KKOA and Visit Salina are gearing up for the Leadsled Spectacular Car Show running July 28-31, 2022! 
 
42nd Annual KKOA Leadsled Spectacular 2022 – Schedule of Events
 
Thursday - July 28
        Spectacular Sundown Cruise - Cruise at 7:30 pm – Viewing on Santa Fe Street (FREE)
 
Friday-Sunday - July 29
        Show and Shine - Oakdale Park - Fri. 9am-5pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 9am-2pm
        Admission:  Fri. $15, Sat. $18, Sun. $10; Kids 12 & under Free
        (See below for Oakdale Park Schedule)
 
Friday - July 29
       KKOA Hotrod & Kustom Auction – 9:00 - Registered entrants Free, Oakdale Park-Eric Stein Stage
        Run-Whatcha'-Brung Drags - off 841 Markley Rd. - 4pm-Dusk, Admission:  $15 per person;
        Kids 12 & Under Free
 
Saturday – July 30
       Spectacular Concert – The Temple – 8:00-10:00,doors open 7pm – Personality/Band To be   announced.  Admission:  $25, first come first serve basis
        Tickets sold at The Temple and Cozy Inn

Oakdale Park Schedule
Friday & Saturday in the Park 
Two Working Kustom Shops – 9-5pm Daily
Vintage Bicycle Spoke-tacular – 9am-end of show, around the concrete rink
Valve Cover Races – 11am
Beauty Contest – 2 Age Groups: Pin-ups 18-39; Looker’s 40-plus 2 Main Stage
 
Saturday in the Park
               Hall of Fame Walk – 12-1 by the T-Shirt Booth
                Model Car Show – 9-end of show; behind the t-shirt booth
 
Sunday in the Park 
                  Christian Rods and Customs Church Service – 10am Main Stage
                   Awards Ceremony - 1pm
 
For more information see the KKOA website: www.KustomKempsofAmerica.com
Or contact KKOA via e-mail: kkemps09@centurytel.net

Take a look at our all new Salina Visitors Guide

The Salina Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to sponsor Salina Day at Kansas Wesleyan's University's (KWU) .  Saturday, November 13th the UNDEFEATED KWU Coyotes take on the Moundbuilders of Southwestern College.  Kick-off is at 1PM on Gene Bissell Field in Graves Family Sports Complex. A WIN for the Coyotes places them at the top of the KCAC and NAIA standings.  Tickets can be purchased at the stadium or by contacting KWU. 
You won't want to miss being a part of this competitive football game in a family friendly and FUN atmosphere!!  For more information go to www.KWU.edu.

Visit Salina is pleased to host the KSHSAA 2A State Football Championship.  The event will be played the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day, November 27 at Salina Stadium with a 1pm Kick-off.

“KSHSAA Football is a wonderful event for Salina to host!” expressed Tiffany Benien, Visit Salina Sports & Events Mgr., “Salina will enjoy hosting the 2A Class this year, and expects the game to have a good following from fans out of town wanting to enjoy an afternoon football game. We believe they’ll continue to experience Salina beyond the game by dining in our restaurants, staying in our hotels and shopping. With a little good fortune, we’ll have great weather and that makes competing for the title even more fun!”

Economic impact for the event is estimated at $260,600 for the Salina community. KSHSAA does not have any compacity or ticket sales limitations as this time.

The 2A District and State matchups will be posted at www.KSHSAA.org

Thank you to Vanessa Whiteside of One Delightful Life for sharing about our amazing city! In Vanessa’s blog you can learn all about the Salina attractions, dining and the hotel that she enjoyed this trip. From a production at Salina Community Theatre, downtown shopping, the Smoky Hill Museum and a walk on the wild side at Rolling Hills Zoo, Vanessa’s Salina Experience sounds 67401derful!
 
Click here to check out what she has to say, and make plans to Visit Salina soon and getaway for your own Salina experience.

NJCAA Region VI/Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference  (KJCCC) basketball championship tournaments will be held in Salina, KS, March 4-5, 2022 as Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

NJCAA Region VI Divisions I & II are made up of teams from the KJCCC. Sixteen teams qualify for the region playoffs in each division with the semi-finals and championships being held at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

“Salina’s central location makes it an ideal place for the Region VI Finals. Tony’s Pizza Events Center is a great venue and should provide an excellent atmosphere for our student athletes and fans,” said Mike Saddler, NJCAA Region VI Director.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the Salina experience with Region VI,” said Tiffany Benien, Visit Salina. “I believe the Salina community will embrace and enjoy this event.”

On-court action begins Friday, March 4th with the DI men’s and women’s semi-finals at 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Championship games will be Saturday, March 5th: DII Women’s Championship at 1:00 pm; DII Men’s Championship at 3:00 pm; DI Women’s Championship at 5:00 pm; DI Men’s Championship at 7:00 pm.
Ticket information will be announced at a later date.

​Event & ticketing updates will be announced on Tony’s Pizza Events Center social media channels, and www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com.
 

