PITTSBURG, Kan. —
Since Little Balkans Days began in 1984, it’s been planned, implemented and performed by local residents -- at once both celebrating the diverse origins of a small Midwestern town and offering up the best of what that small town has to offer.
This year is no exception, with music as one of the featured elements throughout the weekend.
From 6 to 9 p.m. today, a longtime group of music educators from Pittsburg State University and Pittsburg High School known as “Blues Over Easy” will be the featured act at the Big Band Swing Dance, held each year at Meadowbrook Mall.
On Saturday, the musical contributions continue at the Little Balkans Folk Life Festival in the Pritchett Pavilion in Immigrant Park at Second and Broadway. Nine diverse, local musical groups will play a range of styles. Writer-singer J.T. Knoll will serve as master of ceremonies.
At 10 a.m., Treiber & Robinson kick off it with modern country/red dirt music, followed by Johnny Zibert polka music at 11 a.m. At noon, Tristatesmen will sing barbershop style, followed by the group “33 1/3” playing classic rock ’n’ and roll at 1 p.m.
At 2 p.m., White Buffalo will present poetry, songs, and storytelling, followed by cowboy singers/bluegrass musicians John Kendrick & Sons at 3 p.m. Kufara will play African marimba music at 4 p.m., followed by Christian rock at 5 p.m. by Jamison & the Far From Perfect Band.
A few blocks away at Memorial Auditorium, 503 N. Pine, Pittsburg native and local speech-theater teacher Alice Hilt will direct “That ’60s Show,” a musical review comprised of iconic songs and humorous skits from television variety shows of that decade.
That evening, a group of local educators by day/musicians by night known as Prairie Moon will kick off the annual Little Balkans Street Dance at 6:30 p.m. at Fourth and Broadway with country and classic favorites.
Longtime local classic rock group Mister X will play from 9 to 11 p.m., then winding up the day of song will be the longtime local group The John Yoger Polka Band playing from 8 to 11 p.m. at Pritchett Pavilion.
All events, sponsored by local businesses and organizations, are free except for “That ‘60s Show.” Admission to it requires a Little Balkans Days button, which can be purchased for $4 in advance at Memorial Auditorium, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce at 117 W. Fourth, or at various event locations throughout Little Balkans Days.
The button also is good for admission at the Sunday Family Movie, “Alice in Wonderland” starring Johnny Depp, and at the Little Balkans Quilt Guild Quilt Show on Saturday and Sunday.
History
Little Balkans Days was started in 1984 to celebrate the heritage of southeast Kansas. The area was nicknamed after the Balkans in Europe, where many of the community’s immigrant settlers originated. It is held every year on Labor Day Weekend.
Want to go?
Other events slated for the weekend include a golf tournament, 5K run, basketball tournament, century bike ride, carnival, arts and crafts, chili cook-off, car show, tennis tournament, baby contest, sidewalk sale, train rides, book sale, radio control airplanes, petting zoo, tours of Colonial Fox Theater, an ice cream social, quilt show, hot air balloon rides, bocci tournament, family movie, and fishing derby. For a detailed list of events, times, and locations, visit www.littlebalkans.com <http://www.littlebalkans.com> or call 620-235-4262.
Enjoy
Related Photos
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Lisa Gerstenkorn (right), backed up by Lori Stotler, performs a song Monday during a rehearsal for "That '60s Show." The revue is one of numerous musical acts to be held during Little Balkans Days. Globe/Andra Bryan Stefanoni
Discussion
Music featured during Little Balkans Days
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