Inside Cider Days: Topeka’s Biggest Fall Market & Festival | Nick Haney

WEBVTT
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8 to 10,000 people from all over Kansas.
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29 foot inflatable apple.
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It sounds like it's the farmer's market in steroid.
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There's free swag bags for those first hundred people who wait in line before the doors open.
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There's some live animals.
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I can cider donuts.
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Cider donuts?
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Awesome.
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Hey, welcome back to another episode of Topeka Insider.
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Today we have Nick Haney, who's the marketing director with Cider Days.
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Nick, thanks for being here.
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Of course.
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Thank you guys for having me.
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Absolutely, man.
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Oh my gosh.
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It has hit us with it.
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If if someone's been living under a rock in Topeka and they've never heard of Cider Days.
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I just met someone and I was like, who the heck are you?
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Like, how do you not know what this amazing thing is?
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Give us the rundown.
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What is Cider Days?
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What is Cider Days?
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Oh my gosh, Cider Days is a family tradition at its core.
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Um, gosh, we've been around now, this is our 45th year here in Topeka, Kansas.
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Um, so uh we like to say that we've been bringing great family fun to Kansas since 1981.
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And so um so it's been a yeah, truly, right?
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You know, truly one.
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But yeah, so we have been um just doing this here for the past uh my family in general has been um a part of this for 10 years almost.
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Wow.
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And so um, so yeah, so it truly is a family tradition at its core, not only um as a business uh family, but also for um those who come to Cider Days.
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Um my mom, she grew up coming to Cider Days, and so um once we were born, she ended up bringing us with her mother, and so it truly has been a part of our lives.
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Um and so never thought I would be um a part of the family who owned the event, um, but is it it truly has been just such a blessing um to just be able to bring entertainment to Topeka.
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Um that is um one at its core about small businesses and shopping and supporting local.
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Um, you know, it is um it is a market in itself, but it's also a festival.
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So it's this hybrid event, um, which I believe uh Topeka and Kansas um really wants and they want more of.
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And so um to have an event that's been running for the past 45 years has been truly a blessing.
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So you grew up going to this as a kid, and now your family runs it.
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Yeah.
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How did that happen?
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How did your family take this on?
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It's crazy.
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Yeah.
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So um my brother ended up actually, he was the one um who got us into the event um starting almost, yeah, eight years ago, closer nine, ten almost actually.
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But he ended up, yeah, buying it off of a couple and uh and then started running it.
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He was like, I need help, I have other things to do.
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And so um he brought my parents in on it.
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And so then my parents are like, we need help.
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And so um, so that's when I came about and uh started helping with the city.
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It's kind of crazy, like like as some I've been, you know, I've been the last five years, yeah.
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And it's a massive, I mean, there's just thousands and thousands of people and all the booths and all the stuff.
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It's crazy to think that there's like a family of a few people organizing this massive thing.
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Yeah, yeah, like what does it take to run this event?
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Truly, yeah.
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No, it's it is it's a beast in itself.
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Um, and but it's also a blessing.
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But like, even I was talking to gosh, some folks last year.
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They're like, when do you start planning this?
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Like, when do you have time?
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I feel like a lot of times, like even when I'm back, it's dinner talk is cider days.
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Um, you know, and so it truly is.
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We're starting to plan the next Cider Days literally the day after the event closes.
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Like we look at the numbers, we look at okay, this was what this went good, you know, this was well, this whatever, you know, and so we look at all of that, and it's it and we start planning for the next year, which was crazy, and especially knowing that this year's the 45th anniversary, we were like, we gotta go big um or go home, truly.
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So, yeah, so it takes a lot of work.
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So it's a weekend event, September 19th through the 20th.
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Through the 20th.
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So two days, Saturday, Sunday.
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Yeah, Saturday, Sunday.
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Yeah.
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Where is it being held at?
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Yeah, so um originally the event started at the Apple Valley Farm in um, oh gosh, it's uh located over by Perry Lake.
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Um now it is an event venue, um, a wedding venue, but it was like the place to be back in the day.
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Like back in the 80s, like it was hopping.
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Um, they had like dinner feud shows and like little things like that.
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They had artists would uh perform, but that's where it originated.
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So the event started by the um American Lung Association.
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So they started it.
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Um the American Lung Association.
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Yeah, right.
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I know, yeah.
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So that's how it all began.
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As like a fundraiser or a little bit?
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I think so.
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It was like it was kind of like this.
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He wasn't there, John.
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I mean, I mean that was probably that was before my place was popping in the 80s.
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It's like I promise you, you weren't there.
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But yeah, but yeah, it was um started with them, and they did it at the Apple Valley Farm, is what it was called at the time.
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Now it is called Apple Valley Lane, and it's a wedding venue now.
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So we're actually gonna be going tomorrow uh to film a segment about the family tradition and go back to the roots, go back to where it all began.
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So stoked about that.
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But yeah, so that's where it all began, and then it ended up going to Lake Shawnee, so where the Kansas uh powwow was at one time was back there.
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Um, and uh, and then it ended up growing, it just kept growing and growing um to where now we have around eight to ten thousand people from all over Kansas who come just for this one event and this weekend.
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And so um, you know, we even have vendors who they're from all over the United States, which we'll talk about here later.
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But but yeah, so then we ended up coming to what then was the Kansas Expo Center, which is now the Stormont Valley Event Center.
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So that's where we are now, and we've been ever since.
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Yeah, amazing.
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So it's a it's a weekend event, and you have lots of different vendors and booths, and people have to buy a ticket to go.
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Yes, um, what kind of vendors and booths could people expect?
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Yes, yes, we have over 250 vendors.
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Um, and so my mother, she is our event coordinator, and she does so much work throughout the year.
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She is checking her email almost nightly, even if I'm giving them a call during the week.
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She's like, I'm like, what are you up to?
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I'm working on Cider Days, you know?
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So she is checking her email daily because people all over, not even just Kansas, but we have people from all over the United States who actually come and this is what they do.
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Like, that is their business, is they go to festivals and fairs and markets and they sell their products.
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Wow.
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And like we've had people who were in the show.
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Gosh, they were like, This is my 30th year of being with Cider Days.
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I was here from the very first year when it was under the Kansas Lung Association, you know.
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So I just like what?
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You know, so that was super cool to just see like the people who have been with us since the very beginning, even before we owned it, you know.
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What are some what's the farthest someone traveled?
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I think uh farthest, my goodness, I believe Alabama might be one of our.
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I didn't even know that I assumed it was all local vendors.
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Yeah, it's yeah, not all local, but yeah, it is.
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But there's a good, obviously, a majority of ours are local.
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Um, or from Kansas City, Lawrence, you know.
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Is our boy Jack gonna be there?
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But Jack, Jack has been there for a few years.
