Leisure Time Activities

• Arts
• Entertainment
• Festivals
• Lakes
• Visiting Topeka
• Volunteering in Topeka

Arts

The arts are alive and well in Topeka! 

Topeka's First Friday event coordinated by ArtsConnect attracts hundreds of people to the multitude of art galleries throughout the city.  Watch for details in the local paper each "First Friday" or pick up a copy of "City Arts" a brochure about arts in Topeka at the Chamber or galleries throughout the city.

The excitement of live theater can be experienced nearly every night at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, the Topeka Civic Theatre, the Helen Hocker Performing Arts Center in Gage Park, Terrance McKerr's Theater Pub, or Washburn University.

The Kansas Expocentre provides the stage for performers such as Kenny Rogers, Oak Ridge Boys, Chicago, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, and George Strait. The circus comes to town annually along with rodeos and shows such as Sesame Street Live.

The Topeka Performing Arts Center features professional performances and concerts, and the annual Topeka International Jazz Festival, a Memorial Day Weekend event featuring more than two dozen of the world's greatest jazz musicians.

The Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy offers award winning dinner theatre performances (and non-dinner, too!), studio productions, and a children's academy.

The Topeka Symphony Orchestra, an 80 member professional orchestra, presents classical music and world-renowed guest artists in their annual concert series.  The Topeka Community Concert Association, the Topeka Opera Society, the Fine Arts Society, and the Topeka Jazz Workshop also offer a variety of entertainment by local, regional, and national performers. The Sunflower Music Festival brings professional musicians from across the country to Washburn University each June and the city and county parks and recreation departments feature local musical groups in area parks and at Brown Bag lunches downtown during the summer months.

Topeka has over 20 art galleries devoted to furthering artistic expression and appreciation. The Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library maintain permanent collections and present exhibits monthly. Community events such as the Mulvane Mountain Plains Art Far, Kaw River Valley Art Festival, and Cider Days offer area artists opportunity for display and sale of their works.

Check the Topeka Community Calendar for details about upcoming events!

Entertainment

The Topeka Roadrunners, a member of the North American Hockey League, offer exciting play at the Kansas Expocentre.

Festivals and Special Events

January: Kansas Day Celebration

February: Kansas Silent Film Festival

March: St. Patrick's Day Parade and Street Fair

April: ERC Designer Showhouse; Great Plains Rowing Championship

May: Cinco de Mayo Celebration

June: O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals;  Kansas State High School Rodeo Championships; Mountain Plains Art Fair at Washburn University; Topeka Tinman Triathlon; Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival; Sunflower Music Festival; Juneteenth

July: Spirit of Kansas Celebration; Sunflower State Games; Mexican Fiesta

August: Kansas Black Expo

September: Pow Wow; Huff 'n Puff Balloon Rally; Cider Days; Sertoma Greater Topeka Duck Race; Kansas Folklife Festival

October: Apple Festival; SCCA National Championship Runoffs®

November: Cedar Crest Classic; Winter Wonderland

December: Winter Wonderland; Festival of Trees; Holiday Happenings; Miracle On Kansas Avenue

Lakes and Recreation

Lake Shawnee is located immediately adjacent to the city limits. This 400 acre lake is a picturesque setting for sailing, boating, camping, swimming, fishing, and provides recreational facilities for amateur sporting activities.

If you enjoy water sports, hunting and camping, you'll love the Topeka/Shawnee County area. Just 15 miles to the northeast is Lake Perry covering more than 11,000 acres with two marinas, a yacht club, and many camping areas. This beautiful tree lined lake is a local favorite.

Twenty miles east of Topeka is Lake Clinton. Clinton is a major fishing lake with many of the same amenities as Lake Perry, including boating, swimming, and skiing.

Lake Pomona is just 35 miles south of Topeka. This 4,000 acre lake offers the same wide variety of activities, including project areas for hunting in season.

Milford Lake provides some of the best fishing in Kansas. Several state records have come from the lake. Largemouth, smallmouth, striped and white bass, along with channel catfish, walleye, and crappie are favorites with the anglers. Milford Lake is 65 miles west of Topeka.

Another major lake, Melvern Lake is thirty-nine miles southwest of Topeka with more than 6,900 acres of water surface. Melvern has all the usual amenities and boasts of six park areas for recreation.

Tuttle Creek Lake, approximately 60 miles west of Topeka, is Kansas' largest lake covering more than 13,350 acres with 104 miles of shoreline. Tuttle Creek lies in the Flint Hills Region and offers a unique combination of woodland and grassland for recreational activities.

Visiting Topeka?

Whether you plan to stay one night or several nights, there is lots to see and do in Topeka. Check out the local attractions, shop at the mall or in one of the many specialty shops, pause for a cup of coffee or a meal.

You'll find a current Visitor's Guide in all of our hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast properties, or through Visit Topeka! Inc., 1275 S. Topeka Blvd. The Visit Topeka Web site lists attractions and overnight accommodations.

Volunteering in Topeka

Topekans are known for caring about one another. People from all walks of life volunteer their time and talents for a multitude of organizations and agencies always reaching out to help others and to promote our high quality of life.

From delivering Meals on Wheels to helping with the Race Against Breast Cancer to serving as a reader to an elementary school student there's opportunity to get involved!

Several resources are available:

Civic Organization List: Available through the Chamber of Commerce office, this list gives a contact person and number for over 200 civic groups from the Topeka Audubon Society to the Washburn Walkers. E-mail us at topekainfo@topekachamber.org, or drop by the Chamber office, 120 SE 6th, Suite 110.

Volunteer Center of Topeka: The Volunteer Center acts as a referral service for individuals wishing to volunteer in the community. Call 785-272-8890.