The 2nd annual Symphony in the Flint Hills was held in Wabaunsee County, Kansas in 2007. This unique event, featuring the Kansas City Symphonic Orchestra, is held in the heart of the Flint Hills in a different county each year. The K.C. symphony is an 80 member orchestra which performs more than 50 concerts during its season, currently conducted by Michael Stern and Damon Gupton.

People came from over 20 states, Canada, amongst other nations! Slightly more than 6000 tickets were available, selling out 2 HOURS after they became available. There were nearly 8000 in attendance, counting all volunteers, patrons, ect. This doubled the population of Wabaunsee County for the day. This unique event, being held in the open air, concluded at sunset. A band played into the night after the concert concluded.

Many of the small towns of Wabaunsee county, expecially Alma and Eskridge, held day long festivals celebrating the arrival of the event. The concert began at 6:30, but many events in the pasture began hours before. Numerous guides gave "prairie walks" identifing flowers, birds, and the unique geology of the Flint Hills. There were also lessons on Wabaunsee County history, along with the areas military history.

In reading about the event, just scroll your mouse over the number and a photograph will pop up.

I've never seen a traffic jam on a dirt road until this event. Pic1 In the next photo, a line of cattle looked as if they were coming from the symphony site. Notice the symphony tents just over the hill. Pic2 Upon arriving and parking in the semi-muddy fields (it rained the previous nite), we walked a trail up into the hills. Many people whom aren't used to the geology of the Flint Hills looked about in awe during this walk. A couple in front of us commented on how it looked like the people near the top of the hill were "walking up to the sky". Pic3 Upon cresting the hill, I could look down into the symphony site. The next photo gives you a sense of the vastness of the Flint Hills along with a good example of the symphony atmosphere.
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There were many different venues going on before the tour, included the already mentioned prairie walks, and wagon tours. A cowboy would lead you across the prairie in a covered wagon, informing us on how it was done "back in the day". Other people on the wagon would begin to tell their stories of how they knew about their great-grandpas friends cousins some-body-or-another whom took an actual wagon across the prairie in the mid 1800s to start a new life as a rancher. Pic5 They also had a petting zoo for kids, many of which were fascinated with the horses, Pic6 along with a booth set up to allow people to try and play various instruments.Pic7 As the symphony began, everybody gathered up in front of the main tent/stage to watch. It was neat to see the symphony with the hills in the background. Pic8

Pics of symphony...Pic9..........Pic10

Concluding the symphony was a colorful sunset. Many people walked over to the edge of the ridge to take in the sunset, a great conclusion to a great event!
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