Inside Cider Days: Topeka’s Biggest Fall Market & Festival | Nick Haney

Cold Open, Sponsor, Welcome

8 to 10,000 people from all over Kansas. 29 foot inflatable apple.

It sounds like it's the farmer's market in steroid.

There's free swag bags for those first hundred people who wait in line before the doors open. There's some live animals. I can cider donuts.

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Above all, Washburn delivers a personalized education that you won't find at larger schools. Learn more at washburn.edu. Awesome. Hey, welcome back to another episode of Topeka Insider. Today we have Nick Haney, who's the marketing director with Cider Days. Nick, thanks for being here.

Of course. Thank you guys for having me. Absolutely, man. Oh my gosh.

It has hit us with it. If if someone's been living under a rock in Topeka and they've never heard of Cider Days.

I just met someone and I was like, who the heck are you? Like, how do you not know what this amazing thing is? Give us the rundown. What is Cider

Cider Days Origins And Family Tradition

Days?

What is Cider Days? Oh my gosh, Cider Days is a family tradition at its core. Um, gosh, we've been around now, this is our 45th year here in Topeka, Kansas. Um, so uh we like to say that we've been bringing great family fun to Kansas since 1981. And so um so it's been a yeah, truly, right? You know, truly one. But yeah, so we have been um just doing this here for the past uh my family in general has been um a part of this for 10 years almost. Wow. And so um, so yeah, so it truly is a family tradition at its core, not only um as a business uh family, but also for um those who come to Cider Days. Um my mom, she grew up coming to Cider Days, and so um once we were born, she ended up bringing us with her mother, and so it truly has been a part of our lives. Um and so never thought I would be um a part of the family who owned the event, um, but is it it truly has been just such a blessing um to just be able to bring entertainment to Topeka. Um that is um one at its core about small businesses and shopping and supporting local. Um, you know, it is um it is a market in itself, but it's also a festival. So it's this hybrid event, um, which I believe uh Topeka and Kansas um really wants and they want more of. And so um to have an event that's been running for the past 45 years has been truly a blessing.

So you grew up going to this as a kid, and now your family runs it. Yeah. How did that happen? How did your family take this on?

It's crazy. Yeah. So um my brother ended up actually, he was the one um who got us into the event um starting almost, yeah, eight years ago, closer nine, ten almost actually. But he ended up, yeah, buying it off of a couple and uh and then started running it. He was like, I need help, I have other things to do. And so um he brought my parents in on it. And so then my parents are like, we need help. And so um, so that's when I came about and uh started helping with the city.

It's kind of crazy, like like as some I've been, you know, I've been the last five years, yeah. And it's a massive, I mean, there's just thousands and thousands of people and all the booths and all the stuff. It's crazy to think that there's like a family of a few people organizing this massive thing. Yeah, yeah, like what does it take to run this event?

Truly, yeah. No, it's it is it's a beast in itself. Um, and but it's also a blessing. But like, even I was talking to gosh, some folks last year. They're like, when do you start planning this? Like, when do you have time? I feel like a lot of times, like even when I'm back, it's dinner talk is cider days. Um, you know, and so it truly is. We're starting to plan the next Cider Days literally the day after the event closes. Like we look at the numbers, we look at okay, this was what this went good, you know, this was well, this whatever, you know, and so we look at all of that, and it's it and we start planning for the next year, which was crazy, and especially knowing that this year's the 45th anniversary, we were like, we gotta go big um or go home, truly. So, yeah, so it takes a lot of work.

Moving Venues And Growing Big

So it's a weekend event, September 19th through the 20th. Through the 20th. So two days, Saturday, Sunday. Yeah, Saturday, Sunday. Yeah. Where is it being held at?

Yeah, so um originally the event started at the Apple Valley Farm in um, oh gosh, it's uh located over by Perry Lake. Um now it is an event venue, um, a wedding venue, but it was like the place to be back in the day. Like back in the 80s, like it was hopping. Um, they had like dinner feud shows and like little things like that. They had artists would uh perform, but that's where it originated. So the event started by the um American Lung Association. So they started it.

Um the American Lung Association. Yeah, right. I know, yeah. So that's how it all began. As like a fundraiser or a little bit? I think so.

It was like it was kind of like this. He wasn't there, John. I mean, I mean that was probably that was before my place was popping in the 80s. It's like I promise you, you weren't there. But yeah, but yeah, it was um started with them, and they did it at the Apple Valley Farm, is what it was called at the time. Now it is called Apple Valley Lane, and it's a wedding venue now. So we're actually gonna be going tomorrow uh to film a segment about the family tradition and go back to the roots, go back to where it all began. So stoked about that. But yeah, so that's where it all began, and then it ended up going to Lake Shawnee, so where the Kansas uh powwow was at one time was back there. Um, and uh, and then it ended up growing, it just kept growing and growing um to where now we have around eight to ten thousand people from all over Kansas who come just for this one event and this weekend. And so um, you know, we even have vendors who they're from all over the United States, which we'll talk about here later. But but yeah, so then we ended up coming to what then was the Kansas Expo Center, which is now the Stormont Valley Event Center. So that's where we are now, and we've been ever since. Yeah, amazing.

