The 128th Johnson County Old Settlers festival opens Sept. 10, at Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe. The three-day event features free concerts, carnival rides, food vendors and what organizers call the largest parade in Kansas.
Admission is free. Carnival rides and some activities cost extra.
The festival opens at noon Thursday with a ceremony honoring Bill Garton, a 100-year-old Olathe resident, business owner, U.S. Army Air Forces veteran and advocate for the deaf community. Johnson County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly will present Garton with a proclamation recognizing his birthday, military service and contributions to Olathe, the Johnson County Post reported.
Garton, named Citizen of the Year by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce in 2026, will serve as grand marshal of Saturday's parade.
More than 150 arts, crafts, commercial and food vendors will line Park and Cherry streets starting at noon Thursday. The festival runs noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 10; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 11; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 12, according to the Kansas City Star.
Carnival hours
- Thursday: 5 to 10 p.m.
- Friday: 5 to 11 p.m.
- Saturday: noon to 11 p.m.
Concert lineup
All concerts are free. Country singer Phil Vassar headlines Friday at 7:30 p.m. on the Chestnut Street Stage. Earlier Friday, Drew Six, the Zac Waterman Band, Kristy Wyatt & the Moxie and the Olathe Community Orchestra perform at the Johnson County Square Stage.
The Phil Collins Experience, a tribute show celebrating the music of Phil Collins and Genesis, headlines Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on the Chestnut Street Stage. Other performers across the weekend include Frank Drummond, Carl and Vicki Worden, the Basement Boyz, Josephine Eve and the Olathe Civic and Jazz Bands.
Parade route and road closures
The Old Settlers parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The route starts at Kansas Avenue and Loula Street, heads east to Water Street, north to Park Street and east to Buchanan Street. Side streets along the route close at 8 a.m. for staging.
Free shuttle
A free shuttle runs between Olathe North High School, 600 E. Prairie St., and the festival grounds. Shuttle hours are 4:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
More to do
- Flower show: Downtown Library, Friday 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Ice cream social: 111 S. Cherry St., Friday 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Auto show: Mill Creek Learning Center, Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The full schedule is available at johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com.
