Hometown pride abounds in McPherson and is driven by individuals who are passionate about telling the community's story through attractions, entertainment and small-town hospitality. All Schools Day celebrates more than 100 years of education in McPherson County. The McPherson Museum highlights many "firsts" including the creation of the first synthetic diamond. The McPherson Opera House offers a historical venue for modern performances. The McPherson Festival of Cultures celebrates diversity. The benefits of McPherson's progressive nature is visitors feel called to stay and discover more. Some even choose to call McPherson their home.

Music

From acoustic jam sessions at the local coffee shop to professional productions at the historic McPherson Opera House , there is no shortage of live entertainment in McPherson. Enjoy a summer evening at Concerts for a Cause , an outdoor event highlighting local talent and non-profit organizations. Become entranced by bagpipers at the annual McPherson Festival of Cultures . Dance under the stars at the All Schools Day street dance.

The presence of two liberal arts colleges offering degrees in the performing arts solidifies the overall availability of diverse repertoire and performances in McPherson. Students develop musicianship and leadership skills at McPherson College by participating in ensembles, musical theatre, Broadway musical revues and specialized tours. Students attending Central Christian College are taught practical skills and encouraged to utilize their knowledge toward a life of service. Both colleges offer concerts, public performances and student recitals.

Theatre

Discovering quality theatre in McPherson is a simple task. McPherson High School students deliver a season of shows highlighting student talent. Central Christian College produces live stage productions to improve student creativity and provide hands-on experience related to the communicative arts major. McPherson College Theatre is known for its professional set designs and First Nighters, a dinner theatre orchestrated by students. Audiences are also entertained by musicals, comedies, classics, social dramas and original theatrical works.

Looking to get involved? McPherson Community Theatre utilizes volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to deliver highly anticipated productions at the McPherson Opera House . Whether onstage, backstage, in the box office, in the sound booth or in the costume shop, volunteers become a part of a unique setting and benefit from life-changing moments.

Festivals

There's no better way to learn about a community's heritage than attending local festivals. Discover McPherson's passion for education by partaking in All Schools Day activities. Experience pioneer life firsthand at the Mountain Man Rendezvous. Become mesmerized by bagpipes as you embrace the world at the McPherson Festival of Cultures. Each unique festival gives visitors fulfillment and inspiration to return for more.

Mountain Man Rendezvous

The Maxwell Game Preserve in Canton hosts the Mountain Man Rendezvous each fall. The event offers a look at the life of explorers and trappers of the early 1800s with reenactments, craft demonstrations, survival skills and games of the era. Food, arts and craft booths, musical entertainment and buffalo tours are included. Maxwell Game Preserve is dedicated to providing education, history and preservation of central Kansas prairie heritage. For more information, call 620.628.4455.

McPherson Festival of Cultures

For more than 20 years, McPherson was home to the annual McPherson Scottish Festival featuring Highland games, Celtic music, dance and food. In 2016, festival organizers broadened the event to include all nationalities and renamed the event McPherson Festival of Cultures . Enhancements celebrate the community's diverse ethnic heritage and encourage festival attendance by both locals and visitors. The Highland games and pipe band competitions continue to entertain the crowds while a full slate of live music, demonstrations, market booths and food vendors encourage attendees to embrace the world.

Museums

There's no better place to discover a community's heritage than at a museum. Let your journey begin at the McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation, a modern facility highlighting McPherson history through artwork, artifacts and exhibits. You'll also discover fascinating facts about our community when you explore other museum-like settings including the downtown mural series, the McPherson Opera House, McPherson College, Central College of Kansas and the McPherson County Courthouse. Each location tells a story and will entertain visitors of all ages.

Automotive Restoration

McPherson College stands alone as the only school in the United States to provide a bachelor's degree in Restoration Technology . The four-year academic program provides in-depth learning from dedicated instructors while offering career support services. Students have access to internships at national museums and restoration shops. Graduates are prepared to step into corporate level restoration entities, become general restorers, step into museum settings and become leaders in the industry.

Restoration hobbyists and professionals can participate in the Automotive Restoration Institute offering the same expert instructors and quality facilities. Five-day workshops concentrate on specific skill areas and provide hands-on experience. Workshop enrollment is limited, allowing for personal attention.

Maintaining a safe learning environment is at the forefront of the Restoration Technology program. Tours are no longer available to the general public due to the high capacity of enrolled students. Visitors are encouraged to participate in or attend the annual C.A.R.S. Club Motoring Festival held during the spring semester. Dates will vary depending on the college's academic calendar. Call 620.242.0428 for current information.

McPherson Museum

The best place to explore McPherson's heritage is at the McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation , 1111 E. Kansas. The modern 12,000 square-foot facility offers exhibits about the historical people, places and endeavors of McPherson County. Discover a dire wolf, saber tooth cat and giant ground sloth from the La Brea Tar Pits. Admire a collection of Birger Sandzen prints, lithographs and oils. View exhibits featuring minerals, fossils, textiles and Native American pottery.

The McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation provides educational programs, lecture series and social events. The facilities are also available for rent and provide an attractive option for wedding receptions, lectures, reunions, birthday parties, banquets and conferences. For current costs and availability, call 620.241.8464.

In 2016, the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau established its office at the museum. The collaboration was part of a comprehensive plan to establish a Kansas Travel Information Center in McPherson. Travelers have access to Kansas maps and information about destination experiences throughout the McPherson area.

