The Central Kansas Free Fair (CKFF) will begin on Tuesday, July 29, with the parade starting at 4 p.m., followed by the opening night of the Wild Bill Hickok rodeo. The parade, themed “Just a Small Town Throwdown,” will be led by parade marshal Seth Lauer, a retired beef livestock industry professional and lifelong local resident. This year, the parade continues to be held on the fair’s opening day, a change made in 2024 that was well received. The fair is also completing a new steel livestock barn to replace aging wooden structures, with plans for additional barns in the coming years.

The fair’s schedule includes a wide range of events such as livestock check-ins and weigh-ins, 4-H and FFA competitions, open class exhibits, carnival rides by Great Plains Amusement, and multiple rodeo nights with themes like “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” and Military Appreciation Night. Other highlights include a BBQ, special goat shows, baking competitions, barn dances, demo derbies, and a livestock sale. The fair board, led by chairman Roger Hummel, expressed gratitude to volunteers and emphasized that aside from the new barn, the event schedule remains consistent with previous years.