2026 FESTIVAL EVENTS
2026 FESTIVAL EVENTS
Embedded Files
THE MYTHICAL MEDALLION HUNT
THE MYTHICAL MEDALLION HUNT
SUNDAY | JUNE 14-19 | NEWTON PUBLIC PARKS/AREAS
SUNDAY | JUNE 14-19 | NEWTON PUBLIC PARKS/AREAS
THE MYTHICAL MEDALLION HUNT
THE MYTHICAL MEDALLION HUNT
Ready for an adventure? Grab your friends, family, or anyone up for a challenge, and get ready to decode daily clues in the hunt for the elusive Sand Creek Charlie’s Mythical Medallion! This hand-crafted treasure is hidden somewhere in the Newton area on public property—and it’s waiting for YOU to find it!
Every morning at 9:00 a.m., we’ll drop a new clue on the Sand Creek Summer Daze Festival Facebook page. Use your wits, teamwork, and a little bit of luck to follow the trail and unearth the medallion! Check out the Mythical Medallion page for full prize details and the official rules—because finding this treasure means more than just bragging rights!
Are you ready to join the hunt and make your summer legendary?
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
THE BOYZ OF SUMMER
THE BOYZ OF SUMMER
THURSDAY | JUNE 18 | 7PM | KLEIN-SCOTT FIELD
THURSDAY | JUNE 18 | 7PM | KLEIN-SCOTT FIELD
NEWTON REBELS BASEBALL NIGHT
NEWTON REBELS BASEBALL NIGHT
Grab your gloves and get ready for America's favorite pastime! Kick off the Summer Daze Festival with the Rebel Baseball team as they step into their 26th season—and what better way to start the festivities than with a good ol' ball game?
With your Summer Daze button, you’ll get FREE entry to watch the action unfold at the ballpark. This is “the one constant through the years” that brings families, friends, and fans together for some classic American fun.
It’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out at the old ball game—so come on down, cheer on the Rebels, and let’s make some memories!
THE RAILTOWN RHYTHMZ CONCERT
THE RAILTOWN RHYTHMZ CONCERT
FRIDAY | JUNE 19 | 6:30PM | MILITARY PARK | FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES - GAVIN THUNBERG STAGE
FRIDAY | JUNE 19 | 6:30PM | MILITARY PARK | FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES - GAVIN THUNBERG STAGE
FREE MUSIC, FRESH VIBES. DOWNTOWN IS ALIVE!
FREE MUSIC, FRESH VIBES. DOWNTOWN IS ALIVE!
Get ready for the ultimate summer kick-off! For the first time ever, Summer Daze is bringing a FREE concert in downtown Newton—and it’s going to be unforgettable! In celebration of our nation’s Semiquincentennial, we’re turning Military Park into a music lover’s paradise. No button needed to enjoy this epic night, but trust us—you’ll want one. With your button, you’ll score amazing discounts on drinks, so you can sip and groove all night long!
The stage will come alive with No-Coast from Minnesota will be opening the show, followed by the Roadhouse Saints, who will have you dancing and rocking out as our headliners! Come help us celebrate in style, making this the first concert of the festival—and a night to remember in downtown Newton!
Food trucks will be serving up delicious eats, and beverages will be flowing all evening. Don’t forget to bring your blankets or lawn chairs, because this is one summer night you won’t want to miss!
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
FOOS-A-PALOOZA
FOOS-A-PALOOZA
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 9AM | ATHLETIC PARK
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 9AM | ATHLETIC PARK
VICTORY IS JUST A KICK AWAY... IF YOU CAN REACH IT
VICTORY IS JUST A KICK AWAY... IF YOU CAN REACH IT
Back by Popular Demand: Human Foosball! You asked for it, and we delivered! One of the most epic events of Summer Daze is making its grand return—and it’s better than ever! Get ready for the ultimate showdown in Human Foosball—where YOU are the players on the field! With walls, rods, turf, and side nets to keep the action fast, furious, and non-stop, this game will have you laughing, strategizing, and competing like never before. Whether you’re bringing the whole family or a crew of friends, this is one event you don’t want to miss.
So, round up your favorite “foo-seys,” put your game face on, and sign up today! Every team is guaranteed two high-energy games packed with fun, laughter, and a bit of friendly competition. Trust us, you’ll be talking about this all summer!
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
HOT SUMMER THRILLZ
HOT SUMMER THRILLZ
BIG SMILES. COOL VIBES. HOT SUMMER THRILLZ!
BIG SMILES. COOL VIBES. HOT SUMMER THRILLZ!
Welcome to the Hot Summer Thrillz Family Zone!