So it's a it's a weekend event, and you have lots of different vendors and booths, and people have to buy a ticket to go. Yes, um, what kind of vendors and booths could people expect?

Yes, yes, we have over 250 vendors. Um,

Vendors, Food, And Shopping Culture

and so my mother, she is our event coordinator, and she does so much work throughout the year. She is checking her email almost nightly, even if I'm giving them a call during the week. She's like, I'm like, what are you up to? I'm working on Cider Days, you know? So she is checking her email daily because people all over, not even just Kansas, but we have people from all over the United States who actually come and this is what they do. Like, that is their business, is they go to festivals and fairs and markets and they sell their products. Wow. And like we've had people who were in the show. Gosh, they were like, This is my 30th year of being with Cider Days. I was here from the very first year when it was under the Kansas Lung Association, you know. So I just like what? You know, so that was super cool to just see like the people who have been with us since the very beginning, even before we owned it, you know.

What are some what's the farthest someone traveled?

I think uh farthest, my goodness, I believe Alabama might be one of our.

I didn't even know that I assumed it was all local vendors.

Yeah, it's yeah, not all local, but yeah, it is. But there's a good, obviously, a majority of ours are local. Um, or from Kansas City, Lawrence, you know. Is our boy Jack gonna be there? But Jack, Jack has been there for a few years. I don't think he's gonna be able to be there this year because he has another event he has to go to. I know I'm so bummed. Jack, come back to us. We want you back. But um, but no, Jack, he's fantastic. But yeah, we we love people like Jack who who pour their heart and soul truly in what they do, like and their product. And like it's just so cool and so encouraging to see. Yeah, that's amazing.

Yeah, I will say my wife's favorite part is the giant turkey legs every year. Okay. Like, I don't know if it's a food truck or like that kind of thing, but uh man, you have turkey legs. You you could like you could kidnap her by luring her somewhere with giant turkey legs. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, it's amazing. Uh my favorite, I'd probably love the like uh the like roasted pecan, like all the vendors, probably like five different vendors. And so I like just kind of make my way from one to the next uh throughout the whole thing. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, it's like you know, everyone has like one product that you just compare that, and that's how you know if they're good or not.

Of course, absolutely, yeah, yeah. It's great. The samples are the best part, yeah.

And the random toys, we can't take our kids because then we end up buying all these amazing random homemade toys, 3D printed stuff now. Like, yes, it's crazy. Literally, yeah.

It's yeah, it's a process, you know. I am literally so sorry because someone's calling me. It's my mom. It's working. Put her on finger, put her on a finger. Um, but no, yeah, it literally um we she goes through. I mean, we have all kinds of vendors. Like there's bakers, there's artisan makers, there is, you know, DIYers. Like, truly, like, I'm like, how do you guys come up with this stuff, you know? Um, so that's what's really neat. And I feel like too, um, you know, back in the day, like crafts have changed a lot over time. You know, people are like, what are crafts, you know? And uh, and so we have some who make some of those beautiful, nostalgic wooden crafts that you know, your mother or your grandmother would have had growing up, or that stuff is still there. But also, as you know, our generations change, there's new trends, there's new things. And so we always try to stick to the core of, you know, um a lot of good handmade items, but also some of those 3D printed thrown in there, or you know, a lot of ladies are into those, you know, stylized tumblers, stuff like that. So we try not to have too many of the same things, so it's not just like, wow, another tumbler, another tumbler. It's a good variety, and so I believe.

Bro, we can have a whole podcast about stylized tumblers and the the the trends of women's tumblers like every two years is crazy. Yeah, it's a new water bottle every two years. Yeah, man, I don't even know all the brand names, but it's like every two years, there's some like really expensive water bottle all the women in the world have. That's right.

The Stanley, that's right. Oh my gosh.

Tickets, Buying The Event, Backlash

Yes.

Uh so what do tickets cost?

So yeah, so um, right now, early bird tickets are on sale um until the day of the event. Um so you can still even buy them at Dylan's. So Dillon's stores all in Topeka, any Dillon's location, grocery stores in Topeka, um, they sell eight dollar early bird tickets. So they are discounted, $2. Wow, $2 off, you know. And so um, those are on sale now until um the weekend of the event. Um but if you're gonna come to the event the weekend of and you don't have your tickets, they're gonna be $10 at the door. So go and save two bucks per ticket. Um, and then also $13 under are free. So any kids who are um $13 under, they get to come in and freeze. Yeah, I know, right? Yeah, $13 at heart, right? Yeah, come on.

Um but uh but yeah, so that's so what does it look like to buy an event? Like, what is that what does that mean? Like when you when you buy like how do you determine how much an event is worth? Like what what re did were there physical goods you had to go pick up? Like what does that mean that you bought this from this couple or whatever?

Yeah, no, honestly, that's a great question. Because that's that was my thought too when my brother said, Oh yeah, I'm thinking about purchasing cider days from this couple. And I'm like, what? Like I didn't even know like how do you do that?

Yeah, um, so you hand over the Instagram handle or I guess so.

