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Mark your calendars for OCTOBER 7, 2023 for a FUN, FALL FAMILY CELEBRATION known as OZtoberFEST! Join us in downtown Wamego for a variety of activities including our OZ Costume Contest, Toto look-a-like contest, an Indoor/Outdoor OZ Market, Classic Car Show, Wizard's Beer & Wine Garden, Munchkinland, Auntie Em's Boutique, Munchkin Junction and many more OZsome activities.
Shop Our Vendors!
Visit these fine vendors and find fantastic items to purchase!
Jade & John Ellcey-Heavenly Hippo on Facebook
Gerald & Linda Berthot--Mutton Hollow Herb Farm on Facebook
Thaddeus & Kelly Perry- Perrys Pork Rinds on Facebook
Laura & Brent Sharp - Rio Jo's Southwest Style Jewelry
Jenny Jansen - Jansen Pottery - vajansen@yahoo.com
Tonya Miller - Custom Sewing by Tonya on Facebook
Dean Kubin - Papa's Manhattan Woodworks on Facebook
Jim Walker - JB Walker Photography
Angie Berens - Offerings LLC on Facebook
Mike & Angie Armstrong - MAAC Wind Chimes - winchimike@aol.com
Robert Pickel - Wild Bobs Old Time Portraits
Becky Rawls-Riley - Rawls-Riley Creations, LLC
Nancy Marston - Aunt Nancy's Face Art on Facebook
Don Bartell - Sawdust Dreams
Shop More of Our Vendors!
Kattie Phillips - Kattie's Krazy Kreations on Facebook
Jojo Orlanes - All Metal Art Shop
Debbie Gerard & Kris Sallee - Sticky Spoons
Sandy Kay Hunter - Nature in Watercolor and Acrylics
Mattie Hellwig - Miss Mattie Bleu's
Deon & Angela Toy - RemeBees on Facebook
Kristen Wright - Magnaporium
OZsome Schedule & Admission Information
The Official OZtoberFest Street Festival Day is SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st, yet there are exciting things going on Friday as well.
Friday, September 30:
Saturday, October 1:
ADMISSION
OZtoberFEST is FREE to the public. There are a couple exceptions, separate wristbands will need to be purchased for the inflatables ($10 all day) and the OZ Museum / Columbian Theatre activities. ($12 for adults & $10 for children. There is a $2 discount for military.)
Also, please note that if you have a annual membership OZ Museum pass, it is NOT honored during OZtoberFest. This is due to the presentations and additional activities during the festival.
We look forward to seeing you!!
All Kinds of OZsome Things (Oct 1st) 10am
NEW this year: Climbing Wall - FREE to those 45 - 250 lbs. Courtesy of KS Army National Guard
Entertainment - Oct 1
Emerald City Stage-In front of Columbian
10:00 Introductions of Special Guests-John Fricke
11:00 Yellow Brick Rock Band
11:30 Emerald City Singers
12:00 Costume Contest-John Fricke emcee
1:00 Toto Look-a-Like contest-Jon Pachta emcee
2:00 The Bell Trio-Jazz
3:30 Rickety Downspout- Bluegrass/Country
4:30 WHS Jazz Band
5:00 Ian Batey-Guitars and Vocals
Tin Man's Talent-In Front of Indoor Market/Iron Clad
10:00 Tip Toz Dance
10:30 Storytime with Dorothy
11:30 Olathe Dance Center
12:30 The Cover-Ups
2:00 Jack Reid Magic
3:00 Olathe Dance Center
4:00 WHS High Voltage
4:30 Beth Land-Guitar and Vocals
4:45 WHS Dazzlers
Good Witch Bubbles
11:45 Good Witch Floats Giant Bubbles
2:15 Good Witch Floats Giant Bubbles
3:30 Good Witch Floats Giant Bubbles
4:30 Good Witch Floats Giant Bubbles
OZtoberFest Vendors
AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR OZ MARKET
Upcycled/Repurposed Treasures
AUNTIE EM’S BOUTIQUE
FOOD COURT
The OZ Museum & Special Guests
OZ Museum will be open: Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday noon – 5pm
OZ Special Guests 2022:
JANE ALBRIGHT, current president of The International Wizard of Oz Club, ozclub.org. She discovered the Oz books as a child. Later her Oz books and memorabilia won a Kansas University book-collecting contest in 1977, resulting in a public exhibit that shifted her interest from reading and collecting to sharing Oz with others.
JOHNPAUL CAFIERO, whose family’s extraordinary Oz collection makes up a great percentage of material showcased at The OZ Museum in Wamego. Friar Johnpaul is a pastoral associate and preacher at Holy Family Parish in Inverness, formerly the assistant vocation director for his Franciscan order and now serves as chaplain for the Illinois State Police.
JOHN FRICKE (OZ Museum Master of Ceremonies) Due to unforeseen circumstances, John Fricke will be unable to join us this year. We hope to have John back next year!
John is widely regarded as the world's preeminent WIZARD OF OZ and Judy Garland historian and author. He's the recipient of two Emmy Awards as co-producer of the PBS-TV and A&E Cable-TV Garland documentaries, as well as a Grammy Award-nominee for journalism. His seven books about Oz and Judy have sold a quarter-million copies, and he's talked about them on THE TODAY SHOW (four times), ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, and on diverse programs on CNN and Turner Classic Movies. Currently, he's working with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. in their efforts to conserve the original OZ ruby slippers.This consultancy position grew out of his three decades of writing, producing, and spokesperson work (on Oz and Garland anniversaries, product releases, and DVD and CD launches) for MGM, Turner Entertainment, and Warner Bros. John has lectured at the TCM Film Festival and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in Hollywood; at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC; and at the Deauville Film Festival in France. He can be heard on the commentary tracks of eight Garland DVDs (including THE WIZARD OF OZ) and seen on-screen in numerous entertainment-history documentaries. John has been an emcee for OZtoberFest on a regular basis for more than ten years.
