Larned (Kansas) Community Web Site

Grab your grass skirts because Moonlight Madness in Larned is taking on a whole new twist this year. This traditional July event has been moved to Saturday, August 21st, making it the last great event of the summer! Then they added a Hawaiian theme and topped it off with Larned’s own version of the Summer Olympic Games. It should be quite the event!

To start off the Moonlight Madness activities, Larned’s retail merchants will re-open their stores at 4 p.m. with Beach Bargains Galore, which will include the Hawaiian Lei Contest. The Moonlight Madness Parade begins at 8 p.m., followed by Larned’s Summer Olympics.

The Hawaiian Lei contest is a way for Moonlight Madness attendees to win great prizes from participating merchants. Participating merchants will have Hawaiian Leis available for attendees to wear. Once an attendee has their lei, they will then begin collecting their “tags” from each of the participating merchants. These “tags” will be in various shapes and colors (one shape for each participating merchant), and they will be numbered on the back. By collecting the “tags” and attaching them to the lei, Hawaiian Lei Contestants will be entered into each of the participating merchants prize drawing. At 8:30 p.m. all participating merchants will draw for their winner(s), and the winners will be announced over the Chamber loud speaker during Moonlight Madness and posted on the Chamber door by 9 p.m. Prize winners will then be able to collect their prize(s) by taking their winning tag to the merchant on the following Monday through Friday (August 23 – 27), to verify their winning number and tag.

Following several hours of great shopping and enjoying our Food and Craft Court vendors, the Moonlight Madness Parade will begin at 8 p.m. down Broadway. This year’s parade will be lead by our very own Larned Ambassador Lawn Chair Brigade, followed by the Olympic Teams, and anyone else who wants to participate in the wild and wacky fun of Moonlight Madness. Parade entries are now being accepted at the Chamber office.

Immediately following the parade will be the start of Larned’s very own version of the Summer Olympic games, with a twist! Included in the competitive events will be the Hula Hoop Contest, the Limbo Contest, the Team Costume Contest, the Ping Pong Ball Spitting Contest, the Tricycle Race, a Pie Eating Contest, the Water Balloon Toss, the Snow Cone Eating Contest, the Firemen’s Obstacle Course, and the Toilet Race. Olympic teams will consist of 6 to 10 individuals per team with only one team member competing per event (except for the team participation events). The winning team of Larned’s Summer Olympic games will be honored at the award ceremonies immediately following the games with gold medals and the gold medal prize package. To register your Olympic Team, contact the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-285-6916 or 800-747-6919 for an entry form.

The Moonlight Madness Craft and Food Court will be located on 6th street between Doerrs Ace Hardware and Ritzmans. Food and craft vendors can still reserve a booth space by contacting the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce at 285-6916. The cost for booth registration is $15.

There will also be a Sand Castle Contest to go along with the Hawaiian theme this year. Entrants will be able to build their own sand creation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the sand pile provided by Larned Sand and Gravel Inc. which will be located at 6th and Broadway to the alley west. Moonlight Madness attendees will be voting throughout the evening to determine the winning entry. All entrants must pre-register prior to August 20th at the Chamber Office.

The youth of Larned are also working to put together special activities as well for Moonlight Madness and more details will follow as they become available.

Finally in the spirit of Moonlight Madness tradition, the Moonlight Madness Costume Contest is back. You will be able to vote on your favorite Moonlight Madness costume (all employees together) from 4 to 8 p.m. The winner of the business costume contest will receive the coveted Moonlight Madness Traveling Trophy.

For more information about this year’s Moonlight Madness event, or to register your Olympic Team, reserve your booth space for a Craft or Food Booth, or enter the Sand Castle Contest, contact the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-285-6819 or 800-747-6919.

Explore the rest of our web site