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I don't think he's gonna be able to be there this year because he has another event he has to go to.
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I know I'm so bummed.
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Jack, come back to us.
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We want you back.
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But um, but no, Jack, he's fantastic.
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But yeah, we we love people like Jack who who pour their heart and soul truly in what they do, like and their product.
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And like it's just so cool and so encouraging to see.
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Yeah, that's amazing.
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Yeah, I will say my wife's favorite part is the giant turkey legs every year.
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Okay.
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Like, I don't know if it's a food truck or like that kind of thing, but uh man, you have turkey legs.
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You you could like you could kidnap her by luring her somewhere with giant turkey legs.
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Yeah, I love that.
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Yeah, it's amazing.
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Uh my favorite, I'd probably love the like uh the like roasted pecan, like all the vendors, probably like five different vendors.
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And so I like just kind of make my way from one to the next uh throughout the whole thing.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Absolutely.
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Yeah, it's like you know, everyone has like one product that you just compare that, and that's how you know if they're good or not.
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Of course, absolutely, yeah, yeah.
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It's great.
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The samples are the best part, yeah.
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And the random toys, we can't take our kids because then we end up buying all these amazing random homemade toys, 3D printed stuff now.
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Like, yes, it's crazy.
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Literally, yeah.
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It's yeah, it's a process, you know.
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I am literally so sorry because someone's calling me.
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It's my mom.
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It's working.
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Put her on finger, put her on a finger.
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Um, but no, yeah, it literally um we she goes through.
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I mean, we have all kinds of vendors.
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Like there's bakers, there's artisan makers, there is, you know, DIYers.
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Like, truly, like, I'm like, how do you guys come up with this stuff, you know?
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Um, so that's what's really neat.
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And I feel like too, um, you know, back in the day, like crafts have changed a lot over time.
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You know, people are like, what are crafts, you know?
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And uh, and so we have some who make some of those beautiful, nostalgic wooden crafts that you know, your mother or your grandmother would have had growing up, or that stuff is still there.
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But also, as you know, our generations change, there's new trends, there's new things.
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And so we always try to stick to the core of, you know, um a lot of good handmade items, but also some of those 3D printed thrown in there, or you know, a lot of ladies are into those, you know, stylized tumblers, stuff like that.
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So we try not to have too many of the same things, so it's not just like, wow, another tumbler, another tumbler.
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It's a good variety, and so I believe.
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Bro, we can have a whole podcast about stylized tumblers and the the the trends of women's tumblers like every two years is crazy.
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Yeah, it's a new water bottle every two years.
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Yeah, man, I don't even know all the brand names, but it's like every two years, there's some like really expensive water bottle all the women in the world have.
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That's right.
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The Stanley, that's right.
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Oh my gosh.
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Yes.
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Uh so what do tickets cost?
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So yeah, so um, right now, early bird tickets are on sale um until the day of the event.
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Um so you can still even buy them at Dylan's.
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So Dillon's stores all in Topeka, any Dillon's location, grocery stores in Topeka, um, they sell eight dollar early bird tickets.
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So they are discounted, $2.
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Wow, $2 off, you know.
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And so um, those are on sale now until um the weekend of the event.
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Um but if you're gonna come to the event the weekend of and you don't have your tickets, they're gonna be $10 at the door.
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So go and save two bucks per ticket.
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Um, and then also $13 under are free.
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So any kids who are um $13 under, they get to come in and freeze.
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Yeah, I know, right?
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Yeah, $13 at heart, right?
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Yeah, come on.
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Um but uh but yeah, so that's so what does it look like to buy an event?
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Like, what is that what does that mean?
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Like when you when you buy like how do you determine how much an event is worth?
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Like what what re did were there physical goods you had to go pick up?
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Like what does that mean that you bought this from this couple or whatever?
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Yeah, no, honestly, that's a great question.
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Because that's that was my thought too when my brother said, Oh yeah, I'm thinking about purchasing cider days from this couple.
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And I'm like, what?
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Like I didn't even know like how do you do that?
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Yeah, um, so you hand over the Instagram handle or I guess so.
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Like it is.
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I guess you're you're buying the name.
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It's like, you know, uh, and I think that's the thing is cider days has been around for so long now, and I think that's the thing, is it's it can be challenging.
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It's hard to start a business or an event from the ground up.
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We all know that, you know.
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So you're trying to get that following, you're trying to get that, but to buy an established business.
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It has its momentum, it has been a family staple, truly.
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And so I think you're literally buying the beating heart, you're buying um, you know, the following.
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Um, so there wasn't honestly a lot of assets um that came with it.
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It really was just the Instagram and Facebook.
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Yeah, here's our book of vendors.
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And the check.
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I have nothing to give you.
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Yeah, exactly.
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But you own it now.
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You have to kind of trust these people.
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You're like, all right, are you?
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Are we getting scammed right now?
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So I didn't know if I was gonna go here, but I'm going to.
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All right.
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I'm gonna put myself on blast.
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I love it.
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I've never been.
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I've never been.
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Oh dang.
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So if I'm understanding this correctly, this cider days thing.
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Yeah, it sounds like it's the farmer's market on steroids.
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Absolutely.
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That's really good.
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So I've been to the farmer's market, and so it sounds like it's just a massive version of that.
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Yes, yeah.
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That's a great way to put it on the card.
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I think that is, yeah.
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That's how I describe it.
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Should we clip that?
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Farmer's market on steroids.
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Yeah.
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Let's start with the utter betrayal of Justin, high school friend, unable to be at Cider Days.
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You would you'd be you'd be amazed at the things that I have not done for someone who owned who has a Topeka podcast.
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For sure.
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It's like, yeah, haven't done that.
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Haven't been there.
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What are you talking about?
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Yeah, yeah.
00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:09.360
Heck yeah.
00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.360
No, it's it's honestly it's surprising.
00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:14.480
Like the amount of people who still even are like, wait, what is Cider Days?
00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.120
You know?
00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:19.440
Um, and so even my friends back home where I live in France in Missouri.
00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:24.960
I mean, we get people even from Missouri and they're like, Yeah, oh yeah, I've heard of that, or oh yeah, it's wild, you know.
00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.000
So people do.
00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.759
They come and they travel from eight to three.
00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.600
Eight to ten thousand.
00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:29.919
Yeah.
00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.720
It is crazy because I feel like it's so established.
00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:34.000
The average person knows.
00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:38.960
Like, all of our friends are like, oh yeah, we should all go to Cider Days together, you know, our kids, you know, this stuff.
00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.600
And so literally, I had that experience, I think it was yesterday.
00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.960
I'm trying to remember who it was.
00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.240
And they're like, What's Cider Day?
00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.039
I was like, What do you mean?