Heroes, Hot Rods & Motorcycles
Follow the yellow brick road (Hwy 99) to the 7th annual classic car show, HEROES, HOT RODS & MOTORCYCLES along the 600 and 700 Blocks of Lincoln Ave.
FUELING PATRIOTISM BY HONORING OUR NATION’S MILITARY HEROES! Check out the HISTORIC MILITARY VEHICLES, RAFFLES & SO MUCH MORE!
Registration Fee: $5 per tire (No pre-registration) Same day registration at 5th & Ash: 9am – 12pm
Judging: 11am - 1pm
Raffle Drawings & Awards: 2pm at Car Show Tent (Methodist Church)
Again this year we are proud to have partnered with the Wamego High School VETERAN’S HONOR FLIGHT Program! A percentage of the registration fee will be donated to this organization. The Honor Flight has a mission to take veterans to Washington D.C. to see their respective memorials. Wamego High School proudly joined the Kansas Honor Flight Network in 2012. They search for veterans in our regional area who are interested in seeing our nation's memorials on a two-day trip to Washington D.C. Wamego High School National Honor Society students serve as guardians for their esteemed veterans during the trip. As a way to honor them for their service, veterans do not pay for this opportunity, thanks to Sponsors and fund raising! www.whshonorflight.com.
OztoberFest has become the Honor Flight Reunion venue for the Wamego High School organization. The veterans and the students whom participated for the past five years come together once again to visit and reminisce.
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For more information or questions: Email at kara@wamegochamber.com or call Wamego Chamber at 785-456-7849
Columbian Theatre
Fashion Show:
Dorothy Dresses Through The Years.
www.columbiantheatre.com
Location: Columbian Theatre / 521 Lincoln
Munchkin Muffin Contest - Entries accepted starting at 10 am with judging at 11 am.
Vendor Applications
2022 Vendor Applications:
General Festival Information
PARKING: Parking is available on side streets and around the City Park. Festival is centrally located downtown, Lincoln Avenue, so it is easy to park and walk to this family event.
RESTROOMS: Porta Pottys are available throughout the festival.
CURRENCY: Most vendors will only take cash. There are ATM’s located at Landmark National Bank on Lincoln and Bank of the Flint Hills, located on 5th Street.
LOST CHILD: Please come to information booth, centrally located at festival. Police will assist.
EMERGENCY SERVICES is located at the intersection of 5th & LIncoln at the information booth.
OZsome Sponsors!
As Always......THANK YOU TO OUR OZsome SPONSORS! Without their support this event would not happen!
Presenting Sponsors:
Bank of the Flint Hills~Bennington State Bank~Caterpillar~City of Wamego~Central Mechanical Construction~KanEquip~Kaw Valley State Bank~MCM~MSBiotec~Papa John's~Pottawatomie County Economic Development~Purple Wave Auction~Riley Construction~Short Stop~Wamego Health Center~Wamego Inn & Suites~WTC
Supporting Sponsors:
4th and Elm
Cotton O’Neil-Wamego
Flinthills Outdoor
Howies Trash Service
Smokin' Wille's BBQ
State Farm-Michele Jacobs
Tri County Waste
USD 320
Vanderbilts
Wamego Self Storage
Alliance Reality
Dr. John McQuillen
Food Facts
Local Favorites in festival area:
4th & Elm Bar & Grill
Barleycorn's Deli
The Friendship House
The Friendly Cooker
Smokin' Wille's BBQ
Toto's Tacoz!
Festival Food Trucks/Tents:
Conchis Cuisine
Jammin' Jamaican
Made 2 Grill
Pizza Hut
Southern Star
Tasty Traveler
OZ Costume Contest
Costume Contest Outline:
Registration is NO longer required. If you wish to participate come to the Emerald City Gate at 4th and Lincoln by 11:45 am. You will then parade (walking) to the Emerald City Stage in front of the Columbian Theatre where the contest will be held. Contest begins at 12 noon.
Two Age Groups:
o Under 18 and Over 18
Each contestant will receive a number to wear around their neck.
There are 9 costume categories. Awards will be presented to the winners, in both age groups, of each category:
o Best Dorothy
o Best Munchkin
o Best Lion
o Best Scarecrow
o Best Tinman
o Best Glinda
o Best Wicked Witch
o Flying Monkey
o Wizard of OZ
Contestants will be called on stage by category starting with age group Under 18 then moving to Over 18. The Host will call contestants on stage according to type and age. Once all entries for Dorothy have been brought on stage they return to their seats and the Host will call up Munchkin entries and so on. All entries for a specific “character” return to their seats after the last entry walks across the stage.
· OZ Characters will be the judges.
· One winner per category per age group will then be announced. Winners remain on stage for a group photo.
Toto Look-a-Like Competition
1:00 pm. Bring YOUR Toto to Emerald City Stage (in front of the Columbian Theatre) to see if your dog is the next Toto look-a-like!
Wizard of OZ Movie Synched to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
Join us for the OZtoberFEST kick-off party, Friday, September 30th. Darkside of the Rainbow! 6am- 10pm Bring a lawn chair and come out to the Friendly Cooker parking lot for the showing of the Wizard of OZ movie synced to the soundtrack of Pink Floyd's Darkside of the Moon. Beer/Wine garden open 6 - 10 pm and movie showing at 7:00 pm. FREE ADMISSION--Cash Bar
Columbian Artists Art Opening & Ice Cream Social 5-7pm Columbian Theatre's Swogger Gallery