MANHATTAN (KSNT) — Food, music and family fun filled downtown Manhattan as thousands gathered for its 12th annual Flint Hills Festival hosted by the Flint Hills Discovery Center Saturday, May 2.
Multiple streets, including Poyntz Avenue, were shut down for the free event, allowing more than 50 vendors to line the roadway with everything from candy and burgers to cold snow cones. The festival also featured live music and free admission to the Flint Hills Discovery Center, allowing visitors to explore exhibits and enjoy the outdoor celebration.
Organizers say the event is about more than just entertainment, but about building long-term connections within the community.
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“People who come through Manhattan and in our region… they’re here for school or the military, and so we try to give those individuals a reason to fall in love with this place… and a reason to make this their permanent home,” said Stephen Bridenstine, director of the Discovery Center. “And so we do everything we can to do that, and this festival is part of that.”
Bridenstine said more than 9,000 people attended the festival in 2025, and organizers worked to bring back the same level of energy and turnout this year.
With a mix of local vendors, live entertainment and hands-on experiences, the annual event continues to draw both residents and visitors to the heart of Manhattan.
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