00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.679
What is Sider Day?
00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:47.279
Like, how do you not know what this thing is?
00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.039
Like, everyone in Spika knows what this is.
00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.240
How do you not know what this is?
00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:53.039
Man, yeah, which is part of what what you're buying.
00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:53.279
Yeah.
00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:58.080
When you buy, you know, the event, you know, you don't get anything, but it you get the everybody knows what it is.
00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:58.559
Yes, yeah.
00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:02.879
So uh I I really want to know uh two things.
00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:08.879
One, uh, what did it take to take it over and get this off the ground as the new owners?
00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:15.759
Like what were some of the kind of most challenging things like right on the front end of having to take this on?
00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:16.639
Absolutely.
00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:22.080
One, I mean, the first few years, it was l really just learning the ways, the ropes.
00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.840
Like, wow, how did these people do this?
00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.840
You know, because it is so massive.
00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:34.080
And then also you'd start dealing with some of the backlash from fans who have been coming for years and they're like, Well, why is it downsizing?
00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.279
And we're like, it's not.
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:39.840
The expo just literally just blew out the wall and made it completely longer.
00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.919
So I think you have to start dealing with some of that.
00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:46.879
So the event size was bigger, so the event felt smaller because it wasn't filling the whole room.
00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:49.120
Yes, just because they made the room bigger.
00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.600
Exactly.
00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.200
Nothing has changed.
00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:54.159
We literally have the same amount.
00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:00.159
Like it is we because it used to be the um arena was also used.
00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:05.840
And so people, when they saw we got rid of the arena, they were like, oh, it's downsizing, it's not as big as it used to be.
00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.960
They don't have as many vendors.
00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:12.720
But no, it's because we don't need the arena anymore because they made the exhibition hall way bigger.
00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.720
Yeah, that place is huge, it's massive.
00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.600
And so yeah.
00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:21.120
So yeah, so I think dealing with some of that on Instagram or Facebook is like the people are like, oh, it's not what it used to be.
00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.559
And it's like, it literally is.
00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:24.159
It's literally the exact same.
00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:25.600
Literally nothing's changed.
00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:29.759
So, you know, walking through some of that was a challenge.
00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.720
Um, but now that they start to see, oh yeah, okay.
00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:38.799
And so um COVID, COVID was a huge challenge just for everybody, and so eight years.
00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:41.519
So you guys got this right before COVID happened.
00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.720
Yeah, man, that's great.
00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:48.639
Yeah, we would have started it around uh 2018, uh, not started our our journey with the event.
00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:48.799
Right.
00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:53.519
But and so then when 2020 hit, it was like, wow, we don't what do we do, you know?
00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:57.440
And so uh, of course, with anybody, and so that was a huge challenge for our family.
00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:02.960
Um, we also do um used to do uh pressed apples, so that used to be a family who would do that.
00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.799
That family ended up retiring.
00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:07.759
Um, the whole family basically, they were like, they've been doing it for years.
00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:13.600
Plus, with just health and stuff, it's just it's not as what it used to look like pre-COVID, you know, unfortunately.
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.080
Right.
00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:17.440
And so we had to retire that aspect out of cider days.
00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:21.120
Um, but then we ended up bringing in a new aspect, which is our apple cider slushes.
00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.519
And I was gonna say that has changed the game.
00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:29.519
Like anybody who is missing that, they're they need to taste those apple cider slushes because it truly changes the game.
00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.000
Yeah, my wife gets the turkey leg and I get the apple cider slushes.
00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.960
Absolutely, yeah.
00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:36.320
Okay, so you mentioned something off air that I'm gonna bring up here.
00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:36.799
Yeah.
00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.399
There's some live animals.
00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.360
There's some live animals.
00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.799
What are you bringing?
00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.279
Yes.
00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.360
So we the past few years have been having an exotic petting zoo.
00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:50.000
And when I mean exotic, like they are animals that I'm like, can you can you own these?
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.360
Like, how do you have all this?
00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.279
Um, but it is, apparently.
00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.080
And uh the the company they work with, they're fantastic.
00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.600
They take care of their animals so well.
00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.559
What kind of exotic?
00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:03.919
There are zebras, there are camels, there are baby kangaroos.
00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.240
Like these kangaroos are the cutest thing.
00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:06.880
Those are my favorite.
00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:09.920
I always go running after them because I'm just like, I gotta go see these little ones.
00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:13.440
But um And it's like a petting zoo company in Kansas?
00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:18.640
Yes, this guy literally just I forget the name of his company, but he literally, that's what he does.
00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.079
He has Joe.
00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:23.759
Yeah, I'm saying Joe Exotic.
00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.640
Joe exotic.
00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.799
No, no, no lines, no tigers.
00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:30.000
Um, but uh, but yeah, man, this dude Namol shows up.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.599
I'm here with the petting zoo.
00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:33.039
Uh Joe.
00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.799
You gotta go, bro.
00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:38.000
So you're saying for $10 I can get a picture of the kangaroo.
00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:45.759
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Just for you.
00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.720
Now, back to the show.
00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.880
Man, yes, you can absolutely do that.
00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.839
Because that's all free.
00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.960
That all is part of it.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.000
And so let's go.
00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:17.759
Um you can, I think, pay the company to feed the animals there, but um, but there is, we're working right now on camel rides.
00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:23.039
So uh we're talking with the company, and so we'll hopefully have that official um here soon.
00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:26.640
Um you have to get like licenses with the city for stuff like that.
00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.279
Honestly, that is above my pay grade.
00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:32.000
Yeah, it's it's one of those ask for forgiveness.
00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.359
You know, we're gonna do it.
00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.559
Yeah, sure.
00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:36.160
Yeah, we'll see if we do.
00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.039
Yes, yes.
00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.680
I'm pretty sure.
00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.039
Hopefully, he has his insurance.
00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:44.400
No, but yeah, it um yeah, so we have a ton of animals that people can come and see.
00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:48.240
And honestly, it's the kids love it, but it's the adults who flock to it first.
00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:49.680
Like it is so much fun.
00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.240
That's awesome.
00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.720
Um, so yeah, and then also we had pony rides last year.
00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.359
I think we're working on possibly having some of that as well, too, for the kids.
00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.880
So how early?
00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.519
So it's you know, Saturday the 19th, the first day.
00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.359
How early do you guys start setting up?
00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.319
Oh my gosh.
00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:05.599
So any time you get there on Saturday, I bet it's crazy.
00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.119
Oh, it's it's uh, it's wild.
00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:07.839
The whole week.
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.799
Like literally, we get in there about Tuesday.
00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:26.720
So Tuesday that week, we have our um pipe and drape guy who brings out thousands and thousands of pipes that connect that the his team has to put together and tons of curtains and drapes, and like it's a wild process.
