2026 Liebenthal Fall Fest
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of our Volga German heritage in Liebenthal, Kansas
Join us as we begin a new annual tradition in the oldest Volga German settlement in the region
Schedule of Events
Saturday, September 19th, 2026 - St. Joseph Church Grounds
Schedule Subject to Change
9:00am - 5:00pm Outdoor Craft Vendors Open
9:00am - 11:00pm Beer Garden Opens
9:00am - Color Run - Start line located at 4th and Elm
9:00am - 5:00pm FREE Tractor Show - Sonny’s Tavern
10:00am - St. Joseph’s School House Opens for Tours
11:00am - Parade - Theme: “150 years in the Valley of Love, Grand Marshal: Lucy Dechant”
11:00am - 9:00pm Food Vendors Open
11:30am - 2:30pm Polka Music on Main Stage with The Hot Shots
12:00pm - Stein Holding Contest
1:00pm - Skillet Throwing Competition
1:00pm - Cornhole Tournament
12:30pm - 2:30pm Bingo - St. Joseph's Church School Basement
3:00pm - 5:00pm FREE Wagon Rides - Liebenthal City Hall
3:00pm - 5:00pm Fire Department “Touch a Truck” - Liebenthal Fire Station
3:30pm - Cake Walk - St. Josephs Church School Basement
4:00pm - 6:00pm “Brady Nichols and The High Plains Drifters” on Main Stage
5:00pm - Craft Vendors Close
6:00pm - 7:00pm FREE Ice Cream Social
7:00pm - Raffle - Hosted by St. Joseph's Church
8:00pm - 11:00pm “Crazy Horse 2.0” on Main Stage
9:00pm - Food Vendors Close
10:55pm - Last Call for Beer, Beer garden closes at 11pm
Sunday, September 20th, 2026 - St. Joseph Church
10:00am - St. Joseph's Catholic Church Mass
11:00am = “Blessing of the Graves&38221; - St. Joseph Cemetery
11:00am - Breakfast - St. Joseph Parish Hall
Gold Sponsors
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Silver Sponsors
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Bronze Sponsors
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Contributors
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About Liebenthal & St. Joseph Church
Village of Liebenthal - 1920
The first Volga German settlers in the area arrived in Hays, Kansas on February 21, 1876. The following day on February 22, a group of settlers established Liebenthal near the banks of the Big Timber Creek in northern Rush County. Settlers immediately began construction of the first sod houses to provide shelter. The following day, the area was hit by a blizzard creating harsh conditions for the new arrivals.
The Roman Catholic settlers first held church services in the open air until they completed their church in 1878. It was the first native limestone church in the area. By the early 1900s, they had outgrown their church and a new building was needed. German-born architect, Viktor Klutho, of St. Louis, Missouri drew the design for a new Gothic style church. From 1902 until 1905, the members of the parish worked to complete the building under the leadership of Father Roudolph Stollenwerk, who had immigrated from Germany. Over two thousand loads of native “Fencepost limestone” were quarried from a hillside northeast of the settlement. They moved the cut stones by wagon, cut, shaped, stacked and set them to form the walls of this beautiful building. The stained glass windows were made by an Austrian/German artist. The sign above the doors inscribed, “St. Joseph's Kirche” was carved by the hand of Father Stollenwerk. On May 28, 1905, Rt. Rev. Bishop Hennessy dedicated the church.
Following construction of the new church, the parish used the original building as a parochial school until completing construction of a limestone school building in 1917. The new school contained classrooms on the main level, and a classroom, gymnasium, and stage on the upper level. The school also had space for housing the sisters who taught classes.
On Sunday, August 12, 1917, fire destroyed all of the wood sections, roof, and steeple of the cathedral as well as the native limestone rectory. Again under the leadership of Father Stollenwerk, the parishioners rebuilt the roof and interior of the cathedral using the original walls. They reconstructed it almost exactly as the original with changes to the roofline above the apse on the east. Prior to rebuilding the church, the parishioners constructed a new rectory in 1918. They used the large hall on the top floor of the school for masses until the church was completed.
On Sunday, December 27, 1959, fire again destroyed the interior of the building. After a lot of prayer and consideration, the parishioners voted to rebuild. They dedicated the reconstructed church in 1961. This time, the interior walls and the altar were no longer as ornately fine as before the fire. However, the original stone walls are those erected by the Liebenthal forefathers. Located near the church are the school, constructed in 1917, and rectory, constructed in 1918. Both are constructed of native stone quarried near the community. In 2014 artisans restored and repainted interior walls of the church.
Today, St. Joseph's Kirche stands as one of the most beautiful churches on the Kansas plains. At least five men from the church have entered the priesthood, and a number of its ladies have dedicated their lives to religious service. Liebenthal holds the distinction of being the first Volga German settlement in the region. The name Liebenthal means “Love Valley” and its people have proven themselves to be hard-working, faithful, and resolute. In addition to the church, rectory, and school buildings, the village has a number of its original native limestone structures dating from the late 19th and early 20th century and today it is the second oldest community in Rush County. Many descendants of the original settlers live in the area, and the community proudly stands as a testament to the perseverance of the Volga Germans.
St. Joseph Kirch - 1905
St. Joseph Rectory - 1920
St. Joseph School - 1920
This page is provided as a service by Rush County Economic Development for the Liebenthal Fall Fest Celebration.
Schedules are subject to change, please check back often.