BonnerSprings.com

Tiblow Days officially kicks off tonight, with the Back to School night at the carnival, Second and Elm streets, and the Mayor's Banquet at United Methodist Church, 425 W. Morse.

In addition to such yearly favorites such as these and Saturday's Tiblow Trot 5-mile run, live music and a car show, this year there will be a couple of new events.

The Smokin' On Oak barbecue contest has attracted some big names in the barbecue world, said organizer Tony Corporan, including KC Rib Doctor and Three Smokin' Asses. Though a panel and not the public will judge the contest, individual contestants may offer free samplings of their work to spectators. The contest will be Saturday 12-2:30 p.m. in parking lots on either side of East Third Street at Kump Avenue.

Women's boutique Magnum Opus, 129 N. Nettleton Ave., will play host to another new event, the "Flamin' Hot" Art Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, which will feature live glass art and jewelry making demonstrations by local artists.

Among those artists will be Debbie Homala, an Olathe resident, who makes lampwork and beads, and David Pinder, a 16-year-old Linwood resident who taught himself how to blow glass beads and vessels through watching online videos. Also in attendance will be silversmith Margaret Braet of Kansas City, Mo., who will demonstrate her lost-wax method of making jewelry. All three artists' works are sold regularly at Magnum Opus.

"We're hoping it will be an annual event," said Jill Jenkins, owner and operator of Magnum Opus.

Tiblow Days is an annual celebration of Bonner's history and is named for Henry Tiblow, a Delaware Indian who ran a ferry across the river, established a trading post and was the town's namesake until 1885.

The first Tiblow Days was organized by the Bonner Springs Jaycees in the 1960s and when that group dissolved in 1979 the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce took it over.

Bonner Springs Mayor Clausie Smith has served as general chairman of Tiblow Days and parade chairman and says the event something to look forward to each year.

"We have people come an that's the only time they've been to the city," Smith said. "One reason for its success is that so many groups and organizations are involved. It's really a tremendous effort on the part of the community and it's a great way to showcase Bonner Springs."

Organizers don't take official counts of Tiblow Days attendance, but Smith said in recent years they have estimated it at 12,000 for the weekend.

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