Home / Blog / Organization / Dirty Kanza & Great American Market to Be Held on Sept. 12th, 2020

Dirty Kanza & Great American Market to Be Held on Sept. 12th, 2020

Avatar photo by Jessica Buchholz, Events Coordinator | May 19, 2020
70628539_2861277937436464_6501336968557756416_n

September 12th, 2020 will be a busy day in downtown Emporia. Emporia Main Street and Dirty Kanza are excited to announce that both the Great American Market and the Dirty Kanza will take place on that day – provided a go ahead from local health officials. Originally planned for the end of May, 2020, the Dirty Kanza was postponed to September 12th, 2020 due to the novel corona virus. With the Great American Market traditionally held on the second Saturday of September – this presented a unique opportunity for the two events.
Since the decision to postpone the Dirty Kanza, race organizers and Emporia Main Street have been meeting weekly to discuss the logistics of the co-event. While planning is still fluid and elements are being adjusted to fit this change, both organizations are looking forward to a great day for the community.
“Support from the Emporia community has been instrumental to the growth and success of Dirty Kanza. For this reason, Life Time is steadfast in our commitment to support the community of Emporia,” states Jim Cummins, Dirty Kanza Co-Founder and Race Director. “We believe that postponing our 2020 event to September gives us the greatest opportunity to host a successful event in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we look forward to working with Emporia Main Street as we prepare to showcase our amazing community to a world-wide audience.”
Many community members have been curious as to what two events on the same day will look like. Event organizers are still putting together final details but have announced the general layout for the day. The Great American Market will run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held in the 600, 700, 800, and 900 blocks of Commercial Street. The Dirty Kanza Finish Line Celebration will run the hours of 11 a.m. to midnight and will move North to the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Commercial Street (including a beer garden) with the NexTech Wireless Kids Zone set up in the open lot at 923 Commercial.  
The All Things Gravel Expo is now scheduled to take place on September 10th and 11th in the 600 and 700 blocks of Mechanic Street with the DK XL Launch set for Friday afternoon within the Expo. For a complete list of DK activities, please visit https://dirtykanza.com/
“The Great American Market and the Dirty Kanza Finish Line Celebration are two of our biggest yearly events,” explains Casey Woods, Executive Director of Emporia Main Street. “Each brings in a large economic impact to the community and we needed to find a way to make both possible. Our organization has a long-standing partnership with Dirty Kanza and we knew we would be able to work together to produce two events simultaneously that focused on safety and showcasing our community”.
While event organizers are taking the ever-changing landscape in stride, certain precautions like hand washing stations are being implemented to both events.
“We will continue to work with Lyon County Health and Emergency Management to ensure both spectators and participants are in a safe environment,” states Woods.
Vendors who are interested in participating in the Great American Market and/or the Dirty Kanza Finish Line Celebration are encouraged to contact Emporia Main Street at 620-340-6430. If you have already registered, you do not need to re-register. Cycling vendors who are interested in activating on race day or the All Things Gravel Expo should contact The Dirty Kanza offices at 620-208-2453.

About the Author

Jessica Buchholz, Events Coordinator

Jessica Buchholz is the Community Development Coordinator for Emporia Main Street in Emporia, Kansas. She specializes in event planning, volunteer recruitment, alternative marketing, media/public relations and fundraising. During Jessica's tenure at Emporia Main Street, she has helped grow events to an international level and she has created a series of new activities to meet organizational goals.