Downtown Manhattan Inc.

Festival of Lights - Christmas in July - Movie Screening
2026-07-12 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Hilton Garden Inn, 410 S. 3rd St., Manhattan, KS, 66502, United States

Third Thursdays in Downtown MHK
2026-07-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown Manhattan
Mark your calendars for July 16th as we celebrate America 250 with a fun Little Firecracker Kids Parade!
🎉 Join us for a fun evening celebrating Art in Downtown! 🎉
Third Thursdays in Downtown Manhattan, bringing fresh energy, creativity, and connection to the streets. Each month, downtown transforms into a lively, family-friendly celebration of the arts—featuring live performances, artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a vibrant maker’s market atmosphere.
✨ Come one, come all — friends, families, kids, and curious explorers — for an evening filled with creativity, local flavor, and plenty of reasons to linger.
🎨 Highlights You Won’t Want to Miss!
July’s event is packed with something for everyone — here’s a taste of what’s in store:
🎶 Live performances all evening— A lineup of talented local musicians, dancers and will keep the energy going with live performances throughout the event.
🧱 Build Something Amazing — BHS returns with their fan-favorite interactive Children’s Construction area — get ready to build, stack, and create and a fun new clubhouse for kids to help decorate!
🏙️ Fun for All Ages — The City of MHK is bringing an interactive area designed for kids and adults alike to play and explore together on North 4th street. Touch a Truck with the Forestry Dept, MHK Airport will host a paper airplane project & the City will provide fun interactive building blocks!
🎭 Storytime Live — The Actors Theater Group brings imagination to life with performances of beloved children’s stories 6:30 pm on the North side of the Mall Plaza
🦁 Wild Encounters — Sunset Zoo joins us once again with a hands-on project and a special animal ambassador for up-close encounters.
🥧 Ther-a-pie Pie Walk Our beloved Cake Walk has received a delicious upgrade! Sponsored by Therapie, join the fun for a chance to win a pie — the sweetest new tradition on the block @ the SW corner of 4th Street in front of Gaia Salon. Bonus – they will offer $1 off pie slices in house!
🦸 Broken Cannon Cosplay Activity – WTC partners with Broken Cannon Cosplay for an interactive kids’ activity on the North Corner of the Mall Plaza.
🤠 Boots, Beats & Bags — Texas Roadhouse is saddling up with line dancing and cornhole games — y’all don’t want to miss this!
🎸 Free Concert Alert — We Are the Branches takes the stage for a free concert at Switch Wicked, kicking off at 6:30 pm.

As a part of Pool House Summer, We’ll be doing Pool House Pop-ups every Third Thursday! This time around, we’ll be setting up in the Bodega with tiki cocktails, gourmet hot dogs and this time the Nachos are making a comeback! Come by from 5-8 on July 16th to experience!
Third Thursday Art Market at SNW Gallery –
Summertime is rolling, and it’s time for another Art Market for 3rd Thursday! We will have a wonderful variety of goods for sale, and you will find ceramics, jewelry, original art, vanilla extract, and more!
The current roster of featured artists (we may have more added):Flor Widmar – NEW ceramic artist (pictured in banner)Judy Willingham – jewelry (pictured in banner) in fine silver and quality stonesAudrey Etgen – original watercolors and drawingsElene Shushanian – original art, prints, decor, and maybe chocolates!Amy Rintoul – Trufflefaerie vanilla products and jewelry
Downtown businesses will feature specials, deals and fun events as part of the evenings activities –
1419 Mercantile will host Salty Sunflower Designs, custom and permanent jewelry
The Boutique – Third Thursday Luau – Island drinks, tropical treats & summer sale 40 – 75% off!
Elevated – Open until late – Weekly special deals
Rev Thread – Buy One Get One Free rack! Celebrate their final TT in the current location – Opening new location in August!
Tallgrass Taphouse – Red, white & Blue summer Beer! Vodka, Placeholder American Wheat Ale, Blue Curacao, Strawberry, Whip Cream & Lemon!
Manhattan Brewing Company – $6 Patio Beers
Bourbon & Baker – Cocktail Happy Hour until 8pm & Whiskey Ritas & Whiskey Punch on the patio!
River Heights Yarn Co. – Community Stitching – 5 – 8 pm
House of Color – Open late & offering color consults
G Marie Designs – Open Late
Third Thursdays – May – September | 5–8 PM
Right in the heart of Downtown Manhattan – 300 & 400 Sidewalks along Poyntz Ave & along North & South 4th Street
There’s truly something for every age and interest — come spend the evening with us downtown! 🎉

