Craft Shows & Fairs in Manhattan, Kansas

Manhattan — the Little Apple — sits at the edge of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie, home to Kansas State University and a growing arts scene. The craft event calendar here concentrates into fall and holiday, with the Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show drawing 150 vendors from six states each September.

The Museum of Art and Light, which opened downtown in November 2024, has immediately drawn new visitors to the Flint Hills. Manhattan is a city building on what it already has.

Manhattan's Craft Show Scene

The Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show is the signature event — two days, late September (September 26–27), sponsored by the Mercy Regional Health Center Auxiliary. One hundred fifty vendors from six states. The multi-state vendor draw says something about this show's regional reach: it has developed a reputation beyond Riley County.

Core craft categories: handmade wood, pottery, jewelry, and fabric work.

Other key shows:

Buttons & Bows Arts & Crafts Show — annual; original handcrafted work only (wood, pottery, jewelry, fabric); vendors from multiple states; handmade-focused
Homemade for the Holidays — November–December; large indoor facility, 55+ vendors, free parking; oriented toward holiday gift shopping
Flint Hills Sheek Boutique Shop and Crop — bi-annual; holiday shopping event combining local boutique retail with handmade craft vendors

aha! Manhattan, the city's arts and humanities organization, supports community engagement with KSU's visual arts programs and connects academic creative work to public events. The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at KSU houses the most extensive Kansas art collection in the state. The Museum of Art and Light (MoA+L) downtown — opened November 2024, billed as the first contemporary art museum built from inception around immersive and digital collections — is already drawing regional visitors.

Country Fairs & County Events Near Manhattan

The Riley County Fair runs at the Riley County Fairgrounds in CiCo Park — July 24–28, 2026. Full-format county fair: 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, the Kaw Valley Rodeo, nightly entertainment, carnival rides. Craft and home arts exhibits are part of the 4-H programming.

Fort Riley (10 miles west) adds a substantial military family audience to Riley County's community — 4-H programs are active across both the civilian and military populations.

The Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show and the Riley County Fair together cover Manhattan's two primary seasonal gathering traditions — the summer fair and the fall craft show — with a character distinct from larger Kansas cities.

Best Times to Visit Manhattan for Craft Events

September is the peak. The Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show (late September) brings 150 vendors from six states. Fall in the Flint Hills — warm days, cool evenings, the tallgrass prairie turning amber — makes this one of the more scenic times to visit the region. Late July brings the Riley County Fair — a full week at CiCo Park with the Kaw Valley Rodeo and traditional county fair programming. November–December: The Homemade for the Holidays show (55+ vendors, indoor) and the Flint Hills Sheek holiday event are the primary winter options. Both are practical for holiday shopping rather than fine art browsing.

The Mulvane Art Fair in Topeka (53 miles east, first weekend of June) and Art in the Park in Lawrence (55+ miles east, September) are natural regional complements for visitors willing to extend a Flint Hills trip.

Nearby Cities for Craft Shows

Abilene — ~44 miles west; Heritage Days at the Dickinson County Heritage Center (living history + craft vendors); Annual Holiday Craft & Gift Show (December); Central Kansas Free Fair (late July–early August)
Topeka — ~53 miles east; Mulvane Art Fair (June, juried); Cider Days (September, Northeast Kansas's largest arts and crafts festival)
Wichita — ~135 miles south; Old Town Farm & Art Market (weekly Saturdays, April–December); ICT Artisan Expo

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best craft shows in Manhattan, Kansas?

The Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show (late September, 150 vendors from 6 states) is the largest and most-attended event. Buttons & Bows Arts & Crafts Show focuses on original handcrafted work only. For holiday shopping, Homemade for the Holidays (November–December, 55+ vendors, indoor) is the primary option. The Riley County Fair at CiCo Park (late July) includes craft and home arts exhibits in its 4-H programming.

When do craft shows happen in Manhattan?

Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show: late September. Riley County Fair: late July. Homemade for the Holidays and Flint Hills Sheek: November–December. Buttons & Bows runs annually. For regional shows: Mulvane Art Fair in Topeka (June, 53 miles east), Art in the Park in Lawrence (September).

Are there country fairs near Manhattan?

The Riley County Fair at CiCo Park is the home county fair — 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, Kaw Valley Rodeo, July 24–28, 2026. The Central Kansas Free Fair in Abilene (44 miles west) is another traditional free-admission fair, late July–early August. The Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson (~100 miles southwest) is the state's largest — 10 days each September.

Is there a handmade market scene in Manhattan?

Manhattan's handmade market scene is growing. KSU's art programs (ceramics, painting, sculpture, fiber) generate local artisan talent. aha! Manhattan supports community engagement with the arts. The Pumpkin Patch and Buttons & Bows shows both attract multi-state vendor participation. The Museum of Art and Light (2024) signals ongoing community investment in arts infrastructure.

Find Events in Manhattan

CraftShow Events covers craft shows, county fairs, and artisan market listings in Manhattan and across Kansas. Search by date to find the Pumpkin Patch show, Riley County Fair, Homemade for the Holidays, and all upcoming events in the Little Apple.