Latest news with #CountryStampede
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Tuttle Creek music, camping festival to be smaller than Country Stampede
Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan were among performers in 2008 and 2012, respectively, at the Kicker Country Stampede music and camping festival held from 1996 to 2018 at Manhattan's Tuttle Creek State Park. That event tended to draw 100,000 music fans a year. It moved in 2019 to Topeka, then in 2024 to Bonner Springs. The new Rock the Plains country music and camping festival — taking place Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 at Tuttle Creek State Park — will start smaller, with attendance being capped at 10,000 for this year's first version, said founder Brandyn Steen. Steen said April 30 that he hopes the festival gives Manhattan an economic boost like it got from Country Stampede. He hopes to make Rock the Plains an annual event. "Rock the Plains is more than just a music festival — it's a celebration of the heartland's spirit, set in the vibrant town of Manhattan, Kansas," said the event's website. Rock the Plains is not aimed at replacing Country Stampede, said Stein, who is based in Nashville. He said he twice attended the latter event while taking graduate courses about 15 years ago at Kansas State University. "We just want to provide the community with another environment similar to that to go out and listen to some live music by the lake and make some awesome memories like we all had the chance to do," he told The Capital-Journal. This year's festival will feature performers from the genres of Texas country, red dirt country and Americana music, Steen said. The Randy Rogers Band will be the headliner Aug. 8, with that day's other performers being Aaron Watson, Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts, Curtis Grimes, Jenna Paulette, Clay Aery and DJ DU. Casey Donahew will headline the Aug. 9 performance. That day's other acts will be the Josh Abbott Band, Pat Green, Logan Mize, Adam Hood, Kat Hasty, Clay Aery and DJ DU. Tickets can be purchased on the event website at They cost $129 for a two-day pass and $465 for a package containing four two-day passes. A VIP upgrade for each two-day ticket will be available for $250. A two-day parking pass is available for $20. Campsites range in cost from $200 to $500 and will be available from noon Aug. 7 to noon Aug. 10. The event will be cashless, its website said. Organizers currently are selling only two-day passes but could begin selling one-day passes a few weeks before the festival, if necessary, Steen said. He suggested this year's 10,000-person attendance cap would help organizers gauge what the community wants while enabling them to still make concert goers happy. Allowing more than 10,000 people could result in crowd control becoming a problem and "not everyone having a good time," he said. Steen, 38, is involved with artist management, artist development, booking, event production, consulting and label services. His co-executives for the event are Coleman Younger and Richard Jones, both fellow K-State alumni, he said. Steen recalled having attended the Country Stampede twice while he was in graduate school. "It was awesome," he said. "I remember the heat. I remember the rain. I remember good energy and good fun. That's kind of what we want to recreate with Rock the Plains." Rock the Plains will be more "community-oriented" than Country Stampede, Steen said. While Country Stampede has typically been held in June or July, Steen said Rock the Plains is taking place in August, which means it will face less competition from other Kansas summer festivals. August also tends to see less rain than June and July, he said. Steen added that while Kansas State University students have generally been out of town when Country Stampede has been held, he hopes many return to Manhattan before school starts each August so they can attend Rock the Plains. Fall semester classes this year begin Aug. 25 at K-State. Steen added that he likes holding Rock the Plains in early- to mid-August because that means it won't have to compete for attention with college football games. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@ or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Tuttle Creek State Park hosts Rock the Plains music, camping festival
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Topeka business leaders look for positives despite loss of retail giants, Heartland Motorsports Park
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Local leaders remain positive about the economic future of Topeka as multiple large retail outlets call it quits in the Capital City. Topeka has lost multiple large retail stores recently due to a variety of reasons, such as parent companies declaring bankruptcies or downsizing their operations nationally. Local organizations are still positive about the economic future of the community despite these changes. 27 News reached out to the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP) to find out how recent loss of local retail giants has impacted the economic situation in Topeka. The GTP represents several local groups such as Visit Topeka, Downtown Topeka, GO Topeka and the Topeka Chamber which collectively push for prosperity in the community. 'The economy in Topeka and Shawnee County is strong,' said Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka. 'According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Shawnee County ranked in the top 7% nationwide for wage growth. This momentum is reflected in recent retail expansion, with HomeGoods opening this week, First Watch recently opened, and Cava set to launch this year. The multi-million-dollar redevelopment of West Ridge Mall will further enhance the area's retail and dining landscape.' What is blocking construction for the $49 million home for veterans in Topeka? Topeka has lost multiple retail outlets recently that have removed dozens of jobs from the community. Recent closures or upcoming closures in 2025 include the following: JOANN – the company announced it would be holding 'going-out-of-business sales' at all locations nationwide after filing for bankruptcy in early 2025. JCPenney – Advisors Excel, the new owners of West Ridge Mall, said this longstanding retail outlet would be moving out by May 25, 2025. American Eagle – closed its doors inside West Ridge Mall on Jan. 19, 2025. Party City – closed its doors on Jan. 18, 2025. 'While we are saddened by their decision to close the Topeka location as part of this round of store closures, we are excited about the opportunity to reimagine and revitalize the space,' said West Ridge Mall Manager Casey Richardson when talking about the loss of JCPenney. 'Acquiring the building allows us to integrate new retail, dining, and entertainment options, bringing fresh energy to West Ridge Mall.' Topeka also recently lost Heartland Motorsports Park after it sold at auction for an undisclosed amount of money to Topeka 77, LLC. The space was the former home of the annual Country Stampede, which left the Capital City in 2023 for Bonner Springs, and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag-racing event. Removal of Gage Park playground equipment begins in Topeka Topeka has received or will be getting some new national and local businesses in the near future in addition to the ones pointed out by Howey that will bring new job and shopping opportunities to the community. These include the following: Dutch Bros – new location set to open in the second quarter of 2025 at 3200 Southwest Topeka Boulevard. Panda Express – second location in Topeka coming to 801 Northwest 25th Street. No opening date set. American Kolache – opened its first location in Kansas at 5938 Southwest 17th Street. Dialogue Coffee House – opening a fifth location in Topeka at 400 Southwest Eighth Street in April. Board & Barrel Wine Bar – tentatively set to open in summer 2025 at 1709 Southwest Gage Boulevard. Leonard Meat – opened a second location in Topeka at 1936 Southwest Gage Boulevard on March 17. Pancho's Mexican Food – opened a new location at 3200 Southwest 29th Street on Jan. 19, 2025. Pizza Shuttle – opened a new location at 4000 Southwest Huntoon Street on Feb. 22, 2025. Topeka's West Ridge Mall is also undergoing a large amount of renovation work. Advisors Excel hinted at some of the national outlets it is trying to attract to the space in the years to come which include a Nordstrom Rack, Trader Joe's, and Banana Republic among other ideas. 'As Topeka continues to grow, GO Topeka remains committed to supporting local businesses and fostering a vibrant commercial environment,' Howey said. New north Topeka restaurant reveals opening date For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