00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:33.279
Like, I've posted behind-the-scenes content of that just in itself because it's like crazy how much that goes into it.
00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:49.599
So, but even weeks leading up, I mean, my mom, once she's finished with um all of her vendors and her map, she has a massive blown-up map that she takes to the event center and she gives to the pipe and drape guy, and they know exactly the footage of how far each one needs to be.
00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:52.319
They come in and they know exactly how it's laid out.
00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.960
And so there's a lot of pre-prep work.
00:19:54.960 --> 00:20:00.559
Um, and then uh, so yeah, so we come in, gosh, we start setting up our stuff on Wednesday.
00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:00.799
Yeah.
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:08.079
So once the pipe and drape comes in, we start um setting up the inflatable um apple arch that we just got last year.
00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.880
It's a 20-foot apple arch in the event center.
00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:15.599
And then new this year, we have a it just arrived this morning, right before I came here.
00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:20.319
It's a 29-foot inflatable apple that says Cider Days on the side.
00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.519
So it is going to be towering outside the event center.
00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:28.480
Um, and so now we get to say we have the largest apple in Kansas, truly, right now.
00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.680
So um we try to look it up on the Guinness Book of World Records.
00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.759
So we're like, is there is this the biggest apple out there?
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.160
And it uh so far, AI says yes.
00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:39.680
So if we can trust that, then there you go.
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.599
But uh trust AI with my life.
00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.400
Yeah, exactly.
00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:51.279
But yeah, so that's when we kind of start setting up everything, and we get in there and we get it all done before our vendors come in on Friday.
00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:57.599
So our vendors will set up the day before, that's nice, and then we open in the morning on Saturday at 10 a.m.
00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:07.599
And then we close at 6, and then we all get a nice um try to get sleep the night after, and then um we open up again from 10 until 4 on Sunday.
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.319
Wow.
00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:11.200
Are all the vendors they sign up for like it's a two-day thing?
00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:13.039
Yeah, so they're all there and about base.
00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:21.279
And we have some vendors who are like, you know, because our booths are usually about 10 by 10, but we have vendors who buy three spots and they'll make like a 10 by 30 spot, you know.
00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.640
And so um, we have vendors who they do so good.
00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:31.119
Like it's it's so odd, and that's so encouraging to see Kansas showing up for it because I mean, and usually too.
00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:38.160
It's I mean, as a society, I feel like we naturally we want to get the thing that is going to fulfill us, unfortunately, first.
00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:50.000
So uh our food vendors, they make bank, like they sell out, like we had people, my gosh, these pies, like they ended up, they're like Heidi, they come up to my mom during the event, they're like, We're sold out.
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:56.880
We have to literally leave and go start baking more before tomorrow morning because I sold out in the first three hours.
00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.759
Like it's we have people lined up before.
00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:05.680
Hand, and there's a good reason because we have free swag bags for the first hundred guests who are through the door.
00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:10.000
So um first hundred parties, I should say, so we can kind of help spray that a little bit.
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:16.799
Um so uh there's free swag bags for those first hundred people who wait in line before the doors open at 10 a.m.
00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.599
So people are there.
00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.960
That's right.
00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:21.599
You better, that's right, just like camp out, baby.
00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.240
Yeah.
00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.799
But yeah, so that's awesome, man.
00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.200
Yeah.
00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:30.480
Um what uh what do you feel like you've like learned in the last eight years taking it?
00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:33.200
Like what's changed for you as you've been doing this?
00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:58.799
Yeah, I think for us, it it it truly is just always trying to keep the heart of, you know, um it being a market at its core and it being um something that truly um blesses Topeka and creates that family foundation, something that is clean entertainment, that is fun for the kids, um, that um hopefully brings others together um each year, you know.
00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:11.200
And so I think for us is for me, it's just been so cool to just see it grow and continue to grow, not only as a market, but as a festival, as a fall event that we can welcome the spirit of fall into Kansas.
00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:22.640
And so that's been super cool to just um be able to add those fun little things like you know, the 29-foot apple, those picture opportunities, those things that kids are like, I mean, as a kid, if I saw that, I'd be like, what?
00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:46.480
You know, and so I always try to go back to that inner child in me and be like, man, I I still to this day, one core memory from Cider Days was this like robot that was either driven around, and it was kind of like the Olaf of Disney that just walks around the park, uh-huh, but like for its time, it was like some person was hiding in the crowd, and they would talk through a mic to the people as it was driving around.
00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:53.920
And it's that type of stuff that I want kids to have a core memory of to be able to say, Oh my gosh, I'm I love Cider Days as a kid.
00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:59.839
I remember this giant apple, I remember, you know, the Barenstein Bears that are coming to Cider Days this year.
00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:06.559
Stuff like that they can meet and do and you know, touch or whatever it is that they'll be able to remember for years to come.
00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.119
So yeah.
00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:11.680
So you said earlier it's the 45th year of Cider Days, and you want to go big.
00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.000
Yes.
00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:14.079
What is going big this year, right?
00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.960
What does that mean?
00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:23.039
Yes, on on behalf of, like I said, just the 45-year celebration, we have um exciting one-of-a-kind branded 45-year swag bags.
00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:29.119
So they are specialized, they have the 45th anniversary um logo on it, and there is all kinds of cool stuff in there.
00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:34.880
There's like free Chick-fil-A um coupons inside, there is stuff from um Texas Roadhouse.
00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:37.680
Like there are tons of little things that you can get inside.
00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:40.880
Um, and then uh so that's one of our exciting parts.
00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:43.839
Um, we also again have uh cider donuts.
00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.960
They did so well last year.
00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.920
People are like, bring them back.
00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.119
What's a cider donut?
00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:48.160
Cider donuts?
00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.640
Justin, come on.
00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:54.000
Justin, you're gonna get there and we're gonna get you hooked up with some cider slushes.
00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.799
I'll be there in donuts.
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:56.319
You gotta have, yeah, exactly.
00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:59.039
You gotta have both because it truly is the best thing.
00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:03.759
But it's like a spiced cake donut, but it like is infused with apple cider.
00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:07.519
So it it's it tastes like it tastes like fall.
00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:19.759
It just makes you want to put a sweater on and like watch Gilmore girls, you know, like just that's exactly right.
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.640
There it is.
00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:22.079
Welcome to Starz Hollow.
00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.480
Here we go.
00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:26.079
Come on, literally, truly no, it no, it's so good.
00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:32.240
And so I think um that, and then also this year we have an amazing new Cider Days main stage.
00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.920
And so um there's a it we're just going all out with the stage.
00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.960
So we posted that on our social media if you want to go check that out sometime.
00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:45.519
Um, but we have great performers, we have a picker band who are gonna play different, like, you know, acoustic style country music.