Like it is. I guess you're you're buying the name. It's like, you know, uh, and I think that's the thing is cider days has been around for so long now, and I think that's the thing, is it's it can be challenging. It's hard to start a business or an event from the ground up. We all know that, you know. So you're trying to get that following, you're trying to get that, but to buy an established business. It has its momentum, it has been a family staple, truly. And so I think you're literally buying the beating heart, you're buying um, you know, the following. Um, so there wasn't honestly a lot of assets um that came with it. It really was just the Instagram and Facebook. Yeah, here's our book of vendors. And the check.

I have nothing to give you. Yeah, exactly. But you own it now. You have to kind of trust these people. You're like, all right, are you?

Are we getting scammed right now? So I didn't know if I was gonna go here, but I'm going to. All right. I'm gonna put myself on blast. I love it. I've never been. I've never been. Oh dang. So if I'm understanding this correctly, this cider days thing. Yeah, it sounds like it's the farmer's market on steroids. Absolutely. That's really good. So I've been to the farmer's market, and so it sounds like it's just a massive version of that. Yes, yeah.

That's a great way to put it on the card. I think that is, yeah.

That's how I describe it. Should we clip that? Farmer's market on steroids. Yeah.

Let's start with the utter betrayal of Justin, high school friend, unable to be at Cider Days.

You would you'd be you'd be amazed at the things that I have not done for someone who owned who has a Topeka podcast. For sure. It's like, yeah, haven't done that. Haven't been there. What are you talking about? Yeah, yeah. Heck yeah.

No, it's it's honestly it's surprising. Like the amount of people who still even are like, wait, what is Cider Days? You know? Um, and so even my friends back home where I live in France in Missouri. I mean, we get people even from Missouri and they're like, Yeah, oh yeah, I've heard of that, or oh yeah, it's wild, you know. So people do. They come and they travel from eight to three. Eight to ten thousand. Yeah.

It is crazy because I feel like it's so established. The average person knows. Like, all of our friends are like, oh yeah, we should all go to Cider Days together, you know, our kids, you know, this stuff. And so literally, I had that experience, I think it was yesterday. I'm trying to remember who it was. And they're like, What's Cider Day? I was like, What do you mean? What is Sider Day? Like, how do you not know what this thing is?

Like, everyone in Spika knows what this is. How do you not know what this is? Man, yeah, which is part of what what you're buying. Yeah. When you buy, you know, the event, you know, you don't get anything, but it you get the everybody knows what it is. Yes, yeah.

So uh I I really want to know uh two things. One, uh, what did it take to take it over and get this off the ground as the new owners? Like what were some of the kind of most challenging things like right on the front end of having to take this on?

Absolutely. One, I mean, the first few years, it was l really just learning the ways, the ropes. Like, wow, how did these people do this? You know, because it is so massive. And then also you'd start dealing with some of the backlash from fans who have been coming for years and they're like, Well, why is it downsizing? And we're like, it's not. The expo just literally just blew out the wall and made it completely longer. So I think you have to start dealing with some of that.

So the event size was bigger, so the event felt smaller because it wasn't filling the whole room. Yes, just because they made the room bigger. Exactly.

Nothing has changed. We literally have the same amount. Like it is we because it used to be the um arena was also used. And so people, when they saw we got rid of the arena, they were like, oh, it's downsizing, it's not as big as it used to be. They don't have as many vendors. But no, it's because we don't need the arena anymore because they made the exhibition hall way bigger. Yeah, that place is huge, it's massive. And so yeah. So yeah, so I think dealing with some of that on Instagram or Facebook is like the people are like, oh, it's not what it used to be. And it's like, it literally is. It's literally the exact same. Literally nothing's changed. So, you know, walking through some of that

COVID Changes And New Crowd Favorites

was a challenge. Um, but now that they start to see, oh yeah, okay. And so um COVID, COVID was a huge challenge just for everybody, and so eight years. So you guys got this right before COVID happened. Yeah, man, that's great. Yeah, we would have started it around uh 2018, uh, not started our our journey with the event. Right. But and so then when 2020 hit, it was like, wow, we don't what do we do, you know? And so uh, of course, with anybody, and so that was a huge challenge for our family. Um, we also do um used to do uh pressed apples, so that used to be a family who would do that. That family ended up retiring. Um, the whole family basically, they were like, they've been doing it for years. Plus, with just health and stuff, it's just it's not as what it used to look like pre-COVID, you know, unfortunately. Right. And so we had to retire that aspect out of cider days. Um, but then we ended up bringing in a new aspect, which is our apple cider slushes. And I was gonna say that has changed the game. Like anybody who is missing that, they're they need to taste those apple cider slushes because it truly changes the game.

Yeah, my wife gets the turkey leg and I get the apple cider slushes. Absolutely, yeah.

Exotic Petting Zoo And Camel Talk

Okay, so you mentioned something off air that I'm gonna bring up here. Yeah. There's some live animals. There's some live animals. What are you bringing?

Yes. So we the past few years have been having an exotic petting zoo. And when I mean exotic, like they are animals that I'm like, can you can you own these? Like, how do you have all this? Um, but it is, apparently. And uh the the company they work with, they're fantastic. They take care of their animals so well. What kind of exotic? There are zebras, there are camels, there are baby kangaroos. Like these kangaroos are the cutest thing. Those are my favorite. I always go running after them because I'm just like, I gotta go see these little ones.