Downtown MHK Firecracker Bike Parade
2026-07-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Manhattan
It’s America’s 250th birthday and we are celebrating with the most important parade of the summer. The Firecracker Bike Parade is coming to Third Thursday on July 16th. All entries must be decked out in red, white, and blue! Decorate your bike, your wagon, your scooter, or your stroller, bring your little ones downtown for a good old fashioned neighborhood parade.
Kids ages 0–8 are welcome to participate. Siblings up to age 12 may ride along to keep the little ones company. Bikes, scooters, wagons, and strollers are all welcome. No electric rides please, pedal power only for this one.
Sign up via this link – https://form.jotform.com/marketinghistoricdowntown/firecracker-bike-parade

National Day of the Cowboy @ Flint Hills Discovery Center
2026-07-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Flint Hills Discovery Center, 315 S. 3rd St., Manhattan, KS, 66502, United States
Wrangle up the family and join the Flint Hills Discovery Center for National Day of the Cowboy, an annual celebration of the national icon and the history and culture of the American West!
All activities are included with admission or FHDC membership

Movie in the Park @ Blue Earth Plaza
2026-08-07 19:30 - 21:30 | Manhattan Parks & Recreation, 1101 Poyntz Ave, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502
Grab your badge, round up your herd, and hop on over to Movie in the Park!

Join us Friday, August 7 at 7:30 PM in Blue Earth Plaza for a wild evening featuring Zootopia 2 on the big screen!

Come early to claim a great spot — because in this city, anyone can be anything… but not everyone can get the perfect lawn seat.

Before the movie, Sunset Zoo will have an educational booth set up, so stop starting at 6:45 PM to learn more about the amazing animals right here in Manhattan. Want to get even more in the spirit? Visit Sunset Zoo before movie night and make it a full Zootopia-inspired adventure!

Plus, we’ll have some tasty treats on-site:

Bella Hana’s Ice Cream & Pastry Shoppe will be selling ice cream and tasty treats
Manhattan Brewing Company will be selling alcoholic beverages

So bring your blankets, chairs, friends, family, and maybe your best Judy Hopps-level optimism.

Community Fair @ Manhattan Town Center
2026-08-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Manhattan Town Center, 100 Manhattan Town Ctr, Manhattan, KS, 66502, United States
Join us at the Community Fair to connect with Manhattan-area non-profits and businesses!
Learn about new initiatives, volunteer opportunities, community resources, and even local job openings all in one place.

Third Thursdays in Downtown MHK
2026-08-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown Manhattan
🎉 Third Thursday in Downtown Manhattan 🎉
Third Thursdays in Downtown Manhattan, bring fresh energy, creativity, and connection to the streets. Each month, downtown transforms into a lively, family-friendly celebration of the arts—featuring live performances, artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a vibrant maker’s market atmosphere.
✨ Come one, come all — friends, families, kids, and curious explorers — for an evening filled with creativity, local flavor, and plenty of reasons to linger.
🎨 Highlights include:• Incredible local artists & makers• Wonder Workshop at the Brain Station (AJ’s Platform) with creative activities for kids• Beloved favorites like the Cake Walk, sidewalk musicians, and pop-up performances
🕔 When & Where:Every 3rd Thursday – May – September | 5–8 PMRight in the heart of Downtown Manhattan – 300 & 400 Sidewalks along Poyntz Ave & along North & South 4th Street
🌟 Every Third Thursday offers something new to discover. Mark your calendar, gather your people, and join us as downtown comes alive—again and again.
Stay tuned as more details become available!

Third Thursdays in Downtown MHK
2026-09-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown Manhattan
🎉 Get Downtown for our final Third Thursday of the season! 🎉
Third Thursdays bring fresh energy, creativity, and connection to the streets. Each month, downtown transforms into a lively, family-friendly celebration of the arts—featuring live performances, artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a vibrant maker’s market atmosphere.
✨ Come one, come all — friends, families, kids, and curious explorers — for an evening filled with creativity, local flavor, and plenty of reasons to linger.
🎨 Highlights include:• Incredible local artists & makers• Wonder Workshop at the Brain Station (AJ’s Platform) with creative activities for kids• Beloved favorites like the Cake Walk, sidewalk musicians, and pop-up performances
🕔 When & Where:September 17th | 5–8 PMRight in the heart of Downtown Manhattan – 300 & 400 Sidewalks along Poyntz Ave & along North & South 4th Street
🌟 Every Third Thursday offers something new to discover. Mark your calendar, gather your people, and join us as downtown comes alive—again and again.
Stay tuned as more details become available!

All Treats Day in Downtown Manhattan
2026-10-30 16:00 - 18:00 | Downtown Manhattan
Join us for All Treats Day in Downtown on Friday, October 30th, from 4 PM to 6 PM!
Families are invited to stroll down Poyntz Avenue, where kids can safely trick-or-treat at participating neighborhood businesses. Come in costume and enjoy a fun, family-friendly Halloween experience in the heart of our community!
Don’t forget the annual Boo Party from 4-6pm at the Manhattan Town Center!