00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.960
You got live bands now.
00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:51.599
Yeah, so we'll have some um singing, and then we have um a native dancer coming.
00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:55.519
So he um he's called the spirit dancer, Dennis Rogers in Topeka.
00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:58.240
He comes out and he does just a phenomenal job.
00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:04.960
And then also new this year, we have the license to get the Bernstein Bears to come to Topeka, Kansas.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:14.799
So the kids are gonna be able to like their costumes, costume characters of the Barenstein Bears, the official Barenstein Bears are coming to Topeka, and um they're gonna have a story time on stage with the kids.
00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:19.440
Oh my gosh, and then you're gonna meet and greet and take photos with the Barenstein Bears throughout the day.
00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.160
Uh so yeah.
00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:23.519
Is there is there is there like a schedule for stuff like that?
00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.160
Or is there all the things?
00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:28.880
Yes, so yeah, so we're working on that right now, and we're hoping to have that put out on social media.
00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:31.440
Okay, so there'll be like okay, this thing kind of happens at this time.
00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:36.240
This is like around one, or you'll see the Barenstein Bears from one, you know, whatever, you know, during the day.
00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.279
So that's cool.
00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:39.359
Yeah, so yeah, quite a few different things.
00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:41.680
We have Topeka High Drumline coming out again.
00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:41.920
Wow.
00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:46.640
Um, they are a beloved um group that everybody just flocks outside.
00:26:46.640 --> 00:26:51.119
Literally, the I think a majority of the people end up coming from outside just to go watch them and stuff.
00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:52.160
And so they'll perform.
00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.359
I believe Saturday.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:56.319
We have over seven food trucks that are coming.
00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:02.319
Um, and so yeah, like truly, we we just try to bring something completely better and new each year.
00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:04.799
So where does someone get a 30-foot apple?
00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.000
Oh my gosh.
00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.359
Yeah, that's a great question.
00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:07.920
No, yeah.
00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.680
There we had a so if we wanted to break your record and get a 31-foot apple.
00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:13.680
31-foot apple, where would we go?
00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.960
You know, there you go.
00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.559
I can't give my dealer away.
00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.119
I just can't.
00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.920
I can't give my sources.
00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.960
Can't reveal my sources.
00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:21.519
I can't reveal my sources, but no, they're fantastic.
00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:26.799
And uh, and yeah, they make uh they make great products, and it's it's I'm so excited to blow it up.
00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.319
We're about to blow it up, I think, here tonight.
00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:30.000
So you're gonna test it out?
00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.960
We're gonna test it out in our neighborhood, and our people can be driving by.
00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.920
What is the idea now?
00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.359
I just imagine what you're saying.
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:39.119
We're driving like three streets over, this huge apple starts inflating.
00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.640
What?
00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:45.200
I want to do like a peach festival, and then we can have like James and the Gentlemen, you know.
00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:58.960
But uh Or what if there were like two competing, you know, like if we have a Saturdays and like, you know, like somewhere in Missouri has one and they're just like slowly like getting a bigger apple, so we have to get a bigger apple, that's true, and they get a bigger apple.
00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.000
Game on.
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.640
Here we go.
00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.200
We're ready.
00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.480
Uh question.
00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:04.559
There is so much going on.
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.039
Yeah.
00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.960
Day of the event, yeah.
00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:08.799
Are you like fired up?
00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:12.880
It's here, let's go, or are you like, I am so stressed?
00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.559
Please be go quickly.
00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.640
Uh it's a it's a hybrid of both.
00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.920
I am stoked.
00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:21.839
Like talking about it, I'm just like, man, I cannot believe literally, it's almost here.
00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.519
Like, how did this year fly by?
00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.359
And so um, I'm excited.
00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:25.920
I'm stoked.
00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.680
And and when it gets to that day, I think it's starting to see everything come together.
00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.359
That's when I'm like, okay, we got it.
00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:34.640
You know, we we're we're gonna have it's gonna happen, we're gonna make it happen.
00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:38.240
Um, and and and also being a theater guy, it's like the show must go on.
00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:42.559
So like we just push through the punches and uh make sure that the things happen.
00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.640
And so, and things do happen, you know.
00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:48.400
It's like a vendor didn't show up and they're, you know, hey, I'm not gonna be here.
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:50.720
Or it's like, whoa, you know, so what do we do?
00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.880
Do we have any last-minute people who can fill that spot?
00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:57.680
With that many people coming through, with that many vendors, it's almost like uh, you know, you're gonna get punched.
00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.160
Oh, absolutely.
00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.359
You're gonna have to deal with losing things.
00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:02.240
It's just a matter of what are they this year?
00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.880
Yeah, yeah.
00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.359
Exactly.
00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:07.119
So I've maybe going in it with that mindset, like, hey, there's no way this goes perfectly.
00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.359
Yeah.
00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.519
You go with the flow.
00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:14.000
So is that a lot of your day is just putting out fires, helping people it need stuff.
00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.559
Absolutely.
00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:22.000
Is it mostly with the more of my parents' jobs because I run around taking photos and all of that and we get to do that and running the main stage?
00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.799
But but yeah, that's a lot of what my mom has to go through.
00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.519
Bless her heart.
00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:29.440
Yeah, she prayers for her, she is just moving constantly.
00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.319
I don't think she sits down ever for a single day.
00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:33.599
Prayers for Heidi, please.
00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:36.160
No, yeah, she and my dad, they are my dad.
00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:44.319
He literally, just so we can make sure that all of our guests have a space out in the parking lot to park so they don't have to walk a mile away, you know.
00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:47.039
Um, he is literally out there the day of when our vendor's coming.
00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:52.720
He's like, Vendor parking this way, and like he's shooting them over here, you know, and he's like, Don't park here, don't park here.
00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:58.240
You know, just so our guests can have a place to park, especially with some of that construction out there on the road.
00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:03.359
We're trying to, even that's kind of a stick in the road for us right now, trying to work ahead of that.
00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.920
Exactly.
00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:07.200
They tore up that whole, you know, exactly, truly.
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:16.720
So trying to look at like how do we, you know, make sure that's clear for our guests so they know where to park, where to come in at, and uh some of that overflow parking used to be out in that grass.
00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:21.279
So we're trying to come up with some of those things before here in the next few weeks before we get going.
00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:24.319
Okay, so you're 45 this year.
00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:32.559
I'm not, but the the 45th and yeah, is this year.
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:35.200
In five years, you have the 50th.
00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.079
That's crazy.
00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.400
Yes.
00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:40.400
Are there like dreams of like, man, what this could be in your mind?
00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:44.799
Like things you're like, man, five years, ten years from now, versus what this could look like.
00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:46.960
I am a I'm the dreamer in the family.
