Plan Your VisitThe Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is a family friendly event that takes place over two weekends in mid September in what has come to be known as "Sir William's Hollow" near Saint Marys, KS, a convenient half hour from either Topeka or Manhattan.
The festival consists of a sprawling "village" of vendors through the forest and an outdoor performance of one of the Bard's plays put on by local talent. The festival gates open at 5:00 pm, allowing plenty of time to browse the 50 or so booths before the play begins at 7:00 pm. Seating is "first come, first served". Bring your own chair or picnic blanket, or rent one at the gift shop, and enjoy some of the greatest theatrical works performed by our all-volunteer cast and crew. Tickets do not sell out, and may be purchased at the gate only using cash, check, or card. (insider tip: make a beeline for the seating area after passing through the Front Gate to secure a good seating area and spend the rest of the time before the play starts browsing the booths!.) To give you an idea of how the festival lays out, here is our map f0r 2023: |
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Ticket Prices:
(The reusable bracelet you receive at the gate will get you back in for free on all six nights of the festival for the price of the one ticket purchased.)
$12 - Full Festival Pass (good for all six nights)
($60 upper limit for families)
Ages 5 and under are free!
Times:
The festival gates open at 5:00 PM nightly.
The play begins at 7:00 PM nightly.
The runtime of the play is about 2 hours 15 minutes with intermission.
Tickets: Purchase at the gate or online (single Pass only), using cash, check, or credit card. Tickets do not sell out.
(insider tip: watch the play one night and come back to enjoy the festival on a different night; Your initial ticket purchase gets you in all six nights.)
Directions: Directions can be found at the bottom of this page. Click here to get directions using Google Maps.
ATM: There will be an ATM available at the gift shop.
Inclement Weather: Before leaving for the show or festival, check the local weather forecast.
Cancellation may occur at any time in case of impending or imminent inclement weather. We will announce this via Facebook and this website as soon as the decision is made. A little bit of rain before or during the festival is not likely to cause a cancellation but impending severe weather or heavy rain is. Due to the nature of the Festival grounds, parking may be at an alternate location and a shuttle run will be available in the aftermath of heavy rains. Again, updates will be released via this website and social media.
Emergencies: In the event of a serious medical or security emergency at the festival please call 911 immediately. For all other minor emergencies or questions, please locate a staff member at the front gate, gift shop, or pub.
Parking: Parking is free. Limited transportation to seating area available upon request. Be advised that the parking lot is in a hay field and may be bumpy in some areas.
Seating: You will need to bring your own seating although some chairs and blankets will be available to rent, $5 per night. Seating/blanket area is first come first serve. Please call in advance if you know you might have special seating needs or need to be dropped off closer to the stage.
The festival gates open at 5:00 PM nightly.
The play begins at 7:00 PM nightly.
The runtime of the play is about 2 hours 15 minutes with intermission.
Tickets: Purchase at the gate or online (single Pass only), using cash, check, or credit card. Tickets do not sell out.
(insider tip: watch the play one night and come back to enjoy the festival on a different night; Your initial ticket purchase gets you in all six nights.)
Directions: Directions can be found at the bottom of this page. Click here to get directions using Google Maps.
ATM: There will be an ATM available at the gift shop.
Inclement Weather: Before leaving for the show or festival, check the local weather forecast.
Cancellation may occur at any time in case of impending or imminent inclement weather. We will announce this via Facebook and this website as soon as the decision is made. A little bit of rain before or during the festival is not likely to cause a cancellation but impending severe weather or heavy rain is. Due to the nature of the Festival grounds, parking may be at an alternate location and a shuttle run will be available in the aftermath of heavy rains. Again, updates will be released via this website and social media.
Emergencies: In the event of a serious medical or security emergency at the festival please call 911 immediately. For all other minor emergencies or questions, please locate a staff member at the front gate, gift shop, or pub.
Parking: Parking is free. Limited transportation to seating area available upon request. Be advised that the parking lot is in a hay field and may be bumpy in some areas.
Seating: You will need to bring your own seating although some chairs and blankets will be available to rent, $5 per night. Seating/blanket area is first come first serve. Please call in advance if you know you might have special seating needs or need to be dropped off closer to the stage.
Bathrooms: Portable bathrooms are available for your convenience. There will be at least one handicapped accessible temporary restroom available.
Concessions: There are multiple vendors at the festival selling a wide variety of food and drink. Enjoy your meal before or during the show if you are attending the show.
Alcohol Policy: Beer and Wine will be available for purchase at the festival. Please do not bring your own. Consumption of alcohol by minors is strictly prohibited. No outside alcohol is permitted. Coolers may be subject to search.
Attire: Please remember that this is an outdoor event in September. It can become quite chilly after sundown, consider dressing dressing warmly just in case. Walking shoes are recommended.
Children: Are very welcome. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Pets: No pets please.
Lodging: For patrons visiting from afar, there may be availability in town at a few of the Airbnb’s (option 1, option 2, option 3), otherwise there are hotels located in Wamego (15 min drive), as well as Topeka and Manhattan (both a 30 min drive). For RV Hookups and/or tent camping: the City of St Marys operates one RV Hookup at Riverside Park in St Marys (details here); OK Corral located in Emmet (7 min drive, for more information call (785) 477-5307), Calvin's Camping in Wamego (15 min drive), Mill Creek Campground in Paxico (28 min drive), and many others in Topeka or Manhattan (both 30 min drive).
Special Accommodation: If you believe you will require special accommodation, please do not hesitate to contact us in advance and we will do our best to meet your needs. This year our performance on September 30th will have Audio Description.
Directions: The Festival takes place in Saint Marys, Kansas; for directions to the grounds please click here.
The entrance to the grounds is located south of 28139 Mt Calvary Rd, St Marys, Kansas, 66536.
Heading east or west on Highway 24: turn north onto Highway 63 in the middle of Saint Marys, head up 63 for about half a mile, turn right onto Mt. Calvary Rd., about a quarter of a mile and the entrance to the parking area will be on your right.
Concessions: There are multiple vendors at the festival selling a wide variety of food and drink. Enjoy your meal before or during the show if you are attending the show.
Alcohol Policy: Beer and Wine will be available for purchase at the festival. Please do not bring your own. Consumption of alcohol by minors is strictly prohibited. No outside alcohol is permitted. Coolers may be subject to search.
Attire: Please remember that this is an outdoor event in September. It can become quite chilly after sundown, consider dressing dressing warmly just in case. Walking shoes are recommended.
Children: Are very welcome. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Pets: No pets please.
Lodging: For patrons visiting from afar, there may be availability in town at a few of the Airbnb’s (option 1, option 2, option 3), otherwise there are hotels located in Wamego (15 min drive), as well as Topeka and Manhattan (both a 30 min drive). For RV Hookups and/or tent camping: the City of St Marys operates one RV Hookup at Riverside Park in St Marys (details here); OK Corral located in Emmet (7 min drive, for more information call (785) 477-5307), Calvin's Camping in Wamego (15 min drive), Mill Creek Campground in Paxico (28 min drive), and many others in Topeka or Manhattan (both 30 min drive).
Special Accommodation: If you believe you will require special accommodation, please do not hesitate to contact us in advance and we will do our best to meet your needs. This year our performance on September 30th will have Audio Description.
Directions: The Festival takes place in Saint Marys, Kansas; for directions to the grounds please click here.
The entrance to the grounds is located south of 28139 Mt Calvary Rd, St Marys, Kansas, 66536.
Heading east or west on Highway 24: turn north onto Highway 63 in the middle of Saint Marys, head up 63 for about half a mile, turn right onto Mt. Calvary Rd., about a quarter of a mile and the entrance to the parking area will be on your right.
Still have questions?
Send us a message on Facebook, email us (info@fhsf.email), or use the contact form and we’ll be sure to answer any questions you might have.