CHICKEN FESTIVAL
About the Chicken Festival…
River and Prairie Storyweavers offer a storyteller retreat every year. A different location is selected every two years. RAPS likes to partner with local libraries and schools to provide storytelling programs to the community. Storytellers gather to share their craft in several genres. To allow time for all to tell, stories are asked to be 8-minutes or less except for the 1-minute Story category and Longer Story category.
A fun and raucous auction raises money to help RAPS fund its goals to support the art of oral storytelling and the people who practice this art. RAPS requests that donated auction items be new or offer a service. For questions about the auction contact RAPS.events@gmail.com.
Workshops are offered to help the community develop storytelling resources. Storytellers share their talents and experience to promote oral storytelling.
Storytellers and story lovers are invited to come together to enjoy stories and music. RAPS never knows who is coming and what stories and musical talents they bring. RAPS schedules time for story genres and music.
Registration is taken at the event. The Chicken Festival registration is $50.00 for RAPS members and $75.00 for non-RAPS members. RAPS membership is $25.00 for an individual or $35.00 for a family. RAPS accepts cash, checks and credit cards. Full registration includes lunch and supper on Saturday, January 17, 2026 so people do not have to leave the hotel to get food.
Attendees may be recorded or photographed for use by River and Prairie Storyweavers.
2026 marks the 33rd Annual River and Prairie Storyweavers Chicken Festival. Join us to celebrate as we wear chicken hats, wear chicken socks, dance the Chicken Dance and tell stories. Yes, there is a Chicken story category..
When: January 16, 17,& 18 2026
Where: Ramada Downtown Topeka Hotel & Convention Center
420 SE Sixth Ave.
Topeka, Kansas 66607
(785) 215-8257
2026 River and Prairie Storyweavers 33rd Annual Chicken Festival at Topeka, Kansas on January 16, 17,& 18 2026
2026 marks the 33rd Annual River and Prairie Storyweavers Chicken Festival. Join us to celebrate as we wear chicken hats, wear chicken socks, dance the Chicken Dance and tell stories.
RAPS will gather at the Ramada Downtown Topeka Hotel & Convention Center, 420 SE Sixth Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66607 (785) 215-8257 on January 16, Friday evening; January 17, Saturday; and January 18, Sunday morning for the 2026 Chicken Festival.
Please bring a new or gently used item for the auction on Saturday. The auction will be a combination of Live and Silent.
Call and make your room reservation between October 1 and December 31, 2025 at the Ramada in Topeka. Ask for the Chicken Festival rate (785) 215-8257.
RAPS will provide a box lunch and a pasta bar buffet for supper on Saturday for those with a full registration.
PAY your registration at the event! $50 for RAPS members, $75 for non-RAPS members. Annual RAPS Membership is $25/individual and $35/family.
Stories are a length of up to eight minutes unless otherwise specified.
When: January 16, 17, &18, 2026
Where: Downtown Topeka Hotel & Convention Center, 420 SE Sixth Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66607
(785) 215-8257)
2026 River and Prairie Storyweavers 33rd Annual Chicken Festival Schedule
Schedule is subject to change prior to the start of the 2026 Chicken Festival and more information will be provided about the Friday activities once the details are final.
Friday January 16, 2026 – Telling in the Community during the day
Time TBD Telling at the Senior Center, Topeka, KS
Time TBD Other telling opportunity, not finalized
5:00 pm Dinner on the Town
6:30 – 8:30 pm Community Concert at the Cafe Quetzal
9:00 to 10:00 pm Music and Stories (Tellers Choice)
Saturday January 17, 2026 at the Ramada in Topeka
8:00 to 8:45 am Early Bird Stories – Teller’s Choice
8:45 to 9:00 am Music
9:00 to 10:00 am Chicken News, Chickens and Other Mythological Creatures Stories
10:00 to 10:45 am Once Upon a time...
11:00 to 12:00 Folktales from Near and Far
12:00 to 1:00 pm Lunch at the Hotel (catered box lunch)
1:00 to 2:00 pm Auction and One Minute Stories
2:00 to 2:30 pm. Music
2:30 to 3:15 pm The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree (Family Stories)
3:30 to 4:15 pm Murder, Mayhem, and Miscellaneous Malfeasance
4:30 to 5:00 pm. Music
5:15 to 6:30 pm Supper at Hotel (Pasta Bar)
6:30 to 7:00 pm Music
7:00 to 8:00 pm. Story Game - Choose an item from basket and create a new story that
uses that item as an integral part of the story
8:00 to 9:00 pm. Pies (brought by Janet Manson)
9:00 to 10:00 pm Ghost and/or Longer Stories
Sunday January 18, 2026 at the Ramada
8:00 to 8:45 am Early Bird Stories – Teller’s Choice
9:00 to 9:30 am. Music
9:30 to 11:00 am Inspirational Stories
11:00 to 11:30 am Closing Circle – Song – May the Circle be Unbroken
11:30 to noon Clean-up and Put Tables and Chairs Away
For more information, contact River and Prairie Storyweavers at RAPS.events@gmail.com