But um And it's like a petting zoo company in Kansas?

Yes, this guy literally just I forget the name of his company, but he literally, that's what he does.

He has Joe. Yeah, I'm saying Joe Exotic.

Joe exotic. No, no, no lines, no tigers. Um, but uh, but yeah, man, this dude Namol shows up.

I'm here with the petting zoo. Uh Joe. You gotta go, bro.

So you're saying for $10 I can get a picture of the kangaroo.

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Man, yes, you can absolutely do that. Because that's all free. That all is part of it. And so let's go. Um you can, I think, pay the company to feed the animals there, but um, but there is, we're working right now on camel rides. So uh we're talking with the company, and so we'll hopefully have that official um here soon.

Um you have to get like licenses with the city for stuff like that. Honestly, that is above my pay grade.

Yeah, it's it's one of those ask for forgiveness. You know, we're gonna do it. Yeah, sure.

Yeah, we'll see if we do. Yes, yes. I'm pretty sure. Hopefully, he has his insurance. No, but yeah, it um yeah, so we have a ton of animals that people can come and see. And honestly, it's the kids love it, but it's the adults who flock to it first. Like it is so much fun. That's awesome. Um, so yeah, and then also we had pony rides last year. I think we're working on possibly having some of that as well, too,

Behind The Scenes Setup Week

for the kids.

So how early? So it's you know, Saturday the 19th, the first day. How early do you guys start setting up? Oh my gosh. So any time you get there on Saturday, I bet it's crazy.

Oh, it's it's uh, it's wild. The whole week. Like literally, we get in there about Tuesday. So Tuesday that week, we have our um pipe and drape guy who brings out thousands and thousands of pipes that connect that the his team has to put together and tons of curtains and drapes, and like it's a wild process. Like, I've posted behind-the-scenes content of that just in itself because it's like crazy how much that goes into it. So, but even weeks leading up, I mean, my mom, once she's finished with um all of her vendors and her map, she has a massive blown-up map that she takes to the event center and she gives to the pipe and drape guy, and they know exactly the footage of how far each one needs to be. They come in and they know exactly how it's laid out. And so there's a lot of pre-prep work. Um, and then uh, so yeah, so we come in, gosh, we start setting up our stuff on Wednesday. Yeah. So once the pipe and drape comes in, we start um setting up the inflatable um apple arch that we just got last year. It's a 20-foot apple arch in the event center. And then new this year, we have a it just arrived this morning, right before I came here. It's a 29-foot inflatable apple that says Cider Days on the side. So it is going to be towering outside the event center. Um, and so now we get to say we have the largest apple in Kansas, truly, right now. So um we try to look it up on the Guinness Book of World Records. So we're like, is there is this the biggest apple out there? And it uh so far, AI says yes. So if we can trust that, then there you go. But uh trust AI with my life. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, so that's when we kind of start setting up everything, and we get in there and we get it all done before our vendors come in on Friday. So our vendors will set up the day before, that's nice, and then we open in the morning on Saturday at 10 a.m. And then we close at 6, and then we all get a nice um try to get sleep the night after, and then um we open up again from 10 until 4 on Sunday.

Wow. Are all the vendors they sign up for like it's a two-day thing? Yeah, so they're all there and about base.

And we have some vendors who are like, you know, because our booths are usually about 10 by 10, but we have vendors who buy three spots and they'll make like a 10 by 30 spot, you know. And so um, we have vendors who they do so good. Like it's it's so odd, and that's so encouraging to see Kansas showing up for it because I mean, and usually too. It's I mean, as a society, I feel like we naturally we want to get the thing that is going to fulfill us, unfortunately, first. So uh our food vendors, they make bank, like they sell out, like we had people, my gosh, these pies, like they ended up, they're like Heidi, they come up to my mom during the event, they're like, We're sold out. We have to literally leave and go start baking more before tomorrow morning because I sold out in the first three hours. Like it's we have people lined up before. Hand, and there's a good reason because we have free swag bags for the first hundred guests who are through the door. So um first hundred parties, I should say, so we can kind of help spray that a little bit. Um so uh there's free swag bags for those first hundred people who wait in line before the doors open at 10 a.m. So people are there. That's right.

You better, that's right, just like camp out, baby. Yeah. But yeah, so that's awesome, man. Yeah. Um what uh what do you feel like you've like learned in the last eight years taking it? Like what's changed for you as you've been doing this?

