Great Plains Emerging Arts Project

06/03/2026

Imagine if Lawrence, Kansas did what Dillon, Colorado did.

Nestled between Dillon Reservoir and the Rocky Mountains, the Dillon Amphitheater has become one of Colorado’s most beloved outdoor gathering spaces.

The original amphitheater opened in 1993. More than twenty years later, the Town of Dillon decided the venue was worth investing in and completed a major renovation that included a new bandshell, upgraded backstage facilities, concessions, restrooms, gathering spaces, and other improvements designed to serve both residents and visitors.

Today, the amphitheater hosts nationally touring artists, free community concerts, festivals, and special events. What began as a local community venue evolved into a regional destination and an important part of the town’s identity.

Of course, Lawrence is not Dillon.

People visit Dillon for its mountain scenery, reservoir views, outdoor recreation, and concerts. People come to Lawrence for different reasons. We are home to the University of Kansas, a nationally recognized arts community, an exceptional downtown, and beloved venues such as Liberty Hall, the Granada, the Bottleneck, Theatre Lawrence, and the Lied Center. Throughout the year, Lawrence hosts concerts, performances, sporting events, festivals, art shows, and cultural activities that draw visitors from across the region. Visitors also come for KU basketball at Allen Fieldhouse, KU football and other Jayhawk athletics, the vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene, downtown comedy and entertainment venues, Massachusetts Street, Clinton Lake, and many other attractions that make Lawrence a destination for people across Kansas and the surrounding region.

We also have something few communities can match: Sesquicentennial Point. Perched above Clinton Lake and the Wakarusa River Valley, it offers one of the most dramatic public views in our community. For more than 30 years, many people have recognized its potential as a special events park and outdoor performance space, and the original vision for the site included an amphitheater.

This post is the first in a new series where we’ll explore amphitheaters and public gathering spaces from around the country. Not because Lawrence should copy them, but because every successful community project starts by learning what others have done, what worked, what didn’t, and what ideas might inspire something uniquely our own.

If Lawrence were to create a great civic amphitheater one day, what features would you like to see?

Learn more at: https://www.greatplainsfest.org/festivallocation

05/15/2026

Thank you all so much for the support and encouragement for the Lawrence Kansas Amphitheater Project at Sesquicentennial Point!

This vision has been part of the park’s long-term plan for many years, and our nonprofit has been working to help move that vision forward. The next step is continuing that progress through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process, public support, partnerships, grants, and community involvement (See Article Linked).

Many of us truly believe Lawrence deserves a true civic amphitheater—a place for local productions, graduations, festivals, nonprofit events, symphony performances, theater, and community celebrations, while also attracting regional and national touring acts that bring tourism and real economic impact to our city.

This is about building something lasting for future generations.

Thank you for helping keep this vision moving forward!

greatplainsfest.org

Lawrence city commissioners will give their initial thoughts on a five-year capital projects plan next week, including whether to ask voters to renew a 0.3% infrastructure sales tax. At its meeting on Tuesday, the City Commission will hear about the city’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan, which ...

05/13/2026

Lawrence has always been a city of the arts—but we still lack one important piece of civic infrastructure: a true public outdoor performance space.

This isn’t about building a giant corporate concert venue. It’s about creating a public civic amphitheater at Sesquicentennial Point—a place for concerts, festivals, symphony performances, film nights, high school graduations, theater productions, cultural celebrations, food festivals, art fairs, nonprofit fundraisers, community concerts, dance performances, holiday events, public speakers, charity galas and family-friendly gatherings for generations to come.

It is also a long-term investment in cultural tourism and local economic growth. When people travel to Lawrence from Kansas City, Topeka, and across the region for events, they support restaurants, hotels, breweries, shops, and small businesses throughout our city. That revenue strengthens Lawrence far beyond a single event.

I wrote this blog to help explain the vision, the economic impact, and why this matters for the future of Lawrence. Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival

Lawrence is a city of the arts, but we still lack one essential civic space: a true public outdoor performance venue. Sesquicentennial Point is the perfect place for a community band shell and civic amphitheater—not a corporate venue, but a public stage for concerts, symphonies, film nights, festi...

05/10/2026

05/09/2026

Lawrence, Kansas deserves a true outdoor amphitheater.

