Free live music, carnival rides and a parade billed as the largest in Kansas will fill downtown Olathe for three days starting Sept. 10, when the Johnson County Old Settlers festival returns for its 128th year.
The festival runs through Sept. 12 kicking off at noon Thursday. Admission is free.
The Old Settlers Association, an all-volunteer nonprofit, organizes the annual celebration around the Johnson County Square, the same courthouse lawn where pioneer settlers first gathered on Sept. 17, 1898, to swap stories of traveling West. That first reunion opened with a bugle call at 11 o'clock, followed by a prayer, music and a basket dinner, according to a Johnson County government history of the event.
The tradition has been interrupted only a handful of times: in 1946 during a polio epidemic, in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021 when downtown construction forced a cancellation.
What to expect
Headlining the free concert stage, country artist Phil Vassar performs Friday, Sept. 11, and tribute act The Phil Collins Experience takes the stage Sept. 12, KCTV5 reported.
Beyond the music, the three-day lineup includes more than 15 food booths run by Johnson County nonprofits, arts and crafts vendors, a car show, flower show, beer garden, ice cream social and carnival rides. The Grange Pup, a festival food staple since 1948, traces its origins to a fundraiser for Morning Grange.
Saturday's parade winds down Santa Fe Street through the heart of downtown.
Deep roots
The festival's community ties run generations deep. Olathe boot maker HYER Boots, founded in 1875 by C.H. Hyer, sits on the Old Settlers community board and has marched in the parade for decades.
Residents who have lived in Johnson County for at least 45 years qualify as "Old Settlers" and can register at the annual Gab Fest, a gathering where longtime neighbors share memories. A time capsule placed on the Johnson County Square during the festival's 100th anniversary in 1998 is set to be opened in 2057.
How to get involved
All food booth spaces for 2026 are full, according to the Old Settlers Association website, but a waiting list is available by emailing [email protected]. Vendors, sponsors and volunteers can find applications at johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com.
Upcoming community events
- Sept. 10–12 — Johnson County Old Settlers festival, downtown Olathe. Free admission. Starts noon Thursday. johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com
