Ensorfest, the celebration of all things Ensor, "officially" became an annual event Saturday, May 10 with the holding of Ensorfest '25 at Ensor Park and Museum in south Olathe.
Jointly sponsored by the City of Olathe, which owns and operates the historic site at 18995 W. 183rd Street, the Olathe Ensor Foundation, the Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club and the Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club, Ensorfest '25 built on the momentum created two years ago by Ensorfest '23 and continued last year through Ensorfest '24, and was packed full of family-friendly activities designed to entertain, inform, or both.
So who (or what) "stole the show," as they say, during this the latest installment of a special event that seeks to preserve and promote the rich legacy of Johnson County's Ensor family?
Was it the slick-looking Model A's, Cadillacs and Corvettes that were on display in or in front of the parking lot?
How about the rugged World War II Jeeps that had been supplied by the Heart of America Wing of the Commemorative Air Force?
Maybe it was the city's shiny red firetruck that was always at the ready to spring into action in the event of a call for help from somewhere?
Or could it have been the spiffy Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network van manned by JCRAC member Herb Fiddick, NZ0F?
Or perhaps the old-fashioned corn-sheller whose big wheel children could crank to produce a little food for critters?
Then again, it just might have been the eye-catching quilts exhibited by members of the Olathe Quilter's Guild.
Was it The Pheasant Pluckers, the Fine & Dandy String Band and The Rich O'Brien/David Hynes Project with their down-home, toe-tappin' tunes all skillfully delivered to their listeners from the front porch of the Ensor home?
How about Chautauqua speakers Bob Courtney and Tom Kearney, who talked about the Jefferson Highway and man's best friend, dogs, respectively, at ease?
Maybe it was the easy-to-overlook two-hole Maverick disc golf course to the west of the two-story house or the new walking trails off to the east and south?
Or could it have been the BioBlitz "boys" faithfully stationed at their table by the driveway or the purple-clad gals with the Johnson County Extension Service who were eager to field questions about flowers, herbs, vegetables and such?
Or perhaps the colorful Historic Frontier Trails maps that were positioned near the back porch?
Then again, it just might have been the tasty food SFTARC member Tony Johnson, KD0KLD, served up from inside his Smokey Hill BBQ trailer or the yummy cookies that had been baked for the occasion by the Ladies Reading Circle of Olathe.
On the other hand, maybe it was simply the lovely house itself, which was open all afternoon long for tours led by hams from the two radio clubs.
Oh, and don't forget those adorable Angora goats with the radio-theme names that were on loan from Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm, Dot and Dash. What a pair!
Based on food sales and the count of vehicles that entered the pasture parking area east of the parking lot, the post-event assessment of Ensorfest '25 put the attendance somewhere in the range of 200 to 250 people.
"From my view it was an excellent festival," OEF Secretary and SFTARC Treasurer Marty Peters, KE0PEZ, told OEF President Howard Cripe, N0AZ, OEF Vice President Jeff Darby, KS0JD, OEF Treasurer Tom Apalenek, WA2IVD, and OEF board members John Gray, KD0VRS, and Rick Nichols in an email he sent them May 12.
The primary coordinator of Ensorfest '25 then proceeded to thank the group "for making everything happen almost perfectly."
Event Pictures may be viewed at: