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OZtoberFEST 2023

Saturday, October 7th

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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 7th.

Saturday, October 7:

  • OZtoberFest Family Festival - Downtown Wamego-10am to 5 pm
  • Wizard's Beer & Wine Garden - 11 am to 6 pm
  • OZ Museum Events and Special Guest Presentations
  • Fashion Show-Dorothy Through the Years- 11 am -Columbian Theatre 2nd floor-Hosted by Jane Albright

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

 

  • AUNTIE EM'S BOUTIQUE- Direct market items
  • WIZARD'S BEER & WINE GARDEN: Craft and domestic beers and Wines  - 11am – 6pm  
  • CAKE WALK- 11a-5p In front of the Columbian Theatre (Every Half Hour) 
  • CARRIAGE RIDES- Horse of a different color 11a-5p Load at 6th and Lincoln 
  • CRAFT VENDORS - 10 am to 5 pm
  • CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES - 10 am - 5 pm

NEW this year:  Climbing Wall - FREE to those 45 - 250 lbs. Courtesy of KS Army National Guard

  • CHILDREN’S TRAIN (City Park): TBD
  • DOROTHY FASHION SHOW 11a 2nd floor Columbian with host Jane Albright 
  • FACE PAINTING-5th and Lincoln and 6th and Lincoln 
  • FOOD TRUCKS Variety of great food and ddrink East of 5th St. 
  • CARRIAGE RIDES with a Horse of a Different Color
  • OZ COSTUME CONTEST- Emerald City Stage in front of Columbian 12 noon-NO registration required.
  • TOTO Look-a-Like COMPETITION - Emerald City Stage 1:00 pm
  • FOOD VENDORS: Variety of great food and drinks
  • INFLATABLES: $10 All day wristbands
  • POPPY PLAY FIELD: Children's area with fun activities and games
  • MAGIC SHOW: In front of Iron Clad at 2:00 pm
  • OZ CHARACTERS: Throughout the day indoors and out, look for OZ Characters for photo opportunities and more.
  • STORYTIME with Dorothy:  In front of Iron Clad at 10:30 am
  • OZ VIGNETTES:  Photo ops, throughout the festival, indoors & out.
  • TOTO’S TACOZ! OZsome fresh-mex fare with big taste. Indoor, patio-style seating offers plenty of room for you to enjoy local favorites like Yellow Brick Burro’d, Tin Man Black Bean Burrito and Munchkin Tacoz. 
  • POPPY PLAY FIELD In front of the Wamego Chamber Office. Fun games for kids.
  • WICKED WITCH BALCONY APPEARANCES
  • BUBBLES WITH GLINDA ON LINCOLN
  • MUNCHKIN MUFFIN BAKING CONTEST-10 am entries begin at the Columbian Theatre.  11 am judging.  Winners announced at 12 noon  Details: Six Standard size muffins, NOT mini, on a paper plate are required for judging.  Please cover with plastic wrap. NO store bought muffins allowed.  Categories:  Best Themed, Best Tasting and Most Creative.  1st Place wins $50 Chamber Bucks
  • YELLOW BRICK ROAD SALE:  Vanderbilt’s: Your Work Boot Center
  • OZ WINERY:  Sample their fine wines for purchase while you're in Wamego! Serving 4 free samples( customer choices!) all day Saturday.

Entertainment - Oct 7

Emerald City Stage-In front of Columbian

TBA

 

 

OZtoberFest Vendors

 AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR OZ MARKET

 

AUNTIE EM’S BOUTIQUE

  • Wonderful direct market items that will thrill the person looking for something to treat themselves to. 
    Something for everyone!

BOUTIQUE VENDOR APPLICATION

FOOD COURT

  • A variety of food trucks/tents. Something for everyone.

FOOD VENDOR APPLICATION

ACTIVITY VENDOR APPLICATION

The OZ Museum & Special Guests

OZ Museum will be open: Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday noon – 5pm

OZ Special Guests 2023:

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 8th 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.

Honor Flight Facebook Page

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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! 

 

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