Hot weather finally hits Kansas, lures visitors to state parks
PRATT -- Warm summer weather swept across the Sunflower State over Memorial Day weekend, luring Kansans out of the house and onto the water to beat the heat and soak up the sun. As warm weather continues, so do park activities, with a host of special events on tap for the first month of summer. Some events are scheduled in conjunction with Free Park Entrance Days, some celebrate a special historical event or geological attribute of an individual park, and others are just for entertainment. Each park sets its own dates for these events.

June will include many free park entrance days, kids' fishing events, trail rides, and the ever-popular Country Stampede, featuring three days of live music at Tuttle Creek State Park. In addition, June 6-7 are Free Fishing Days statewide, and June 6 is National Trails Day. Other events will be featured, depending on the park. Many are educational and all make visiting Kansas state parks more fun. For more information on state park events, phone individual parks or click the "Event Calendar" on the "State Parks" page of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Park goers are urged to phone the park they intend to visit before traveling. Telephone numbers of all state parks offices may be found on the KDWP website. Click "State Parks" at the top of the page, then "Locations" in the left-hand column.

The following is a list of events for June:

• June 5-7 -- Rainbow Meadows equine rescue and retirement trail ride at Perry State Park;
• June 5-7 -- Hunt 4 Hunger benefit fishing tournament at Eisenhower State Park;
• June 6 -- Free Park Entrance Day at Elk City State Park;
• June 6 -- Free Park Entrance Day at Cross Timbers State Park;
• June 6 -- Free Park Entrance Day at Fall River State Park;
• June 6-7 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Perry State Park;
• June 6 -- Free Park Entrance Day and kids' fishing derby at Pomona State Park;
• June 6-7 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Webster State Park;
• June 6-7 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Glen Elder State Park;
• June 6-7 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Scott State Park;
• June 6 -- 5th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament at Glen Elder State Park;
• June 6 -- National Trails Day, free trail entrance at Cross Timbers State Park;
• June 6 -- National Trails Day, free trail entrance at Fall River State Park;
• June 7 -- Kids fishing derby at Lovewell State Park;
• June 11-17 -- Ironman Event at Clinton State Park (Boat Ramp #3 closed);
• June 12-13 -- Kansas Wildscape Golf and Fishing Classic at Milford State Park and Rolling Meadows Golf Course;
• June 12-14 -- Miami County Cancer Foundation trail ride at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 12-14 -- Hell Creek Hoedown music festival and Free Park Entrance Days (June 13-14) at Wilson State Park;
• June 13-14 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Cedar Bluff State Park;
• June 13-14 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Eisenhower State Park;
• June 13-14 -- Free Park Entrance Days at Wilson State Park;
• June 13 -- National Get Outdoors Day at Pomona State Park;
• June 13 -- Jackpot Buddy bass fishing tournament at Perry State Park;
• June 13 -- Backlashers Bass Club fishing tournament at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 13 -- OK Kids Day and Free Park Entrance Day at Wilson State Park;
• June 14 -- Dick's bass tournament at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 18-21 -- Eastern Kansas Arabian Horse Association trail ride at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 20-21 -- South Central Kansas Trail Riders Association trail ride at Milford State Park;
• June 20-21 -- Hooves of Heaven horseback trail ride at Cedar Bluff State Park;
• June 20 -- VANGO fishing tournament fundraiser at Clinton State Park;
• June 21 -- Free Park Entrance Day at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 25-28 -- Country Stampede music festival at Tuttle Creek State Park;
• June 26-27 -- MOTDRA 15- to 25-mile equestrian trail ride at Milford State Park; and
• June 27 - Froggz Bass Club fishing tournament at Wilson State Park.

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