After two years of cancellations — due to weather and COVID-19 — the Symphony in the Flint Hills (www.symphonyintheflinthills.org) finally returns to rural Kansas. A eclectic mixture of classical music and cowboy culture, this day-long event celebrates the history, ecology and culture of the last stand of native tallgrass prairie. This years concert will be held at the North Lakeview Pasture in Morris County on June 12, 2021. And although the venue changes yearly, great care has always been taken to insure the Symphony in the Flint Hills accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers.

A Day in the Prairie

Now in its sixteenth year, each Symphony in the Flint Hills has a different theme .The 2021 theme is the Santa Fe Trail, which was built 200 years ago and passes through nearby Council Grove. During the day, lectures and activities commemorating the trail will be presented in the tents near the concert site. There’s level access to all the tents, which also offer a silent art auction, adult libations, and a scrumptious BBQ dinner with all the trimmings. The sunset concert is the highlight of the day, but plan to arrive in the early afternoon so you can enjoy the other activities.

No matter where you sit, you’ll never forget the experience of listening to the music of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra set against the backdrop of the tallgrass prairie. As the sun sets, cowboys appear on the horizon, and then slowly make their way down to the stage area; and when the show nears an end they ride off into the distance. It’s probably the only symphony performance where you’ll feel comfortable in blue jeans and cowboy boots. And in keeping with tradition, the performance concludes with a rousing sing along of Home on the Range. Afterwards, guests are welcome to linger on and enjoy the night sky, or maybe listen in on the story circle, or indulge in a little dancing. Whatever you choice, you’ll have a full day of fun on the beautiful Kansas prairie.

COVID Safety and Wheelchair Access

Safety is a prime concern for the Symphony in the Flint Hills organizers, and additional COVID-19 precautions will be in place this year. Guests are asked to social distance themselves at least six feet from other parties, and wear masks when social distancing is not possible. Additional hand washing stations will be added to the venue and volunteers will be on hand to to wipe down high-use surfaces. Additionally, guests are asked to sit only with their own group, and pack along hand sanitizer.

The venue encompasses about 60 acres, and the concert site is located a good distance from the ticket gate. Most attendees walk over the rock and dirt covered prairie to the concert site; however accommodations are in place for folks who can’t manage the walk. Limited shuttle service is available from the accessible parking area to the ticket gate, where there is a designated disabled entrance. People who need accessible transport to the concert site are given ADA wristbands at this entrance, so volunteers will be aware of their needs. Lift-equipped transportation is available to the concert site from the ticket gate, and an accessible shuttle also runs between the patron tent and the reserved ADA seating area. Top it off with accessible porta-potties dotted over the site, and you have a very accessible event. That said, if you have any special needs, require ADA seating, or just have a few questions about access, call (620) 273-8955.

Tickets for the 2021 event are on sale now. General admission tickets are $95 for adults and $50 for children under 12. Plan ahead though as tickets go like hotcakes, and this popular event always sells out.