It's Fair Time!

Thomas County Fair at the Thomas County Fairgrounds in Colby!

July 27 – August 1, 2026

Monday – July 27th

Entry of Indoor 4-H/FFA Exhibits 7:30 am – 11:00 am, Pedal Tractor Pull – 4:00 pm, NSRA Rodeo – 7:30 pm

Tuesday – July 28th

Entry of Open Class Exhibits – 7:30 am – 1:00 pm, Parade – 5:30 pm, NSRA Rodeo – 7:30 pm

Wednesday – July 29th

Barbecue – 5:30 pm, Free Concert – Phil Vandel

Thursday – July 30th

Thomas County Community Foundation Breakfast – 7:30 am – 10:00 am

4-H/FFA Livestock Auction & Buyers Appreciation BBQ – 5:30 pm

Friday – July 31st

Car Races – 7:30 pm

Saturday – August 1st

Demo Derby – 7:30 pm

Thomas County Amusement Association Carnival Rides & Games

Tuesday thru Thursday 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Friday and Saturday 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

NWKS District Free Fair in Goodland!

August 1st - August 8th

Saturday, August 1st

  8:00 am

Fairgrounds - Open for Set-up

  4:00 pm

Events Around the Colby Area

In Colby:

Picnic in the Park

Every Wednesday through the Summer at Fike Park from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Thomas County Fair Parade

The 2026 Thomas County Fair Theme will be "Double Down at the Thomas County Fair, Vegas Style!" The Fair Parade will be on Tuesday, July 28. Check in begins at 4 p.m. that day at the corner of 8th & Franklin. Check-in is required! Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. A maximum of 5 parade entries is allowed per participant. Register your float at colbychamber.com!

Free Fair Breakfast

Thursday, July 30th the Thomas County Community Foundation will be serving a free, delicious breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the 4H building.

Cooper Barn Jams in Colby! 

Surrounding Library Events

Pioneer Memorial Library Events

Blowout Booksale July 27 - August 1

During fair week! They will be open during regular business hours. Come explore the book tables and discover your next great read!

Monday 27th                    9am-5:30pm (Full Price)

Tuesday 28th                    9am-5:30pm (Full Price)

Wednesday 29th             9am-5:30pm (1/2 Price)

Thursday 30th                  9am-6pm        (1/2 Price)

Friday 31st                         9am-4:30pm  ($3 Per flat; $10 per box

Saturday 1st                    10am- 3:30pm (Free Will Donation)

Virtual Author Talk on Thursday, August 27

Pioneer Memorial will be having this talk at 1:00 p.m. Lucy Foley will be discussing her latest gripping novel set in a remote mountain lodge. "Murer at the Grand Alpine Hotel." People can join in person at the library or register from their own device and watch at home. The video is recorded, so if you have registered to watch on your own and cannot attend, a recording will be sent automatically.

Atwood Public Library Events

Events Around the Atwood Area

In Atwood:

The 6th Annual Worship by the Water will be held at Lake Atwood on Saturday, August 15th at 6 p.m.! This is a free, family oriented Christian concert. This year's lineup includes two returning artists - Hannah Kerr and Cade Thompson. Philipsburg, Kansas's own Cody Jarvis will open the show with Worship and testimony. This also includes many food trucks and drink vendors! Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a free evening of worship! 

Matinee at the Jayhawk!

Every Thursday afternoon in the summer at 2 p.m., catch a movie at the Jayhawk. Movies are appropriate for all ages!

Rawlins County Museum in Atwood will be open every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

beginning May 24. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Food Pantry

The Rawlins County Food Pantry located at 5Ten Main is regularly open from 4 to 6 p.m. every Thursday afternoon. Come to the alley entrance. Donations are welcome then also. 

Chicken Fried Steak Dinner

CCC Events and Notices

Little Trojan Volleyball Camp Aug. 5-6

COLBY, Kan. (July 21, 2026) — Colby Community College will host the Little Trojan Volleyball Camp from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 5-6 at the Colby Event Center.

The camp provides a fun introduction to volleyball for children entering kindergarten through fifth grade. Campers will learn basic skills through drills, games and other activities led by Colby volleyball coaches and members of the 2026-27 team. No previous volleyball experience is required.

The fee is $50 per camper. Participants may register online.

For more information, contact Coach Carey Jones at carey.jones@colbycc.edu or 785-269-7728

Block Party Wednesday, Aug. 19

School is just around the corner! Join us in welcoming students to Colby Community College

Independence Day - America's 250th Birthday Festivities

Free Hot Dog and Watermelon Feed! 
Saturday, July 4th at the 4-H Building at the Thomas County Fairgrounds. This event has bingo, music and entertainment! Sponsored by the Colby High Plains Lions Club with assistance from the Colby Rotary Club and Boy Scout Troop 140.

Firework Display in Colby
The Kiwanis Club sponsored Fireworks Display is scheduled for 10 p.m. at the Thomas County Fairgrounds!

Colby Community Band to Perform July 5th at Fike Park in Colby at 7 p.m. The free performance will feature patriotic music marking the historic milestone. Those attending are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy an evening in the park. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Frahm Theatre at Colby Community College. Updates regarding the location will be posted on social media closer to the event.

The Prairie Museum to Observe Americas 250th
with the community with a "sharing the Spirit of America" celebration on July 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. With a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, a flag presentation and a community potluck dinner! This program is part of a nationwide initiative to bring communities together to read the Declaration of Independence simultaneously in recognition of celebrating the nations 250th birthday.

July 3rd and 4th Celebrations in McDonald and Bird City!