Comments and anecdotes about the event:
We had a few telescopes set up during the daytime event and shared with the patrons a string of sunspots near the limb. At the same time we had a few scheduled speakers. The first speaker gave his presentation about light pollution, the second presenter gave his talk about the evolution of Earth's atmosphere. The next presenter gave her presentation on what is up tonight and how to read a sky map. The last speaker gave his presentation on space rocks. He had some impressive samples. This was a collaboration of 3 astronomy clubs across Kansas who joined together for this awesome event. During the concert portion of this event the weather changed into a severe condition and was called to evacuate. You have to image 7,000 people leaving the site where many of us sheltered in our cars as the storm went through the area with a tornado warning. There are three words no one wants to hear on an open prairie in Kansas.... "Evacuate, Evacuate, Evacuate!" as the site manager's voice crackled over the emergency radio on my hip. Ironically their theme this year was 'Weather in the Flint Hills'.