Yeah, I think for us, it it it truly is just always trying to keep the heart of, you know, um it being a market at its core and it being um something that truly um blesses Topeka and creates that family foundation, something that is clean entertainment, that is fun for the kids, um, that um hopefully brings others together um each year, you know. And so I think for us is for me, it's just been so cool to just see it grow and continue to grow, not only as a market, but as a festival, as a fall event that we can welcome the spirit of fall into Kansas. And so that's been super cool to just um be able to add those fun little things like you know, the 29-foot apple, those picture opportunities, those things that kids are like, I mean, as a kid, if I saw that, I'd be like, what? You know, and so I always try to go back to that inner child in me and be like, man, I I still to this day, one core memory from Cider Days was this like robot that was either driven around, and it was kind of like the Olaf of Disney that just walks around the park, uh-huh, but like for its time, it was like some person was hiding in the crowd, and they would talk through a mic to the people as it was driving around. And it's that type of stuff that I want kids to have a core memory of to be able to say, Oh my gosh, I'm I love Cider Days as a kid. I remember this giant apple, I remember, you know, the Barenstein Bears that are coming to Cider Days this year. Stuff like that they can meet and do and you know, touch or whatever it is that they'll be able to remember for years to come. So yeah.

45th Anniversary Highlights And Main Stage

So you said earlier it's the 45th year of Cider Days, and you want to go big. Yes. What is going big this year, right? What does that mean?

Yes, on on behalf of, like I said, just the 45-year celebration, we have um exciting one-of-a-kind branded 45-year swag bags. So they are specialized, they have the 45th anniversary um logo on it, and there is all kinds of cool stuff in there. There's like free Chick-fil-A um coupons inside, there is stuff from um Texas Roadhouse. Like there are tons of little things that you can get inside. Um, and then uh so that's one of our exciting parts. Um, we also again have uh cider donuts. They did so well last year. People are like, bring them back. What's a cider donut? Cider donuts? Justin, come on. Justin, you're gonna get there and we're gonna get you hooked up with some cider slushes. I'll be there in donuts. You gotta have, yeah, exactly. You gotta have both because it truly is the best thing. But it's like a spiced cake donut, but it like is infused with apple cider. So it it's it tastes like it tastes like fall.

It just makes you want to put a sweater on and like watch Gilmore girls, you know, like just that's exactly right.

There it is. Welcome to Starz Hollow. Here we go. Come on, literally, truly no, it no, it's so good. And so I think um that, and then also this year we have an amazing new Cider Days main stage. And so um there's a it we're just going all out with the stage. So we posted that on our social media if you want to go check that out sometime. Um, but we have great performers, we have a picker band who are gonna play different, like, you know, acoustic style country music. You got live bands now. Yeah, so we'll have some um singing, and then we have um a native dancer coming. So he um he's called the spirit dancer, Dennis Rogers in Topeka. He comes out and he does just a phenomenal job. And then also new this year, we have the license to get the Bernstein Bears to come to Topeka, Kansas. So the kids are gonna be able to like their costumes, costume characters of the Barenstein Bears, the official Barenstein Bears are coming to Topeka, and um they're gonna have a story time on stage with the kids. Oh my gosh, and then you're gonna meet and greet and take photos with the Barenstein Bears throughout the day. Uh so yeah.

Is there is there is there like a schedule for stuff like that? Or is there all the things?

Yes, so yeah, so we're working on that right now, and we're hoping to have that put out on social media.

Okay, so there'll be like okay, this thing kind of happens at this time.

This is like around one, or you'll see the Barenstein Bears from one, you know, whatever, you know, during the day. So that's cool. Yeah, so yeah, quite a few different things. We have Topeka High Drumline coming out again. Wow. Um, they are a beloved um group that everybody just flocks outside. Literally, the I think a majority of the people end up coming from outside just to go watch them and stuff. And so they'll perform. I believe Saturday. We have over seven food trucks that are coming. Um, and so yeah, like truly, we we just try to bring something completely better and new each year.

So where does someone get a 30-foot apple?

Oh my gosh. Yeah, that's a great question. No, yeah.

There we had a so if we wanted to break your record and get a 31-foot apple. 31-foot apple, where would we go?

You know, there you go. I can't give my dealer away. I just can't. I can't give my sources. Can't reveal my sources. I can't reveal my sources, but no, they're fantastic. And uh, and yeah, they make uh they make great products, and it's it's I'm so excited to blow it up. We're about to blow it up, I think, here tonight. So you're gonna test it out? We're gonna test it out in our neighborhood, and our people can be driving by. What is the idea now? I just imagine what you're saying.

We're driving like three streets over, this huge apple starts inflating.

What? I want to do like a peach festival, and then we can have like James and the Gentlemen, you know.

But uh Or what if there were like two competing, you know, like if we have a Saturdays and like, you know, like somewhere in Missouri has one and they're just like slowly like getting a bigger apple, so we have to get a bigger apple, that's true, and they get a bigger apple.

Game on. Here we go. We're ready. Uh

Event-Day Fires, Parking, Future Dreams

question. There is so much going on. Yeah. Day of the event, yeah. Are you like fired up? It's here, let's go, or are you like, I am so stressed? Please be go quickly.

Uh it's a it's a hybrid of both. I am stoked. Like talking about it, I'm just like, man, I cannot believe literally, it's almost here. Like, how did this year fly by? And so um, I'm excited. I'm stoked. And and when it gets to that day, I think it's starting to see everything come together. That's when I'm like, okay, we got it. You know, we we're we're gonna have it's gonna happen, we're gonna make it happen. Um, and and and also being a theater guy, it's like the show must go on. So like we just push through the punches and uh make sure that the things happen. And so, and things do happen, you know. It's like a vendor didn't show up and they're, you know, hey, I'm not gonna be here. Or it's like, whoa, you know, so what do we do? Do we have any last-minute people who can fill that spot?

