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Leavenworth in September: A Summer Sendoff
 

The “First City of Kansas” loves to host one last bash before summer’s surrender: Camp Leavenworth, a two-day event featuring free live music, a massive sidewalk chalk art contest, silent disco nights, kids crafts, bouncy houses, a scavenger hunt and s’mores stations. Scheduled for Sept. 20 and 21 this year, Friday night’s program will go out with a bang with a free fireworks spectacular over the Missouri River. Saturday morning kicks off with a 5K fun run, with all participants receiving a t-shirt and bouquet of sunflowers – and, for runners 21 and up, a free beer. Food trucks and offerings from our two city breweries and Z&M Twisted Vines Winery will be on hand to fuel the celebration.
 

Looking for great deals on home goods, children’s clothing and toys, athletic equipment and more? The Fort Leavenworth Post-Wide Yard Sale, held each April as soldiers and their families prepare to move to their next post, has added a second date for 2024. This event is open to civilian shoppers, so swing by on Sept. 21 to hunt for hidden treasures. While visiting this nearly 200-year-old installation, you might also consider exploring its history through the Frontier Army Museum or through a self-guided driving tour of more than 20 points of interest, including the shell of the “castle” that once served at the United States Disciplinary Barracks.
 

We can admit that the name “Leavenworth” often calls to mind our four local prisons. You can’t help but be curious about life on the inside! Starting in mid-September, you can experience it for yourself during a tour of the Kansas State Penitentiary, a 160-year-old facility built during the Civil War but abandoned several years ago when a new prison was built. The historical society from Leavenworth’s neighboring city, Lansing, also will host a classic car show inside the penitentiary’s walls on Sept. 28 as a fundraiser for its museum exhibits.