Rain or shine, downtown Emporia figures to be a bustling place Saturday for the first-ever Halfway to Everywhere Music and Arts Festival and the No Coast Film Festival.
Halfway to Everywhere has been in the works for years and will feature over 30 bands at four stages — the 10 block of West Seventh, the northeast corner of the Farmers Market parking lot near Eighth and Merchant, Bourbon Cowboy and Radius Brewing Company. Bands start performing at noon, and there will also be fine art displays, vendors and food trucks as part of the festival.
Rain is possible, especially early in the event, and lead organizer Hank Osterhout says the festival will go on as scheduled — although performers on the Seventh Avenue stage will go to Albert Taylor Hall and performers on the Farmers Market parking lot stage will play at the Bruder Hall King Theater in case of rain. A decision will be announced by early Saturday.
Meanwhile, the No Coast Film Festival starts at 10 am at the Granada Theatre and features over 30 short films in four separate blocks before the Midwest premiere of “Buckshot” by Emporia native Josh Smith.
On top of those activities, Ellen Plumb’s City Bookstore will host seven award-winning regional authors, who will discuss their works and also be available for autographs both before and after their appearances. Appearances go every 45 minutes from 11 am to 4:15 pm.
Activities are free of charge. KVOE will broadcast from 12-5 pm.
