Special Events

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Maple Leaf Festival

Photograph property of and displayed courtesy The Signal

Baldwin City comes alive the third full weekend in October with the annual Maple Leaf Festival in the historic downtown area. The two-day festival, which draws 25,000 to 30,000 people, is set to nature's backdrop of beautiful fall foliage for which the festival is named. The weekend features arts and crafts booths, a parade, live music, a quilt show, carnival, kids zone and historical tours. A detailed listing of events can be found on the Calendar of events on this website. For more information, call (785) 594-7564 or you can visit our website at www.mapleleaffestival.com .

Farmers' Market

Photograph property of and displayed courtesy The Signal

The Farmers' Market is open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays from June through September in downtown Baldwin, next to the Post Office. There is also a Market on Wednesday nights from 5-8 pm in front of Antiques on the Prairie, 520 High St. Market features vary weekly, but often include a variety of seasonal vegetables, berries, and flowers as well as home baked breads, cakes, cookies and pies. Fresh eggs are also frequently offered.

Art Walk

Photograph property of and displayed courtesy The Signal

An evening of art and friendly conversation awaits from 7 to 9 p.m. the third Wednesday night of June, July & September, 2008. The Baldwin Community Arts Council sponsors Art Walk, which showcases paintings, sculpture, and quilting by area artists who set up on the street, in local galleries and in downtown businesses. Special event evenings also feature live music and art demonstrations. Cuppa Java night in September features hand-painted coffee mugs and desserts. Please check our calendar of events for current updates.

Egg Hunt

Kids up to 8 years of age can join the fun on the campus of Baker University on the Saturday before Easter. The Rainbow Experience Preschool Easter Egg Hunt draws about 350 children to this community-wide event. The fun begins at 10 a.m. with games, clowns, and balloons. There are raffles and guessing games to enter as well. The hunt begins at 11 a.m. The event is sponsored by Mid America Bank in Baldwin City.

Christmas Home Tour

The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Homes Tour features a mix of new and vintage homes decorated and on display every year in early December. The Tour, sponsored by Stephens Real Estate, began in 1997 as a fundraiser for the Chamber holiday decoration fund. For this year's dates and ticket prices, call (785) 594-2320

Baldwin City Community Theater, Inc.

The Baldwin City Community Theater Inc., in conjunction with the Midland Railway offers a "Mystery Train" excursion in late September and early Octover every year. During the summer, there is a musical production and the group operates the merchandise tent for the Thomas the Train events. Enjoy the outdoor performance of "Wizard of Oz' June 19-22 & 27, 28, 2008. Details can be found on the calendar of events as soon as they are available. Membership drive begins January 1st. Many volunteer opportunities are available!! For more information call (785) 594-7440

Tree Lighting and Santa Parade

Turn out for the annual Holiday Light Parade and tree lighting ceremony, which welcomes Santa to town. The parade runs through historic downtown Baldwin and features Santa Claus making his grand entrance on an antique fire truck. After the parade children can visit with Santa, have their photos taken, and enjoy warm hot cocoa and cider at area businesses. For information, contact the Chamber at (785) 594-3200. Parade entry form can be found in the Contact Us section of this website.

Terror Tracks

Terror Tracks, Baldwin City's haunted train rides, take place in October every year at the Midland Railway. The event is sponsored by the Baldwin City Community Theater, Inc., with the help of the Railway. The ride features ghosts, monsters and witches, keeping riders on the edge of their seats. The event draws about 1,500 people from Baldwin City, Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City. For more information, call (785) 594-7440 or visit the calendar of events on this website.

Chocolate Auction

The annual Chocolate Auction takes place every February featuring hundreds of chocolate delicacies, including cookies, pies, tortes and cream puffs, and also features a great deal of original art by area and regional artists. Bidders can begin with the silent auction and then bid in the live auction that follows. Last year's event, held in the Baldwin High School commons area, drew 250- 300 people from as far as Kansas City and Topeka. Admission is $1.

The auction began in 1988 and is still the major fundraiser for the Baldwin Community Arts Council. For more information, visit our website at www.baldwinarts.org .