Old Iron is back after a 15-year break! As part of the 150th Anniversary of Rush County, Kansas, the people of Otis have resurrected Old Iron Days for a one-time encore celebration. The celebration will be held on April 26-28, 2024 in downtown Otis.
Events begin on Friday the 26th at 6 pm with a Pancake Feed sponsored by the Otis Lions Club under the People’s Bank tent in the Otis City Park. Live music will be provided by “Off Duty.” A free will offering will be taken.
On Saturday morning, events kick off with a car and antique tractor show from 10 am - 2 pm. Military vehicles will also be on display. There will be live blacksmithing demonstrations, and the Mountain Man Rendezvous will feature historical reenactments from the early 1800s. Food and craft vendors, games for the kids, and more will be set up downtown. The Rush County Historical Society will exhibit historical displays in the Senior Center from 10 am - 2 pm and after the parade. Balloons from the Messer Helium Plant will be available for the kids from 10 am – 12:00 pm.
At 2:30 pm, the parade kicks off on Main Street featuring tractors, cars, and floats from the late 1800s to the present. On Sunday, April 28, the celebration will conclude with a community worship service under the People’s Bank tent at 10:30 am. Everyone is welcome.
The Otis Old Iron Days celebration was founded in 1987 as a vision of Jim Funk, Harry Schneider, Ory Petersilie, and Jenny Landers, of Otis. Their idea was to give antique farm equipment collectors a chance to showcase and celebrate these historic artifacts of the past while providing a day of fun and entertainment. The last Old Iron Days celebration was held in April 2011. Old Iron Days 2024 is sponsored by the Otis Lions Club.
Throughout 2024, Rush County is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a year-long celebration, The 150-Year Rush. On December 5, 1874, Kansas Governor Thomas Osborn signed a proclamation formally establishing Rush County, Kansas. To commemorate, special sesquicentennial events are being held each month throughout the county. All events are open to the public.
For more information, or a complete schedule of events, visit www.rushcounty.org or contact Rush County Economic Development at 785-222-2808 or by email at [email protected].