MARYSVILLE, Kan. -- Wayne Kruse said the history of this northern Kansas festival would bring in thousands from around the country. 

He was right. 

Marysville’s Big Blue River days saw a surplus of people line the streets for barbecue, a car show and more. 

“This is a great time to welcome people to Marysville. There’s just this really great vibe throughout the town, whether that’s music or the vibe of the cars, accented from the aromas of the barbecue,” said Kruse, a member of the Marysville Chamber and Main Street. “So the town fills up.”

The town did fill up, with people from one end of its main street, Broadway Street, to the other, enjoying the festivities. 

“There is just lots of silliness, for lack of a better word,” said Kruse. “We have turtle races, we have the beer bile, we have live music. It is a great time to be in downtown Marysville.”

Kruse said not only is this event good to bring in new tourists, but it also helps the local economy grow significantly. 

“We call events like this where we ‘cast the net’,” said Kruse. “We bring in thousands of people and the businesses do things to capture the people and bring them into their stores."

Kruse said this event encapsulates the history of the town, located on the Pony Express.

He said it gives the community a sense of pride in its history, to see that many visitors, from as far as the west coast, attending this festival. 

“So, it’s these community festivals that are important to bring people in,” said Kruse. “But just as importantly, it’s to give our locals a sense of pride in their city.”