> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.citizenjournal.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Hesstival brings communities, cars and music to Hesston - URL: https://www.citizenjournal.us/hesstival-brings-communities-cars-and-music-to-hesston/ - Published: 2026-10-14T19:26:59.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-14T19:26:59.000Z - Description: Annual event ran from 7 a.m. until late into the night - Author: Sarah Newberry - Tags: Newton, dnn, #news, McPherson County Sign up for our free newsletter and never miss a story. [Sign up free](https://subscribe.citizenjournal.us/?ref=citizenjournal.us) Hesstival brought a laid-back but bustling community celebration to downtown Hesston’s North Main Street on Saturday, Oct. 10. Farmers market vendors began setting up around 7 a.m. The first event of the day was a pancake feed by first responders at the Hesston Fire Station at 7\. As cars trickled in, so too did crowds from surrounding towns. About 35 vendors sold salsa, homemade soaps, honey, sourdough, and many other items. “I really had to limit the number of spots because of the space, but 35 today, so it’s a great turnout,” coordinator Devan Spencer said. The Villa Partners, Schowalter Villa’s volunteer auxiliary, sold brownies, pies, pumpkin bread, and cookies and auctioned gift baskets for the Good Samaritan Caring Fund. Schowalter Villa is a nonprofit retirement home organization based in Hesston. “It’s a totally volunteer-led organization, and they are raising money for the Good Samaritan Caring Fund at Schowalter Villa. We’re excited to be here and support the community,” Bluestem PACE coordinator Sheri Esau said. Food trucks served chicken curry, hamburgers, and fries. Fizzed offered energy drinks and dirty sodas, while Misfit Kitchen sold most baked goods within 30 minutes, leaving soft pretzels and cheese. Families of all ages and backgrounds enjoyed mini golf together, visited a petting zoo with goats and bunnies, and watched the Sunflower Cornhole Tournament. ![Rachael Thompson, who owns a 3D printing booth, Gothic League by Thompson, sets up early in the morning before the rush of festival-goers at the Hesston Festival in Hesston, Kan., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Sarah Newberry/Citizen Journal)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f7/e6/f7e66a8b-8f27-493f-8b7e-664ecefd4c3d/content/images/2026/10/image1.webp) Rachael Thompson, who owns a 3D printing booth, Gothic League by Thompson, sets up early in the morning before the rush of festival-goers at the Hesston Festival in Hesston, Kan., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026\. (Sarah Newberry/Citizen Journal) On the music stage, siblings Garrett and Katie McMahan performed as The Band McMahan. “We are playing a mix of some country music, some acoustic rock music, and some other,” Garrett said. “I think that music is the universal language. It kind of brings people together.” Avenue 22’s Carol Ward and Marla Moorman also performed. Car show winners were Earl Findley’s 1959 Chevy Impala (antique); Jack Clanton’s 1969 Chevy Camaro (classic); Joe Seitz’s 2001 Chevy Corvette (modern); and C.W. Crumm’s 1990 GMC pickup (fan-voted best in show). “It’s a wonderful community event. It’s like the community fall festival, and it’s a wonderful time to gather and bring out the community to support each other,” Esau said. After the main event ended at 6 p.m., Hesstival After Dark continued at Moxie’s Community Pub in Newton with Morgan Wilk and No Coast performing. --- AD: --- Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below: [Contact Us](https://www.citizenjournal.us/contact/) ---