a lot of exciting events. We have an Arts & Culture flyer available. If you would like a PDF version to print and display, email tcarrig@newtonkansas.com.
Also coming up, beyond the items mentioned above:
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Newton & North Newton Garden Tour presented by Newton Public Library, 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 10; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11.
- NMKSO Summer Chamber Music, 3 p.m. Sunday, June 11, at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church.
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Third Thursday (June 15) and Summer Sales "Main"ia (June 15-17) with a Book Signing by Mickey Shannon (June 15 at Carriage Factory Art Gallery).
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Cookie Daze 5K, Saturday, June 17, beginning at Athletic Park.
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William Allen White & the KKK, presentation at Harvey County Historical Museum, 2 p.m. Sunday, June 18.
- NMKSO's Summer Serenade: Music & Tapas at Grace Hill Winery, 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, June 29.
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Mexican-American Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament, June 30 to July 2. 75th anniversary this year!
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Sand Creek Summer Daze, July 7-8.
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Women Artists of the West, show opens July 22 at Carriage Factory Art Gallery. (Activities also planned for Third Thursday evening, July 20)
- Kansas Main Street Economic Vitality Workshop, July 25-26. About 100 people expected to attend. Workshop sessions will be at Prairy Mezzanine, but those who attend will have time for lunches and dinners on their own in downtown!
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Harvey County Free Fair, August 3-7.
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