Overview

Overview

The Pickin' on the Plains Festival, now in its seventh year, strives to bring top-notch bluegrass and folk entertainment to Northwest Kansas at an affordable price. Located on the Kansas plains at Bourquin's Campground in Colby, KS, the festival is an outdoor event with warm to hot days, wide open views, spectacular sunsets and beautiful, cool, starry nights (great for jam sessions)! A major goal of the festival promoters is to encompass a wide array of bluegrass and folk styles in order to provide something to suit everyone, in a friendly, family-type atmosphere. Consequently, bands range from very traditional to very contemporary, and extra activities include a small craft fair with festival t-shirts, food booths, free horse-drawn wagon rides and free make and take children's crafts.

Full-service and dry camping are available on the grounds by contacting Bourquin's Campground at 785-462-3300, and remote camping can be found at the Thomas County Fairgrounds.

Each year, the committee has made improvements to the festival. One of the most obvious and greatest assets has been the construction of our 2800 square foot canopy to shade the audience. Water misters near the canopy provide a type of "outdoor air-conditioning", keeping the temperature under the canopy quite comfortable and supplying young festival attendees as additional source of splashing enjoyment.

In case of inclement weather, an indoor back-up location awaits at the Colby Community Building in downtown Colby.

The festival has been said to be one of the most well organized and friendly festivals around. Situated on I-70 between Denver and Kansas City, it's a great place for Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado bands and fans to meet and network for future bookings and gatherings across state lines.

Bluegrass is suddenly exploding in popularity, and Colby is leading the way with our great festival. We do hope you'll join us this year--and bring your family, friends, and instruments!

For more information, contact the Colby Convention and Visitors Bureau at 785-462-7643 or 1-800-611-8835. Group discounts are available.