Thousands of people converged on the Deer Horn Ranch in southeast Geary County Saturday night for Symphony in the Flint Hills.
Following a welcome by Geary County native Virginia Moxley, the Kansas City Symphony and country music performer Michael Martin Murphy were the featured performers for the program which had a Chisholm Trail theme.” During the period from 1867 to 1871 longhorn cattle were moved from Texas up to Abilene, Kansas. Approximately two million cattle were herded up that trail, now remembered in history. Murphy told the audience, “Long may the memory of this old highway and the deeds of the men who rode it live in history, story and song.”
One board member for Symphony in the Flint Hills, Joy Davis, confirmed Symphony in the Flint Hills was a success. “We loved the site and we loved the guest artists. And the owners of the site have been very easy to work with. While it was warm, Davis noted there was a good breeze which helped offset that. In addition to the music there was an auction, education and art tents, and a large food tent where such items as beef brisket and pulled pork were served with all the fixin’s. Lines were long at that latter location.
Longhorn steers shipped in from Texas were brought up to an area just to the northeast of the concert stage during the show. The audience had an opportunity to get a close look and take pictures. And there was a dance following the concert.
If there was one area of concern it was the traffic flow going into the event before it began. There was a substantial backup stretching from K-57 onto Burley Hill Road all the way to the festival site. Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf noted as the concert was getting under way, that the traffic during the day had been frustrating, and had grown worse as the evening time neared. “I think a lot of folks thought they would wait until later to come out and that’s what causing our big backup back here on Burley Hill Road.” The sheriff pointed to the heat as a probable factor in the decision by some to arrive later. But he also stated that you could not ask for a better group of people to attend a festival of this sort, and noted there had not been any problems. “It’s been a real good day.” The sheriff estimated attendance at a little over 8,000 people, not including the support staff.
As for the traffic, there was only one way in and one way out to the festival. Davis stated people who have come over the years know it’s better to come earlier in the day because there are many activities, but this year there were a lot of new people from Geary and Riley Counties who had not experienced the event before. As a result some people were late arriving or felt rushed.
Law enforcement and EMS personnel did not report any major problems. Junction City Fire / EMS Chief Terry Johnson reported there were some small problems such as blisters and a “little bit of overheating from the sun, but other than it’s been very nice. Everybody’s taking care of themselves.” He was a surprised there were not more problems. “With this many people, yes, actually. We’re out here in the middle of a prairie, and with this many people with the activities going on some folks are not prepared to walk all day and those types of things. So actually I’m pleasantly surprised.”