Get ready for nonstop fun for kids of all ages! The Hot Summer Thrillz area is packed with activities to keep the whole family smiling:
🖌️ Explore your creative side in our Past Murals Tent and Arts & Crafts Table
🎈 Jump, bounce, and play in our Bounce Houses and Lawn Games
👶 Let the littlest ones enjoy a safe and fun Infant Play Area
🐶 Meet furry new friends at the Puppy Petting Zone
🧗♂️ Climb high on the Climbing Wall
🚂 Hop aboard the Sand Creek Sentinel Barrel Train
👑 Say hello to a super hero
🚓 Check out real Emergency Vehicles up close!
💡 Stop by the Resource Table for family info and giveaways
And that’s just the beginning — with surprises and pop-up activities all morning long, the Hot Summer Thrillz area is your go-to destination for family fun at the festival!
Event Contributors
Choose Newton, Newton YMCA, Army National Guard, Caring Place, Safehope, Army National Guard, Newton Murals, Latino Vision, KCSL, Peace Connections, New Jerusalem, Salem United Methodist Church, Healthy Harvey, United Way, STAND, Caring Hands Humane Society, Heart To Heart, Kaufman Museum, Newton Community Foundation, Trinity Heights Respite Care, North Newton Community Foundation, and others...
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
Newton Mural & Arts Project & Sand Creek Summer Daze Festival Collaboration
The Newton Mural and Arts Project is teaming with the SCSD Festival to promote their mission of murals and outdoor art in Newton. They will have a project for adults and kids to help complete at this years festival as in previous years!
The Newton Murals and Arts Project exists to develop and install murals and other outdoor art for the purpose of adding beauty and interest in Newton’s downtown business district and other locations in the city. It has established the Newton Murals and Arts Project Fund at the Central Kansas Community Foundation. The fund is a component fund of the foundation and contributions to it are tax deductible.
THE SAND CREEK CARDBOARD REGATTA
THE SAND CREEK CARDBOARD REGATTA
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 9AM-12:30PM | ATHLETIC PARK & SWIMING POOL
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 9AM-12:30PM | ATHLETIC PARK & SWIMING POOL
BIGGER, BOLDER & SPLASHIER THAN EVER!
BIGGER, BOLDER & SPLASHIER THAN EVER!
One of last year’s fan-favorite events is making its epic return in 2026 — and we’re cranking up the creativity, chaos, and cardboard! Get ready to build your own boat right in our giant shaded festival zone, then race it for glory, laughs, and bragging rights! This year, we’ve added brand-new categories, updated rules, and a few surprise twists to make the competition even more fun — and just the right amount of ridiculous.
And the best part? We’re going all-out with a boat parade to the pool as part of the Hot Summer Thrillz finale — so the whole crowd can cheer on your soggy triumph or gloriously sinking ship. More Prizes. More Awards. More Wildly Creative Floating Creations.
So, round up your crew, start sketching your dream vessel (duct tape optional but highly encouraged), and join us for a splashin’ good time that’s sure to sink expectations — or at least a few boats.
Let the cardboard chaos begin!
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
SCRUBZ VS SCHOLARZ
SCRUBZ VS SCHOLARZ
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 4:00PM | KELSCH FIELD
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 4:00PM | KELSCH FIELD
THEY SAVE LIVES. THEY SHAPE MINDS. TODAY... THEY KICK BALLS!
THEY SAVE LIVES. THEY SHAPE MINDS. TODAY... THEY KICK BALLS!
The Ultimate Showdown: NMC Health vs. USD 373 Kickball Game
Get ready for 7 innings of fun, fierce kicks, and questionable athleticism as NMC Health takes on USD 373 in the most epic celebrity kickball clash of the year!
Will the doctors and nurses from NMC bring the same precision to the kickball field as they do in the ER? Or will the educators from USD 373 school them in more than just gym class?
This isn’t just a game—it’s a full-blown community showdown featuring surprise guests, big kicks, dramatic slides, and probably at least one pulled hamstring. Expect laughs, snacks, bragging rights, and plenty of “Did that just happen?” moments.
Bring your lawn chairs, your loudest cheers, and your competitive spirit—because this is Kickball, Celebrity Style.
Let’s see who rules the field: the healers or the teachers. Either way, the real winner is the community. (But seriously, someone’s going down. Gently.)
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
DIGGIN THE ARTZ
DIGGIN THE ARTZ
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 4:00PM | ATHLETIC PARK
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 4:00PM | ATHLETIC PARK
DIGGIN THE ARTZ
DIGGIN THE ARTZ
Get ready to be amazed at the Sand Creek Summer Daze Festival!
Every year, we celebrate the heartbeat of Newton by commissioning a talented local artist to bring our community’s spirit to life — on an epic 4’x8’ mural! This masterpiece reflects the magic of Newton, the beauty of our surroundings, or the theme that ties our festival together. But here’s the best part: YOU can watch the creative magic unfold live! Witness brushstroke by brushstroke on the largest easel in Newton, right before your eyes
The 2026 Sand Creek Summer Daze Mural Artist is Sean Heaton.