The KSHSAA Class 5A & 6A State Volleyball Tournaments will be held at Tony’s Pizza Events Center, October 29-30, 2021

Salina has hosted State Volleyball Tournaments each fall for decades dating back to 1978. While the tournament was modified in 2020, this year the tradition continues and is planned for the normal format. A total of 16 teams, plus officials, fans and spectators will come to Salina and compete.  The tournaments are estimated to provide Salina more than $490,000 in estimated economic impact.

On Friday morning, 8 teams in the 5A class will begin with opening ceremonies followed by pool play.  Game times are scheduled for 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30am, 12:30 and 1:30pm.  Friday afternoon, 8 teams in the 6A class will begin with opening ceremonies followed by pool play.  Game times are scheduled for 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm. Semifinal, Consolation and Championship games will be played on Saturday in both divisions with 5A game times scheduled at 10am and 11:30am, and 6A games times set for 2pm and 3:30pm.
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Once teams quality, brackets will be posted at www.KSHSAA.org

We are really excited for the 2021 KKOA Leadsled Spectacular, July 22-25 in the beautiful Oakdale Park! We hope you will join us for this kool car show!
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#6740wonderful #VisitSalina #SalinaKS

​Salina, Kansas is the home of SO many great experiences, businesses, and products. Just ONE example of what Salina is known for is, well, PIZZA! In fact, with some time, some effort and some very stretchy pants, you could absolutely enjoy a PIZZA PALOOZA in Salina! There are many choices, and everyone seems to gravitate to their own favorite, but we can get you started on your journey!
 
The longest standing pizza enterprise in Salina may well be The Scheme. This restaurant and full bar are known for its GREAT pizza (try the buffalo!), great service (tell Cassee hi!) and fun atmosphere. It’s open limited hours, and reservations are a really good idea! 
 
Blue Skye Brewery and Eats creates a wonderful selection of brick-oven pizza, paired with starters, salads and great craft brews. On Sunday’s there is a great brunch featuring pizza, flatbreads and featured adult beverages. Martinelli’s Little Italy has their own take on the pizza pie, and great bar (wine) service to complement. I always pair mine with the chopped salad, my favorite. And if we can, cannoli for dessert! Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom joined these local favorites downtown and offers a huge menu of both delicious food and refreshing brews, and features outdoor dining as well. Coop’s Pizzeria is near outdoor sports complexes on E. Crawford, and is proud of their homemade dough, sauces and dressings. Love the mushroom pizza! YaYa’s Euro Bistro serves incredible flatbread from their impressive menu, with sidewalk dining open.
 
To make it an official claim to pizza fame, Salina just happens to be the home of a Schwan Global Supply Chain facility, where there is more frozen pizza (Tony’s, Red Baron..) produced than anywhere else in the world! And when you are planning your Pizza Palooza days, don’t forget to check out any entertainment that might be scheduled at Tony’s Pizza Events Center – our largest sports arena, entertainment and convention venue!
 
Check out all the options for dining and fun at VisitSalinaKS.org

The travel and tourism industry is such an important part of who Salina, Kansas is as a community. The attributes that make Salina the wonderful place it is to live, are exactly the reasons that choose this place as a destination. Whether they come to take part in a meeting or convention, as a family for a sports tournament, to attend a production at Salina Community Theatre or a concert at the Stiefel Theatre, for a weekend at the Smoky Hill River Festival or KKOA Leadsled Spectacular Car Show, or have included us as a stopping point on a longer trip, visitors have long been an integral part of the Salina economy. Hotel stays are obvious, but the broader impact includes our restaurants, the attractions mentioned and others, retail stores, fuel vendors, and airlines.
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Due to the pandemic, in 2020 the entire U.S. travel industry lost half a trillion dollars in travel-related spending—10 times the economic impact of 9/11. Nationally, total travel-supported jobs accounted for a staggering 65% of all U.S. jobs lost amid the pandemic. In Salina, we saw hotels that dropped to single digit occupancy, reduce staffing to a very bare minimum, close off sections of rooms and in some cases, close entirely for a while. All while adding tremendous sanitation and mitigation efforts. Restaurants switched to delivery, curbside, and outdoor service. Entertainment venues had to adapt, but in many cases were shuttered.
 
A broader economic recovery hinges on a recovery within the travel industry. Vaccinations are providing hope that a return to normal is on the horizon, though a resurgence in travel demand is not inevitable, and certainly won’t be immediate. The travel industry’s recovery is expected to take as long as three to five years, and as things do begin to bounce back, everyone is faced with the challenge of finding people to staff back up.
 
The road ahead is challenging, but the travel industry is resilient and has an incredible ability to bounce back from difficult times. We recovered after 9/11, after the 2008 financial meltdown, after other health scares. This is the toughest challenge the U.S. travel industry has ever faced, but we know travel is one of the best-equipped industries to lead a revival.
 
As recovery efforts continue, and we get Americans moving again, then all of us in Salina, Kansas can get back to doing what we do best - providing quality job opportunities, reconnecting family and friends, providing warm hospitality, and showing the world what makes the U.S., the State of Kansas and Salina among the best places to visit!