Virtual Event: Kansas 250 Author Talk with Seth Bate and Patrick O'Connor

Join us for a live, virtual event through the State Library of Kansas' Kansas 250 initiative. The Kansas 250 Author Talk series is a monthly live-streamed program featuring Kansas authors and subjects. February's event invites us to step into Kansas music history as authors Patrick O'Connor and Set Bate discuss their books, Wichita Blues and Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival.

Patrick O'Connor's Wichita Blues brings the sound and soul of Wichita to life, revealing how music shaped the city through the voices of African American musicians and the rich history of Black communities in early Kansas. Celebrate the spirit of community with Seth Bate's Winfield's Walnut Valley Festival, a vibrant look at the festival's beginnings, unforgettable moments, and the small town that grew into a renowned gathering place for music lovers.

Patrick O'Connor is a native of Kansas, a blues pianist with a Masters in communications and had a keen interest in people's stories. In 1989 Seth Bate fell in love with a farm girl and a festival in Kansas, then never left. He holds a Masters degree in community and local history.

The Kansas 250 Author Talk series is held monthly. Click here to register to view this online event at home.