Working on the Railroad in Kansas

Kansas

More than 80,000 people are expected at Topeka Railroad Days, Sept. 4 to 7 at Forbes Field in Topeka. Activities include railroad displays, model trains, gandy dancers’ challenge (railroad employees compete in a train-track-building contest), sale of railroad-related items and model trains, plus a parade, live country music and carnival. A highlight for railroad lovers: train excursions, including 100-mile round trips on steam-locomotive-driven trains. For more information, contact Topeka Railroad Days, 901 N.E. River Road, Topeka, KS 66616; telephone (785) 232-5533.

New Mexico

The art community in Taos is celebrating its first 100 years with a series of fairs and exhibits during September. It was in September 1898 that Ernest Blumenschein arrived in Taos. His home, now a museum, will have a special show, “Celebrating the Taos Society of Artists: A Photographic Exhibition of the 21 Society Members,” Sept. 4 to Oct. 24. Two major art shows are planned: “Taos Invites Taos” and the “Taos Open” (both Sept. 18 to Oct. 5). Also scheduled: Old Taos Trade Fair at the Martinez Hacienda (Sept. 26 and 27), “Meet the Artists” of Taos Pueblo series and studio tours. For more information, contact the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Drawer I, Taos, NM 87571; tel. (800) 732-8267.

Louisiana

The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, Sept. 3 to 7 in Morgan City, may seem like an odd combo, but these are the area’s two main industries. Most festivities will take place in the downtown historic district and include continuous live Cajun and zydeco music, a shrimp cookout, a gospel tent, arts-and-crafts show and parades. The Blessing of the Fleet features elaborately decorated shrimp trawlers and oil companies’ fleets. Visitors can tour the harbor and climb an authentic drilling rig. For more information, call or write the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, P.O. Box 103, Morgan City, LA 70381; tel. (504) 385-0703.

Texas

Always one of the largest, most extravagant of fairs, the 1998 State Fair of Texas, Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 in Dallas, is adding even more exhibits and shows this year. New to the lineup: the Petting Farm’s birthing parlor (with sows and nanny goats delivering), a kid-size fishing pond and a trash-drum band. Also scheduled: the Royal Lipizzaner stallions, 70 midway rides (including a 212-foot-tall Ferris wheel), nightly electric parades, Clint Black, LeAnn Rimes, the touring company of “Showboat” and fiercely competitive livestock shows. For more information, contact the State Fair of Texas, P.O. Box 150009, Dallas, TX 75315; tel. (214) 421-8716.

New Hampshire

Wool Day, Sept. 19 at Canterbury Shaker Village, celebrates every step in the production of wool items. There’s a menagerie of wool-bearing animals to see and touch, including alpacas, llamas, goats and Icelandic sheep. Artisans will demonstrate rug hooking, spinning, knitting, weaving, quilting and sheep shearing. The village contains 25 original Shaker buildings. The event will be catered with authentic Shaker and Shaker-inspired food. For more information, contact the Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, NH 03224; tel. (800) 982-9511.

Britain

During Heritage Open Days, Sept. 12 and 13, more than 2,000 sites all over Britain will be open for free. Many are normally closed to the public, including a circa-1340 thatched barn; a 16th century timber-frame home; a Norman house and moat; Oxford prison; private areas of Cambridge; a 19th century naval captain’s home in Plymouth; and a hundred more mansions, cottages, manor homes and libraries. Many villages will be offering walking tours. The following weekend, Sept. 19 and 20, more than 500 historic sites in London will hold open houses, also free. For more information, contact the British Tourist Authority, 551 Fifth Ave., Suite 701, New York, NY 10176-0799; tel. (800) 462-2748.

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