Arts

McPherson artists, both past and present, have contributed to the community's reputation for providing quality visual arts. Revolving exhibits are hosted at several locations including Friendship Hall on the McPherson College campus, the McPherson Public Library, and the Heritage Gallery at the McPherson Opera House. Professional works are available for purchase at the Visual Arts Alliance of Mcpherson (VAAM) gallery located at the McPherson Opera House.

Looking for a unique artistic experience? Be sure to explore The Clayworks shop and studio in downtown McPherson, a business dedicated to supporting the artistic abilities of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Heritage Gallery
219 S Main Street
McPherson, KS 67460
Phone: 620-241-1952
Visit Our Website

Heritage Gallery

Located in the main hallway of the McPherson Opera House , the Heritage Gallery features a different artist each month. Exhibits provide refreshing mediums and interpretations of various topics. No matter what the media - watercolor, oil painting, black and white photography or textiles - art lovers will marvel at the talent displayed.

One Door North Gallery
107 N Main Street
McPherson, KS 67460
Phone: 620-504-6550

The Clayworks & One Door North

The shop and studio that make up The Clayworks are a small part of an organization called Disability Supports of the Great Plains. Created in 1996 by parents and children with special needs, Disability Supports provides innovative, individualized services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With live-in campuses, day services and in-home assistance in McPherson and Hutchinson, this one-of-a-kind organization uniquely serves the needs of clients, families and caregivers. The Clayworks experience adds to their overall lifetime enrichment.

The artists of The Clayworks decide when and what to create. Clay kilns, potter's wheels, glazes and other tools are at their disposal. Professional art educators from the area are on staff. Clay works artists aren't producing art simply to pass time. It is their work, a product worthy of value and an act of self expression. They receive 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of their merchandise. The income provides a measure of independence and is an important part of a full and complete life.

When you visit The Clayworks, you will find a new way of looking at art and, perhaps, the talented individuals who create it. Let your journey continue to One Door North where you will discover other mediums created by Clayworks artists. The gallery is literally located one door north!

VAAM Gallery
223 S Main Street
McPherson, KS 67460
Phone: 620-241-5774

Hours
Tuesday - Saturday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

VAAM Gallery

There's no better place to view and purchase local artwork than at the Visual Arts Alliance of McPherson Gallery (VAAM). Located at 223 S. Main at the McPherson Opera House, VAAM was founded by the McPherson Arts Alliance , an organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for appreciation, education and participation in the arts. VAAM Gallery artists have varied styles, mediums and forms of expression, providing an eclectic showroom.

VAAM also offers summer art classes for community youth to explore textiles, graphite, painting, comic books, sculptures, photography and more. Select classes are also available for adults throughout the year. To learn more about class availability, call 620.241.5774.

Events

McPherson Main Street
Ann Engel, Executive Director
306 N. Main
McPherson, KS 67406
620-241-7430
mainst@mcphersonks.org

McPherson Main Street

Merchants and shoppers alike benefit from events sponsored by McPherson Main Street, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the Downtown McPherson area. The membership-based organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors whose primary focus is to raise awareness of the products and services available in our community. This is accomplished through sales promotions, community activities that generate consumer traffic, and various resources to help member businesses with expansions, re-locations and marketing.

Tours

One of the best ways to explore McPherson is through a specialized tour. Discover the passion of McPherson by viewing stained glass windows, walking the historical district or riding a tram through the Kansas prairie. Self-guided tours are available or the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau can plan the perfect tour for your group. For a current listing of tours and related maps, visit our office located in the Kansas Travel Information Center at 1111 E. Kansas.

Stained Glass Tour
Artist Randy Rayer refers to stained glass windows as "windows of the soul" and we couldn't agree more! The soul of McPherson comes alive through decorative windows at the McPherson Opera House, St. Anne's Episcopal Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ, First Christian Church, McPherson Public Library and McPherson Church of the Brethren.

McPherson Mural Tour
Downtown McPherson is the site of several murals documenting McPherson's history including the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge (Sutherland & Main), All Schools Day (123 S. Main), McPherson College Automotive Restoration (Euclid & Main), Central Christian College (Main & Marlin), Veterans Memorial (401 N. Main) and the McPherson Globe Refiners (Ash & Kansas). Other outdoor paintings of interest include the Easy Rider (400 N. Maple) and the restored Coca-Cola advertisement at the McPherson Opera House (219 S. Main).

Historical Walking or Driving Tour
A refreshing stroll through the historical district introduces many homes and buildings established in the late 1880s. Many homes are clustered on south Walnut Street and represent McPherson's the first neighborhood to receive electricity, sewers and streetlights. Included on the tour is the Bixby House, 321 S. Maple, built in 1879 and thought to be the oldest home in McPherson. The McPherson County Courthouse is a classic example of 19th Century Richardsonian Romanesque Architecture. Visitors are greeted on the west lawn by a bronze equestrian statue of General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War hero for whom the City of McPherson is named.

Holiday Lights Tour
Enjoy a festive view of McPherson during the holiday season. Trolley rides feature music, trivia and neighborhood lights. Public and private tours are available. For current rates and holiday schedule, call 620.241.3340.

Maxwell Game Preserve Tour
Jump aboard the modern day "covered wagon" at Maxwell Game Preserve for a prairie adventure on the 2,800-acre refuge. You'll encounter native grasses, wildflowers, birds, bison and elk. Tram tours are available throughout the year by reservation. Call 620.628.4455 for more information. All fees support, improve and expand services provided by the preserve.