00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:53.039
I am the dreamer, and I am also, if you've ever heard of the working genius, um I am a game.
00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.240
We talk about that all the time.
00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.920
Our audience hates hearing about it.
00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.440
Oh my gosh, I love the working genius.
00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.480
What are you on the working genius?
00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:00.960
I'm an IT, so I'm invention and tenacity.
00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.480
I have to, I create, and I have these.
00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.519
So interesting.
00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.720
And I have to see it through.
00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.119
Wow.
00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:06.880
And so that my parents will know that.
00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:08.079
I'm like, give me the credit card.
00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.839
I need to buy this giant apple.
00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:12.640
Are we both IG?
00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:12.960
Yeah.
00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.920
We're both IG.
00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.319
Yeah.
00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.559
Yeah.
00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.039
Okay.
00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.920
Yeah, absolutely.
00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.880
So it's a miracle that we ever got our first episode out, honestly.
00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.440
Yeah.
00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.160
Exactly.
00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.640
Yeah.
00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:23.039
So for me, that's kind of how it goes, you know.
00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:27.359
And so I think, like you said, for the 50th, the dreams, there are dreams there.
00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:30.799
I keep telling my parents, I'm like, I want a traveling midway.
00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:32.960
I want to make it a full-on festival.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.720
Like, I want what does that mean?
00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.039
What's that?
00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:38.640
So, like the carnival that comes to Topeka, but I'm like, now everybody's doing the carnival.
00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:40.160
And then I'm like, it's not gonna be as fun.
00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.960
But yeah, yeah.
00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:47.119
So I mean, I'm thinking, I'm always coming up with stuff, and then, but yeah, right now I'm like 45, that's where we're at.
00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:49.839
And so trying to make it as best as possible now.
00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.680
So but yeah, exciting too.
00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:54.720
Okay, a first time Saturday's visitor is coming this year.
00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:58.319
Yeah, where I'm not asking you for favorite vendors wouldn't do that to you.
00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.480
Um but what are some key staples?
00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.200
Like, hey, if you're going, you need there's you know, there's hundreds of vendors you need to look for these ones.
00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.480
Oh my gosh, yeah.
00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:10.319
I like you said, I it's hard to pick a favorite, especially out of everybody.
00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:15.200
But uh, the first thing you got to do is I I I always ask this to our people on Facebook.
00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.240
I had a survey put out.
00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:18.799
I was like, you know, what is your first stop to do?
00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:23.599
If you're a Cider Days attendee who's been coming for years, we're like, what do you do first when you come to Cider Days?
00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:28.960
And they're like, of course, I go get my apple cider slash, I get my donuts, and then I go straight into the event hall and I start shopping.
00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.720
And I'm like, that's perfect, that's the perfect plan.
00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:32.799
Okay, you know, so carry food around.
00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:34.400
Carry food, carry coffee.
00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.359
You know what I'm saying?
00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:38.480
And so um, they're either grabbing their coffee, they're grabbing their cider.
00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.599
And so I would do that.
00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:42.480
Go and grab that and then go and start shopping.
00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:45.680
Um, and uh, but yeah, the vendors, my gosh.
00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:50.000
Um, Jack Hishma, uh, of course, he was probably one of he was, no, I was just kidding.
00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:52.000
He is he's one of our favorites.
00:32:52.000 --> 00:33:05.039
Um, and uh we have so we have so many um just amazing vendors, you know, and uh and staples that have been there for years.
00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:08.160
Like um, we have Greg Booz, uh, I'm gonna get his name wrong.
00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:13.440
Greg Boozer from Boozer Blacksmithing, and he has been our blacksmithers since it opened.
00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:16.559
Whoa, like he's been yes, I is that a word blacksmith.
00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:18.160
Blacksmithy.
00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:23.920
So he makes like knives and literally does blacksmithing demonstrations in front of you.
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.480
What?
00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:27.680
He's heating up and they are they are making nails in front of you.
00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:29.359
Like they're crazy.
00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:30.480
Yeah, it's so neat.
00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:32.079
So please come and stop by there.
00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:35.200
Yeah um their spot because he just does such amazing work.
00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:40.559
Um in years past, we've had a glass blower where she's blowing you know glass and doing demonstrations like that.
00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:45.119
Um, this year we're looking at having a little car show outside with some unique cars.
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:47.200
Um, and so hopefully more details on that.
00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:49.920
So, I mean, it's not even just shopping, it's it's more of an experience.
00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.640
It's an experience.
00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:56.880
That's what I'm and I think that's the thing is like there are all kinds of markets out there, you know what I'm saying?
00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:58.720
Which that's great, that's awesome, you know.
00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.640
But there's always you can find those anywhere.
00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:17.519
And I think that's the thing is like I'm trying to bring it back to and continue that festival aspect of it where it is one supporting local and small businesses, but there's also other stuff to do that's not just oh, I can find this on a Saturday morning, you know, which that's great, and I love that.
00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:21.280
But it's like, man, let's ring in fall together by just having a festival.
00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:24.079
Name another market where you can take a picture with the zebra.
00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:24.400
Exactly.
00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.280
Come on, come on.
00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:27.599
Do you need a magician?
00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:34.559
Because we may know a magician uh who would apparently kill it at something like this.
00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.719
Justin, is it you?
00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:39.199
I wish it was that would be awesome.
00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:40.639
I wish it was me.
00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:43.280
I wish it was me to tell him the story.
00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:43.679
Yeah.
00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:45.920
We had a guest, Curtis Sneedon.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:50.239
He uh is running the airport uh effort to bring in Major Airlines to Topeka.
00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:50.400
Yes.
00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:53.920
And so we brought him on just because we heard he's bringing Major Airlines to Topeka.
00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:58.880
And so we bring him on, we talk about this, we have a whole episode, and then we're like, cool, great podcast.
00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.599
See you later.
00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:02.320
He's like, oh, by the way, I'm like a professional magician.
00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:02.800
He is.
00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:05.199
And we're like, why did you not say that earlier?
00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:08.159
Like, we there's no way we would have known to ask you about that.
00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:10.559
And so he's like, well, yeah, maybe next time I'll do a magic show.
00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.599
It's like, why didn't we do that?
00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.719
This would be great.
00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.440
Absolutely.
00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:15.360
I know Curtis Sneed, he's such a great guy.
00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:17.280
Yeah, it's we would love to.
00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.639
We'll have to try reach out to him.
00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:20.639
Like I said, we're we're trying to think of different things.
00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:23.440
I think we reached out to the Topeka Zoo to even bring some animals.
00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:28.639
I mean, no, we already have the exotic butting zoo, but even to have that up close, you know, explanation of the animals and stuff.
00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:31.679
Okay, because I this is like, I don't know if this is just a me thing.