Sean;s Grandmother was an artist and encouraged him topaint by passing down her equipment to him when he was in high school. He began enrolling in every art class offered and completely fell in love with painting. He is influenced by everything from music and tv shows to natural landscapes, as well as the human body. He is a graduate from Wichita State University earning a BA in Studio Art Painting. He mainly works in oil, silkscreen and watercolor mediums. His work focuses on the dynamic relationship between the figure and its surrounding space.
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
2026 Mural Artist
2026 Mural Artist
THE GREAT BRAIN FREEZE
THE GREAT BRAIN FREEZE
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 5:30PM | KELSCH FIELD | KOEHN PAINTING STAGE
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 5:30PM | KELSCH FIELD | KOEHN PAINTING STAGE
PAIN IS TEMPORARY. ICE CREAM FAME IS FOREVER!
PAIN IS TEMPORARY. ICE CREAM FAME IS FOREVER!
🍦 Dare to Defeat the Dairy Queen? Join The Great Brain Freeze! ❄️
Sand Creek Summer Daze Festival wants YOU — yes, you, ice cream fanatic — to take the stage at The Great Brain Freeze coming June 20th, 2026!
We’re calling on fearless frozen treat freaks who are ready to go head-to-head in the ultimate showdown of sugar, speed, and style.
Two Ways to Enter:
🍨 Solo Showdown – Step up as a wild, wacky, ice cream-devouring character. Dress for glory, bring the energy, and scarf down cups until your brain cries hot fudge. One champion takes it all!
🍦 Tag Team Meltdown – Assemble a three-person squad, suit up in themed team regalia, and dominate the bowl as a frozen force of nature.
💰 Did someone say prizes?
Oh, we did now. Cash and gift card rewards await — and the exact loot will be revealed in Spring 2026!
But here’s the twist…
You won’t just be eating for fun — in the solo showdown you’ll be facing off against the undisputed, three-time champion of chill… The Dairy Destroyer. The Queen of Cold. The Monarch of Meltdown. Madame Brainfreeze herself — Connie Wallace!
She’s got the costume, the fans, and the iron-stomached will to win. And she’s waiting for her next victim.
Think you’ve got what it takes to dethrone her? Then bring your fans, bring your flair, and bring your appetite!
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
BATTLE OF THE BADGEZ (Banana Style)
BATTLE OF THE BADGEZ (Banana Style)
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 6:30PM | KELSCH FIELD
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 6:30PM | KELSCH FIELD
FROM THE BEAT TO THE HEAT - THIS GAME WILL BE CODE RED!
FROM THE BEAT TO THE HEAT - THIS GAME WILL BE CODE RED!
The Harvey County battle for supremacy returns — Bigger, Bolder, and Full of Surprises! In 2025, Harvey County Fire successfully defended their title against Harvey County Law Enforcement as the reigning county champs. But this year, the game is going to be anything but ordinary! Can they keep their crown under a totally new, wacky format?
Get ready for entertainment packed into every inning! The game will feature hilarious and fun challenges for the players: from running the bases with kazoos in their mouths, skipping around the bases, or even running backwards! Every inning promises non-stop laughs and unexpected twists. And it doesn't stop there — we’ve got celebrity pitchers kicking things off and spectacular events between innings, including:
A hilarious ketchup, mustard, and relish race in the outfield
A team water balloon contest with extra points on the line
It’s going to be an action-packed, laughter-filled day you won’t want to miss!
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
HOT SUMMER'Z NIGHT CONCERT
HOT SUMMER'Z NIGHT CONCERT
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 8PM | KELSCH FIELD | SECURITY FIRST CONCERT STAGE
SATURDAY | JUNE 20 | 8PM | KELSCH FIELD | SECURITY FIRST CONCERT STAGE
ELTON DAN AND THE ROCKET BAND
ELTON DAN AND THE ROCKET BAND
Paying Homage to Sir Elton John
When you crave the full-on Sir Elton John concert experience — overflowing with memories and emotions — you come to an Elton Dan & The Rocket Band show! Elton Dan’s professionalism and stage presence are truly second to none. As the show unfolds, he builds an electric rapport with the audience through his magical piano playing, over-the-top costumes, and infectious energy that will make you believe you are seeing Sir Elton John up close and personal. Every patron will feel as if Dan is sharing the intimate moments of these beloved songs just with them.
Since their inception in 2015, Elton Dan & The Rocket Band have rocked over 400 shows across the United States in 38 states. Don’t be fooled by other performers who merely cover Elton John’s music—come see for yourself why Elton Dan & The Rocket Band have become one of the most sought-after tribute bands in the USA!
Plus, this Elton Dan & The Rocket Band concert will be a family-friendly, all-ages event—perfect for fans of every generation.
EVENT SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSORS
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