The event committee has partnered with the Downtown Hays Development Corporation for two days of activities, “4th of July on the Bricks.” All events have ample opportunities for social distancing so participants can feel comfortable and stay safe.

4th of July on the Bricks schedule of events includes:

Friday, July 3

• 8AM Pickleball Tournament registration, Municipal Park
• 9AM Pickleball Tournament begins, Municipal Park
• 12PM Bach’s Lunch on the Bricks, Downtown Pavilion
• 6:30PM Wild West Festival Concert in the Park, Municipal Park

Saturday, July 4

• 7:30AM Downtown Hays Market, Downtown Pavilion
• 8AM Wild West Festival 5K, Hays Aquatic Park
• 10AM Wild West Festival Parade: “Hometown Heroes,” Main Street
• 11AM Block Party on the Bricks, Downtown Pavilion
• 10PM Wild West Festival Fireworks Show, Downtown Hays & US 183 Bypass. Free! Tune in to Mix 103.3 for music.

Friday afternoon’s activities will include a free concert at noon in the Downtown Pavilion as part of the Bach’s Lunch summer concert series with a performance by Miles on End. $10 box lunches by Augustine’s Bakery can be reserved ahead of time by calling the DHDC office at 621- 4171 or patrons are welcome to bring their own lunch.

Friday night’s concert in Municipal Park will be free, with an option for a free-will donation to benefit the Wild West Festival. Musical acts will be Miles on End 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Lucas Maddy & the Kansas Cartel 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Frank Werth & the Vibrations 9:30 – 10:30 p.m. Sponsors are welcome. Interested businesses can contact Sandi Maier at 785-639-3365 or info@wildwestfestival.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Race participants can register for the Wild West Festival 5K at www.HeartlandTiming.com. Cost is $20 and price will increase after June 29. Race will begin at 8 a.m.

The parade will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 4 on Main Street. Local organizations or businesses may sign up to be in the parade by filling out the entry form at www.WildWestFestival.com. With this year’s theme being “Hometown Heroes,” our healthcare workers, fire department, police department, EMS personnel, teachers, etc. are especially welcome.

The parade will be followed by a Block Party at the Downtown Pavilion at 10th and Main Street with hot dogs, live music by DoC, and family games.

The free Fireworks Spectacular is made possible by a sponsorship by the City of Hays. Fireworks will be visible from Downtown Hays and the Hwy 183 Bypass. Tune in to Mix 103.3 FM for accompanying patriotic music.

Find more information on 4th of July on the Bricks events at www.WildWestFestival.com or www.DowntownHays.com.

The Wild West Festival is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation organized for the purpose of providing an annual community festival celebrating the customs and traditions of Hays.

Wild West Festival Parade Invitation and Information:

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in this year’s Wild West Festival Main Street Parade. Our theme is “HOMETOWN HEROES”.

This year’s theme is based on all 1st Responders, including ALL medical- “doctors, nurses, dispatchers ALL Police, Fire, and Military personell. If you work in a uniform, including Scrubs”…, We Want You to be AT OUR PARADE – this is in HONOR OF YOU. And we would like to ask you to come forward and be in the front of our parade to serve as our GRAND MARSHALLS! You may walk, or you can get on a float – but we want to recognize and THANK YOU for the jobs you do!!

And we ask that if you are not one of the above, please put together your crew, get your imaginations flowing, and bring your creativity and craftsmanship to life – for all to see July 4, 2020 at our big parade!

LEARN MORE

After much discussion, the Wild West Festival Committee members have agreed that it is in the best interest of the well-being of our community, volunteers, and sponsors, that we postpone our festival events until next year. This is due to the public health mandates associated with COVID-19, as well as the challenges of our current economy. Please know that this was a very difficult decision and was not taken lightly. 

The fireworks show for this year is planned to take place as scheduled on Saturday, July 4, thanks to our sponsors, including the City of Hays. The Wild West Festival would like to thank every sponsor and volunteer, as well as our fans. You are amazing, and we cannot wait to see you when we celebrate Independence Day together with a spectacular fireworks show over Hays, America!

Apr 17, 2020 – Hays CVB 

The Wild West Festival’s executive committee met this week to discuss this summer’s multi-day event. After difficult conversations, the group agreed that the concerts will not take place.

Wild West Festival was scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, to Saturday, July 4, in Municipal Park in Hays, and would normally include three nights of concerts, Main Street parade, carnival, and free fireworks show. The parade and carnival are still being discussed. Plans will depend on state regulations at that time.

The committee stated that necessary sponsor funds have not been secured in order to effectively proceed with festival planning.

“Sponsors are not in a position to give and we understand that,” said Sandi Maier, Wild West Festival event coordinator. “With so many unknowns in our community’s future, we can’t proceed as usual with an event of this scale.”

Maier has been involved with the festival committee for 12 years; six years as a committee member, and the last six years as event coordinator.

Maier confirmed that the free fireworks show will still take place on Saturday, July 4, thanks in part to the City of Hays fulfilling their sponsorship commitment.

“For that, we are truly grateful, because I know our community will be ready to celebrate Independence Day together any way we can,” said Maier.

The Wild West Festival is a 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation organized for the purpose of providing an annual community festival celebrating the customs and traditions of Hays.