00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:33.519
Like, yeah, maybe it is, and that's fine.
00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:35.840
Uh until you know, I got issues or whatever.
00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:51.519
But like there's just something about like one time, uh, my wife and I, we lived in Manhattan for the first year of our marriage, and we were walking from the downtown area, and we got stopped by this like YouTuber kid who was like trying to create like a close-up magic YouTube channel.
00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:57.280
And so he did these tricks with us, you know, on his friend had a camera or whatever, and I'm just like eating it up.
00:35:57.280 --> 00:35:58.880
I'm like, this is awesome, you know?
00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:00.400
And he did like these random tricks.
00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:03.440
I don't even remember what he did, but it was like I just remember being like, that was incredible.
00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:05.760
We guys could just be a part of this cool thing.
00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:09.280
And then one time we went to this other festival, and there's kind of a guy similar to that.
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:09.440
Right.
00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.559
And I was like, that was sweet.
00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:12.719
So, like, in my mind, it could be cool.
00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:18.960
You have a guy just wandering the crowd, interacting with people that are in line for stuff, like, hey, let me show you a magic trick, you know?
00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:22.480
And just like, you know, and we're like, dude, that was dope, you know.
00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:28.480
Did I tell you we had Curtis come out to our uh company's Christmas, uh Christmas Klein event?
00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:31.440
And uh it's uh we call it donuts with Santa.
00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:33.519
There's donuts, there's food, there's games, there's things like that.
00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:36.159
And Curtis walked around at the uh close-up magic for all the kids.
00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:36.639
It was awesome.
00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:37.920
Oh my gosh, okay.
00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.800
Why just kids?
00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:40.880
Why can't the adults, you know, figure out the tools?
00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:42.000
Raw kids.
00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.760
I'm gonna have to look into that.
00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:44.400
That's awesome.
00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:44.960
I love it.
00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:45.840
Oh my gosh.
00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.800
Yeah, cool.
00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:48.960
Well, do we want to switch to some rapid fire questions?
00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.000
Get Nick out of here.
00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:57.280
Okay, so we do rapid fire questions that have really just everything to do with just life in Topeka as a person who lives in Topeka.
00:36:57.280 --> 00:37:01.440
All right, so maybe set the Saturdays hat, and you're just a person who lives in Topeka.
00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:01.920
Yeah.
00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:05.039
Off top of your head, favorite local restaurant.
00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.639
Oh my gosh.
00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.760
El Mezcal.
00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:09.039
That's a great answer.
00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.920
That is a great answer.
00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:11.840
And you're the first one who's given it, I think.
00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:14.000
We don't have one like that in Branson.
00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:19.840
Like a really good, well, yeah, no, I every time I come back, I'm like, it has to be, I gotta go to El Mezcal.
00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:21.760
I'm gonna give a why why El Mezcal?
00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:25.519
Um, their queso is phenomenal, and their chimichangas, their chicken chimichongas.
00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:26.320
That's my go-to.
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:27.360
It's fantastic.
00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:29.360
I'm gonna give a huge shout out to El Mez.
00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:30.800
I was talking to my wife about it the other day.
00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:33.920
We we we rave about the book Unreasonable Hospitality.
00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:37.599
Oh and uh that restaurant embodies that.
00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:43.679
And I they I don't know if they know that's you know what they're doing or not, but we have a waiter there who knows us by name.
00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:50.079
Every time I see him, his name's Danny, he gaps us up, he knuckles us, and asks how the baby is, all the things, and I don't know Danny.
00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:51.599
How often do you go to LB?
00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:53.599
We go a lot, we we go a lot.
00:37:53.599 --> 00:37:55.519
But let me go even one step further.
00:37:55.519 --> 00:38:02.480
Um Danny, and I don't want to get him in trouble by saying this, but we go so much, yeah, he always gives us free queso, and he knows I always get a coke.
00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:02.960
Oh my gosh.
00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.880
And so he doesn't even charge us for it.
00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:07.199
And it's one of those things that I was telling my wife.
00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:08.559
He's getting fired when this comes in.
00:38:08.559 --> 00:38:09.039
Exactly.
00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:11.679
Well, no, not after not after I say this.
00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:13.760
Yeah, my wife's like, I can't believe they do that.
00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:15.679
You know, give us queso and give you your coke.
00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:18.000
Like, you know, that seems like a horrible business move.
00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:22.559
And I told my wife, I was like, well, it's like it's part of the reason I like going so much.
00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:24.079
You have to bought your loyalty.
00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:30.239
Yes, it's like I know that Danny's gonna hook us up, and you know, we go and we get several, you know, entrees and all the things.
00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:33.119
Yeah, and you know, I always tip them real well because I'm super thankful.
00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:37.119
And so I would actually argue it's the opposite because Pop is dirt cheap.
00:38:37.119 --> 00:38:43.760
You know, I know it's not costing them much to give me a Coke, and they make up their queso on a massive bowl that they just kind of laid a lot of.
00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:45.360
So they're making it all no matter what.
00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:49.039
And so the fact that he's given it to me, like he is they have bought my loyalty, Elmaz Cow.
00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:49.679
Great answer.
00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.719
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:51.119
Wow.
00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:52.480
There you go, man.
00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:54.000
Okay, local coffee shop.
00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.440
Local coffee shop.
00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.800
Oh my gosh.
00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:58.480
Um, I love milk and honey.
00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:02.400
Milk and honey, and it's also close to where I'm uh live over there while my parents live.
00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:04.400
Yeah, and uh and they're fantastic too.
00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:06.639
We love milk and honey, they're awesome there.
00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:10.400
Do you have a go-to uh like date night spot?
00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:12.079
Oh my gosh.
00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:13.280
Or experience.
00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:15.440
It's been years since I've lived in Topeka.
00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:18.400
So go-to date night spot, my gosh.
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:19.920
Experience.
00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:21.440
I feel like just bowling.
00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:23.039
Bowling is just bowling.
00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:29.519
You know, I I I mean, even that is like even when I come back with my family, I'm like, can we go bowling?
00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:31.679
Like, I haven't gone bowling in for a long time.
00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:32.400
That's awesome.
00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:34.960
So and so uh are you good at bowling?
00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:37.199
Are you like low-key, like you're bowling 200?
00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:39.039
Oh no, no, I can't take that.
00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:39.920
I can't take that.
00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.039
No, absolutely not.
00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.239
And I think that's the fun of it.
00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:43.360
It's like, let's just go.
00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:45.360
Let's just go bowl of 37.
00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:46.880
Let's go bowl of 37.
00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:48.400
Let's just get the prize.
00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:50.320
Let's just sit there and pig out.
00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:51.280
But uh yeah.
00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:54.000
Uh, how many potholes did you hit on your way over here?
00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:56.000
Dude, I love that.
