ABILENE, KANSAS – The Eisenhower Marathon first started in 2003, through the efforts of the R. H. Viola family. For fourteen years, they have kept the marathon up and running, having as many as 500-850 runners each year. This year, Coordinator June DeWeese has already seen an increase in runners since last year’s total of 500 runners and hopes this year will be even bigger than last year.
In addition to the marathon, the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce will host a daylong kite festival at the Heritage Center. The professional Wichita-based Wings of the Wind kite-flying club will help families get to the sky by conducting kite-flying demonstrations. The Dickinson County Arts Council will also help children build kites from kite kits to join in the festivities.
The day will also include vendor tents– antiques, arts and crafts, and a small farmer’s market, plus kites– a chuck wagon barbeque, and live radio remotes on the grounds of the Greyhound Hall of Fame.
At 4 pm, American Idol contestant Jessica Paige and the Santiago Brothers Blues Band will play a concert at Old Abilene Town. Paige has been picked for American Idol four times, her most recent audition being earlier this year. Her music “draws on personal experience and the stories of old souls to bring her own unique brand of songwriting to the stage.” Both the kite festival and blues concert are free and open to the public.
Finally, to wrap up the evening, the Great Plains Theatre presents a “Neil Diamond Tribute” brought straight from Branson and featuring Keith Allyn, who has entertained audiences for over 24 years and won several awards with his “Neil Diamond Tribute.” Tickets can be reserved at the Great Plains Theatre box office for $25.
