Despite a few setbacks due to weather conditions, the 2021 Halfway to Everywhere Music and Arts Festival still managed to rock downtown Emporia Saturday.
The early morning rainfall Saturday did set back the setup for the event slightly, however, lead organizer and Kansas Free For Arts Executive Director Hank Osterhout gave credit to his team and all of the volunteers for getting the train back on the tracks and putting on another energetic and exciting event for the entire community. Osterhout says it was devastating to have to cancel last year’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He tells KVOE News it was a long wait but a very happy return.
Osterhout hopes Halfway will continue to “raise the bar” for what people can expect from the Emporia community.
Emporia Mayor Rob Gilligan was in attendance for the second annual event and says he believes Halfway has already become another signature event for the community. Gilligan says he is excited to watch the event continuously grow in years to come.
Visit Emporia Director Lelan Dains commended the work of the Halfway team and the vision of Osterhout to make Halfway a reality. Dains tells KVOE News he feels the event was a much-needed morale boost for the entire community, especially after the past year.
The festival’s performances took place across downtown Emporia on five different stages including the Emporia State University Stage at the northeast corner of 6th and Merchant, Radius Brewing Company, The Bourbon Cowboy, the City of Emporia stage in the Farmer’s Market parking lot at 7th and Merchant and the KVOE stage at 7th and Commercial.
Plans are already formulating for the third annual festival set to take place next year over the Labor Day weekend.
Not only was there a wide variety of musical talents on display Saturday, but there were also several artists in attendance from both the local community and beyond displaying various pieces from paintings, to woodworkings and even jewelry.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