With that many people coming through, with that many vendors, it's almost like uh, you know, you're gonna get punched. Oh, absolutely. You're gonna have to deal with losing things. It's just a matter of what are they this year? Yeah, yeah.

Exactly.

So I've maybe going in it with that mindset, like, hey, there's no way this goes perfectly. Yeah.

You go with the flow.

So is that a lot of your day is just putting out fires, helping people it need stuff. Absolutely.

Is it mostly with the more of my parents' jobs because I run around taking photos and all of that and we get to do that and running the main stage? But but yeah, that's a lot of what my mom has to go through. Bless her heart. Yeah, she prayers for her, she is just moving constantly. I don't think she sits down ever for a single day. Prayers for Heidi, please. No, yeah, she and my dad, they are my dad. He literally, just so we can make sure that all of our guests have a space out in the parking lot to park so they don't have to walk a mile away, you know. Um, he is literally out there the day of when our vendor's coming. He's like, Vendor parking this way, and like he's shooting them over here, you know, and he's like, Don't park here, don't park here. You know, just so our guests can have a place to park, especially with some of that construction out there on the road. We're trying to, even that's kind of a stick in the road for us right now, trying to work ahead of that. Exactly. They tore up that whole, you know, exactly, truly. So trying to look at like how do we, you know, make sure that's clear for our guests so they know where to park, where to come in at, and uh some of that overflow parking used to be out in that grass. So we're trying to come up with some of those things before here in the next few weeks before we get going.

Okay, so you're 45 this year. I'm not, but the the 45th and yeah, is this year. In five years, you have the 50th.

That's crazy.

Yes. Are there like dreams of like, man, what this could be in your mind? Like things you're like, man, five years, ten years from now, versus what this could look like.

I am a I'm the dreamer in the family. I am the dreamer, and I am also, if you've ever heard of the working genius, um I am a game. We talk about that all the time.

Our audience hates hearing about it. Oh my gosh, I love the working genius. What are you on the working genius?

I'm an IT, so I'm invention and tenacity. I have to, I create, and I have these. So interesting. And I have to see it through. Wow. And so that my parents will know that. I'm like, give me the credit card. I need to buy this giant apple. Are we both IG?

Yeah. We're both IG. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah, absolutely.

So it's a miracle that we ever got our first episode out, honestly. Yeah.

Exactly. Yeah. So for me, that's kind of how it goes, you know. And so I think, like you said, for the 50th, the dreams, there are dreams there. I keep telling my parents, I'm like, I want a traveling midway. I want to make it a full-on festival. Like, I want what does that mean?

What's that?

So, like the carnival that comes to Topeka, but I'm like, now everybody's doing the carnival. And then I'm like, it's not gonna be as fun. But yeah, yeah. So I mean, I'm thinking, I'm always coming up with stuff, and then, but yeah, right now I'm like 45, that's where we're at. And so trying to make it as best as possible now. So but yeah, exciting

First-Timer Must-Dos And Live Demos

too.

Okay, a first time Saturday's visitor is coming this year. Yeah, where I'm not asking you for favorite vendors wouldn't do that to you. Um but what are some key staples? Like, hey, if you're going, you need there's you know, there's hundreds of vendors you need to look for these ones.

Oh my gosh, yeah. I like you said, I it's hard to pick a favorite, especially out of everybody. But uh, the first thing you got to do is I I I always ask this to our people on Facebook. I had a survey put out. I was like, you know, what is your first stop to do? If you're a Cider Days attendee who's been coming for years, we're like, what do you do first when you come to Cider Days? And they're like, of course, I go get my apple cider slash, I get my donuts, and then I go straight into the event hall and I start shopping. And I'm like, that's perfect, that's the perfect plan. Okay, you know, so carry food around. Carry food, carry coffee. You know what I'm saying? And so um, they're either grabbing their coffee, they're grabbing their cider. And so I would do that. Go and grab that and then go and start shopping. Um, and uh, but yeah, the vendors, my gosh. Um, Jack Hishma, uh, of course, he was probably one of he was, no, I was just kidding. He is he's one of our favorites. Um, and uh we have so we have so many um just amazing vendors, you know, and uh and staples that have been there for years. Like um, we have Greg Booz, uh, I'm gonna get his name wrong. Greg Boozer from Boozer Blacksmithing, and he has been our blacksmithers since it opened. Whoa, like he's been yes, I is that a word blacksmith. Blacksmithy. So he makes like knives and literally does blacksmithing demonstrations in front of you. What? He's heating up and they are they are making nails in front of you. Like they're crazy. Yeah, it's so neat. So please come and stop by there. Yeah um their spot because he just does such amazing work. Um in years past, we've had a glass blower where she's blowing you know glass and doing demonstrations like that. Um, this year we're looking at having a little car show outside with some unique cars. Um, and so hopefully more details on that.

So, I mean, it's not even just shopping, it's it's more of an experience. It's an experience.