00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:57.679
Surprisingly, zero so far.
00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:58.079
Okay.
00:39:58.079 --> 00:40:00.000
Surprisingly, like, and and that's the thing.
00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:06.719
Head on over to Saturdays, you might hit one or two on boulevard, but that's hilarious.
00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:09.599
Or you'll fall into the lane they dug out on Topeka Boulevard.
00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:12.239
Oh my gosh, no.
00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:14.159
Yeah, I that is the one thing.
00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:16.719
Topeka, we gotta get, we gotta do something about that.
00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.119
Yep.
00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:18.559
But yeah, amazing.
00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:21.360
Um, you're doing a home project.
00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:24.239
Home Depot, Menards, Lowe's.
00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:25.679
Where are you going in Topeka?
00:40:25.679 --> 00:40:27.039
I love Menards.
00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:28.000
Oh, come on.
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:28.719
I'm sorry.
00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:30.880
Say big money and Menards.
00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:31.840
Great answer.
00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:33.280
I this is my favorite guest.
00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:33.519
Yeah.
00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:36.000
Hit me with the Elmez, the milk and honey, Menards.
00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:38.400
I'm gonna start screening guests based on this question alone.
00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:41.119
Listen, like, literally, my family, we will just go.
00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:47.039
Like, even when I was in high school, we would go to Sam's Club as like a, you know, just a hangout?
00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:47.679
A hangout.
00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:49.280
Like, let's go get the free samples.
00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:51.360
Like, let's literally just go on a Saturday.
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:53.280
You know, like it was sometimes what we would do.
00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.400
Like, let's just go look around.
00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:55.760
That's the same thing for Menards.
00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.159
I know why.
00:40:56.159 --> 00:40:58.639
Like, even now I'm like, oh yeah, let's just go walk around.
00:40:58.639 --> 00:41:00.320
Like they have a little grocery store in the back.
00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:00.880
You know what I'm saying?
00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:02.800
Let's go see what calls to me.
00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:05.920
I'm not shopping for things, they call out to me.
00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:06.800
Exactly.
00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.119
Yeah.
00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:09.119
Yeah, you might save big money at Minards.
00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:10.800
You're not saving big time at Menards.
00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:11.360
Yeah.
00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.000
That's true.
00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:12.960
That's true.
00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.679
Yes, absolutely.
00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:14.559
Amazing.
00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:23.039
Uh, what is one thing if you could bring anything, a restaurant, an experience, an activity to Topeka that it doesn't currently have?
00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:23.679
Oh my god.
00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:24.639
What would you bring?
00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:25.920
Oh my goodness.
00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:30.639
Honestly, that's a hard one because I love what Topeka is doing now.
00:41:30.639 --> 00:41:43.199
Like, even just all the stuff with the mall, like what I see, you know, even not living currently in Topeka, but to just see how it's growing so much is so impressive because I love Topeka and I know so many people do.
00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:46.480
And to have those things coming to Topeka is super awesome.
00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:51.039
And so um, I honestly that's a hard one to even say because I Sign Zown Theater.
00:41:51.039 --> 00:41:52.320
Honestly, a science down theater.
00:41:52.320 --> 00:41:53.039
Yes, exactly.
00:41:53.039 --> 00:41:54.079
Exactly.
00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:55.199
Uh more theater.
00:41:55.199 --> 00:41:55.760
No, yeah.
00:41:55.760 --> 00:41:57.599
Like, I would love to see them to finish Jayhawk.
00:41:57.599 --> 00:42:00.639
I'm like, come on, like that is something I'm excited about.
00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:05.920
Um, but yeah, honestly, I would love to see more concerts, more shows come to Topeka.
00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:10.480
And I know I know you have Kansas City, but I'm like, man, that is the one thing growing up.
00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:14.400
I'm like, man, why do we always get just these, you know, just this person or this person?
00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:17.199
I'm like, we don't actually get like some bigger names here.
00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:19.920
And I'm like, I would love to see us grow in that.
00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:22.000
So yeah, probably some more performances.
00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:22.880
You mentioned the mall.
00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:31.519
If you guys are ever bored and you want to be entertained, hop onto a random Facebook group about what they're doing at the mall and just look at all the comments of people complaining complaining.
00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:39.280
Someone posted something yesterday, and I don't know, it's I just must be a sucker for for pain controversy.
00:42:39.280 --> 00:42:39.760
Yes.
00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:42.800
And so I'm like, let's go see what people are saying about the mall renovation that's being done.
00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:46.559
And you know, half the comments are like, this is just yeah, yeah.
00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:48.400
I'm like, it's not your money, man.
00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.519
Why do you even care?
00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:51.360
It's only elf, it's great.
00:42:51.360 --> 00:42:54.079
Yeah, so if you're ever bored, dude, yes, truly.
00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:54.719
That's so fun.
00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:57.519
I just love like every time I come back, I'm like, I have to go downtown.
00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:59.360
I love the pennant, I love all those ways.
00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:06.239
Like, yeah, it's just so cool to see what he's doing with just all of Topeka and uh yeah, and just with them all in general.
00:43:06.239 --> 00:43:07.360
Like, it's just awesome.
00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:08.960
Yeah, so yeah, cool.
00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:14.400
Finally, where can people find Cider Days information if they if they're curious, if they want to see updates?
00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:16.400
What's the best way to stay in touch with Saturdays?
00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:17.280
Yeah, feel free.
00:43:17.280 --> 00:43:20.159
Visit us on Facebook, Cider Days um on Facebook.
00:43:20.159 --> 00:43:24.480
We also have an event Saturday's 45th anniversary out there on Facebook as well.
00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:28.800
Um and then you can visit our website at www.siderdays.com.
00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:38.559
And then yeah, you can also, I believe, I believe now you should be able to, but purchase tickets online at Stormontvale Event Center.com through their ticketmaster as well.
00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:42.000
So you are able to buy tickets online in advance.
00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:42.320
Yep.
00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:46.719
Um this comes out, yes, people can still buy tickets at the door.
00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:47.519
Yes, that's right.
00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:49.679
So if you don't have one, go to the door.
00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:50.559
Yeah, that's right.
00:43:50.559 --> 00:43:51.280
Yeah, awesome.
00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:52.000
Next thing.
00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:53.199
Thank you guys.
00:43:54.400 --> 00:43:57.760
Excited to be a part of Saturdays and come experience the whole thing.
00:43:57.760 --> 00:43:59.519
I'm excited to go for the first time.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:00.719
Peta zebra.
00:44:00.719 --> 00:44:00.960
Absolutely.
00:44:00.960 --> 00:44:01.840
Peta zebra.
00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:02.639
Awesome.
00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:03.599
Thanks, love it.
00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:04.559
Thank you guys.