For years, Sesquicentennial Point Park has had the vision of becoming a real special events destination — a place where music, theater, festivals, and community gatherings can happen with the space, parking, and natural beauty to support it.

Through the Great Plains Emerging Arts Project and the annual Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival, we’ve been working to bring attention to that vision and help move it forward.

This is bigger than one festival.

It’s about creating a permanent space for arts, culture, and community connection in Lawrence — a place built for future generations of artists, families, and visitors.

The proposed amphitheater at Sesquicentennial Point would help support larger concerts, public performances, nonprofit events, cultural festivals, and regional tourism while giving Lawrence the kind of venue our growing community deserves.

If you believe Lawrence should invest in its future through arts and culture, follow along, share the vision, and help us keep building momentum.

Learn more and support the mission at: greatplainsfest.org

05/09/2026

Lawrence has waited long enough for a true public amphitheater.

For years, Sesquicentennial Point Park at Clinton Lake has had the vision of becoming a real special events destination for our community — a place for concerts, festivals, theater, cultural events, school performances, and regional tourism.

With scenic views, natural amphitheater land, and thousands of nearby parking spaces, this park has the potential to become one of the most inspiring public event spaces in Kansas.

The Great Plains Emerging Arts Project was created to help move that vision forward.

Our annual Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival helps bring attention, energy, and community support to this long-term goal: building a permanent outdoor amphitheater for Lawrence.

This is bigger than one festival.
This is about investing in art, culture, music, tourism, and the future of our city.

If you believe Lawrence deserves a real outdoor performance venue, help us spread the word.

Visit greatplainsfest.org
Donate. Volunteer. Sponsor. Get involved.

05/08/2026

Big things grow when communities show up.

The Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival is more than a single event — it helps support the bigger vision of building a true outdoor amphitheater and special events space at Sesquicentennial Point in Lawrence, Kansas.

By supporting the festival, booking vendor space, attending, sharing posts, or donating, you are helping invest in local art, culture, and a stronger future for community events in our city.

We’re currently looking for original artists, makers, food vendors, dessert vendors, bakers, and creative small businesses for this year’s festival.

If you believe Lawrence deserves inspiring public spaces for art, music, and community connection, now is the time to get involved.

Apply now at greatplainsfest.org

Calling artists, makers, food & dessert vendors, bakers, and creative small businesses across Lawrence, Kansas City, Topeka, and the region—

The 5th Annual Great Plains Art, Food & Maker Festival returns Saturday, September 26, 2026, at beautiful Sesquicentennial Point Park overlooking Clinton Lake and the Wakarusa River Valley in Lawrence, Kansas.

This is more than a vendor fair—it’s a full day of art, food, music, culture, and community set in a scenic outdoor space with sweeping views of the lake and valley, featuring a main stage with professional regional musical acts performing throughout the day.

We’re building a carefully curated mix of original handmade artists, bold makers, food trucks, dessert vendors, bakers, specialty food artisans, arts organizations, and creative small businesses who bring something real and memorable to the experience.

No mass-produced resale items. No copy-and-paste vendor rows. We intentionally keep duplication low and select only a small number of vendors in each category so the event feels unique, vibrant, and worth discovering.

Vendor booth spaces are only $100, and space is limited to just 100 vendors.

If you create with passion, make something original, and want to be part of something that brings people together through creativity—we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now at: greatplainsfest.org
email: [email protected]
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04/17/2026

Lawrence, Kansas. This is how something lasting begins.

Not just with an event — but with a vision.

A place where people can gather.
Where art, culture, and community come together.
Where something real can be felt and shared.

At Sesquicentennial Point, we already have that place — a little gem overlooking Clinton Lake and the Wakarusa River Valley.

And we have a plan to build something more.

The amphitheater project has taken an important step forward in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan process.

It’s not funded yet. But it’s real.

And right now, it needs people who believe in it.

Because this doesn’t happen on its own.

It happens when a community decides it matters.

If you’ve ever felt something at a live event…
If you believe in creating spaces where people can connect, be inspired, and belong…

We’re asking you to be part of this.

Go to greatplainsfest.com
Click “Donate” or “Stay in the Know”

Even a small contribution helps move this forward.

Let’s build something meaningful for Lawrence — together.