That's what I'm and I think that's the thing is like there are all kinds of markets out there, you know what I'm saying? Which that's great, that's awesome, you know. But there's always you can find those anywhere. And I think that's the thing is like I'm trying to bring it back to and continue that festival aspect of it where it is one supporting local and small businesses, but there's also other stuff to do that's not just oh, I can find this on a Saturday morning, you know, which that's great, and I love that. But it's like, man, let's ring in fall together by just having a festival.

Name another market where you can take a picture with the zebra.

Exactly. Come on, come on. Do you need a magician? Because we may know a magician uh who would apparently kill it at something like this.

Justin, is it you?

I wish it was that would be awesome. I wish it was me. I wish it was me to tell him the story. Yeah. We had a guest, Curtis Sneedon. He uh is running the airport uh effort to bring in Major Airlines to Topeka. Yes. And so we brought him on just because we heard he's bringing Major Airlines to Topeka. And so we bring him on, we talk about this, we have a whole episode, and then we're like, cool, great podcast. See you later. He's like, oh, by the way, I'm like a professional magician. He is. And we're like, why did you not say that earlier? Like, we there's no way we would have known to ask you about that. And so he's like, well, yeah, maybe next time I'll do a magic show.

It's like, why didn't we do that? This would be great. Absolutely. I know Curtis Sneed, he's such a great guy. Yeah, it's we would love to. We'll have to try reach out to him. Like I said, we're we're trying to think of different things. I think we reached out to the Topeka Zoo to even bring some animals. I mean, no, we already have the exotic butting zoo, but even to have that up close, you know, explanation of the animals and stuff.

Okay, because I this is like, I don't know if this is just a me thing. Like, yeah, maybe it is, and that's fine. Uh until you know, I got issues or whatever. But like there's just something about like one time, uh, my wife and I, we lived in Manhattan for the first year of our marriage, and we were walking from the downtown area, and we got stopped by this like YouTuber kid who was like trying to create like a close-up magic YouTube channel. And so he did these tricks with us, you know, on his friend had a camera or whatever, and I'm just like eating it up. I'm like, this is awesome, you know? And he did like these random tricks. I don't even remember what he did, but it was like I just remember being like, that was incredible. We guys could just be a part of this cool thing. And then one time we went to this other festival, and there's kind of a guy similar to that. Right. And I was like, that was sweet. So, like, in my mind, it could be cool. You have a guy just wandering the crowd, interacting with people that are in line for stuff, like, hey, let me show you a magic trick, you know? And just like, you know, and we're like, dude, that was dope, you know.

Did I tell you we had Curtis come out to our uh company's Christmas, uh Christmas Klein event? And uh it's uh we call it donuts with Santa. There's donuts, there's food, there's games, there's things like that. And Curtis walked around at the uh close-up magic for all the kids. It was awesome. Oh my gosh, okay.

Why just kids? Why can't the adults, you know, figure out the tools? Raw kids.

I'm gonna have to look into that. That's awesome. I love it.

Oh my gosh. Yeah, cool.

Rapid Fire Topeka Picks And Wrap

Well, do we want to switch to some rapid fire questions? Get Nick out of here.

Okay, so we do rapid fire questions that have really just everything to do with just life in Topeka as a person who lives in Topeka. All right, so maybe set the Saturdays hat, and you're just a person who lives in Topeka.

Yeah.

Off top of your head, favorite local restaurant.

Oh my gosh. El Mezcal.

That's a great answer. That is a great answer. And you're the first one who's given it, I think.

We don't have one like that in Branson. Like a really good, well, yeah, no, I every time I come back, I'm like, it has to be, I gotta go to El Mezcal.

I'm gonna give a why why El Mezcal?

Um, their queso is phenomenal, and their chimichangas, their chicken chimichongas. That's my go-to. It's fantastic.

I'm gonna give a huge shout out to El Mez. I was talking to my wife about it the other day. We we we rave about the book Unreasonable Hospitality. Oh and uh that restaurant embodies that. And I they I don't know if they know that's you know what they're doing or not, but we have a waiter there who knows us by name. Every time I see him, his name's Danny, he gaps us up, he knuckles us, and asks how the baby is, all the things, and I don't know Danny. How often do you go to LB? We go a lot, we we go a lot. But let me go even one step further. Um Danny, and I don't want to get him in trouble by saying this, but we go so much, yeah, he always gives us free queso, and he knows I always get a coke. Oh my gosh. And so he doesn't even charge us for it. And it's one of those things that I was telling my wife. He's getting fired when this comes in. Exactly. Well, no, not after not after I say this. Yeah, my wife's like, I can't believe they do that. You know, give us queso and give you your coke. Like, you know, that seems like a horrible business move. And I told my wife, I was like, well, it's like it's part of the reason I like going so much. You have to bought your loyalty. Yes, it's like I know that Danny's gonna hook us up, and you know, we go and we get several, you know, entrees and all the things. Yeah, and you know, I always tip them real well because I'm super thankful. And so I would actually argue it's the opposite because Pop is dirt cheap. You know, I know it's not costing them much to give me a Coke, and they make up their queso on a massive bowl that they just kind of laid a lot of. So they're making it all no matter what. And so the fact that he's given it to me, like he is they have bought my loyalty, Elmaz Cow. Great answer. Oh, yeah, absolutely. Wow. There you go, man. Okay, local coffee shop.

Local coffee shop. Oh my gosh. Um, I love milk and honey. Milk and honey, and it's also close to where I'm uh live over there while my parents live. Yeah, and uh and they're fantastic too. We love milk and honey, they're awesome there.

Do you have a go-to uh like date night spot? Oh my gosh. Or experience.

It's been years since I've lived in Topeka. So go-to date night spot, my gosh. Experience. I feel like just bowling. Bowling is just bowling. You know, I I I mean, even that is like even when I come back with my family, I'm like, can we go bowling? Like, I haven't gone bowling in for a long time. That's awesome. So and so uh are you good at bowling?

Are you like low-key, like you're bowling 200?

Oh no, no, I can't take that. I can't take that. No, absolutely not. And I think that's the fun of it. It's like, let's just go. Let's just go bowl of 37. Let's go bowl of 37. Let's just get the prize. Let's just sit there and pig out. But uh yeah. Uh, how many potholes did you hit on your way over here? Dude, I love that. Surprisingly, zero so far. Okay. Surprisingly, like, and and that's the thing.

Head on over to Saturdays, you might hit one or two on boulevard, but that's hilarious.

Or you'll fall into the lane they dug out on Topeka Boulevard.

Oh my gosh, no. Yeah, I that is the one thing. Topeka, we gotta get, we gotta do something about that.

Yep. But yeah, amazing. Um, you're doing a home project. Home Depot, Menards, Lowe's. Where are you going in Topeka? I love Menards. Oh, come on.

I'm sorry. Say big money and Menards.

Great answer. I this is my favorite guest. Yeah. Hit me with the Elmez, the milk and honey, Menards.

I'm gonna start screening guests based on this question alone.

Listen, like, literally, my family, we will just go. Like, even when I was in high school, we would go to Sam's Club as like a, you know, just a hangout? A hangout. Like, let's go get the free samples. Like, let's literally just go on a Saturday. You know, like it was sometimes what we would do. Like, let's just go look around. That's the same thing for Menards. I know why. Like, even now I'm like, oh yeah, let's just go walk around. Like they have a little grocery store in the back. You know what I'm saying?

Let's go see what calls to me. I'm not shopping for things, they call out to me. Exactly. Yeah.

Yeah, you might save big money at Minards. You're not saving big time at Menards. Yeah. That's true. That's true.

Yes, absolutely.

Amazing. Uh, what is one thing if you could bring anything, a restaurant, an experience, an activity to Topeka that it doesn't currently have?

Oh my god. What would you bring? Oh my goodness. Honestly, that's a hard one because I love what Topeka is doing now. Like, even just all the stuff with the mall, like what I see, you know, even not living currently in Topeka, but to just see how it's growing so much is so impressive because I love Topeka and I know so many people do. And to have those things coming to Topeka is super awesome. And so um, I honestly that's a hard one to even say because I Sign Zown Theater. Honestly, a science down theater. Yes, exactly. Exactly. Uh more theater. No, yeah. Like, I would love to see them to finish Jayhawk. I'm like, come on, like that is something I'm excited about. Um, but yeah, honestly, I would love to see more concerts, more shows come to Topeka. And I know I know you have Kansas City, but I'm like, man, that is the one thing growing up. I'm like, man, why do we always get just these, you know, just this person or this person? I'm like, we don't actually get like some bigger names here. And I'm like, I would love to see us grow in that. So yeah, probably some more performances.

You mentioned the mall. If you guys are ever bored and you want to be entertained, hop onto a random Facebook group about what they're doing at the mall and just look at all the comments of people complaining complaining. Someone posted something yesterday, and I don't know, it's I just must be a sucker for for pain controversy. Yes. And so I'm like, let's go see what people are saying about the mall renovation that's being done. And you know, half the comments are like, this is just yeah, yeah. I'm like, it's not your money, man. Why do you even care? It's only elf, it's great. Yeah, so if you're ever bored, dude, yes, truly. That's so fun.

I just love like every time I come back, I'm like, I have to go downtown. I love the pennant, I love all those ways. Like, yeah, it's just so cool to see what he's doing with just all of Topeka and uh yeah, and just with them all in general. Like, it's just awesome.

Yeah, so yeah, cool. Finally, where can people find Cider Days information if they if they're curious, if they want to see updates? What's the best way to stay in touch with Saturdays?

Yeah, feel free. Visit us on Facebook, Cider Days um on Facebook. We also have an event Saturday's 45th anniversary out there on Facebook as well. Um and then you can visit our website at www.siderdays.com. And then yeah, you can also, I believe, I believe now you should be able to, but purchase tickets online at Stormontvale Event Center.com through their ticketmaster as well. So you are able to buy tickets online in advance. Yep.

Um this comes out, yes, people can still buy tickets at the door. Yes, that's right. So if you don't have one, go to the door.

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, awesome. Next thing. Thank you guys.

Excited to be a part of Saturdays and come experience the whole thing. I'm excited to go for the first time.

Peta zebra. Absolutely. Peta zebra. Awesome. Thanks, love it. Thank you guys.