Here’s hoping the following tidbit does not upset any potential French tourists or French-related organizations from visiting Crawford County anytime soon …
According to the Internet travel agency Expedia, the French have once again been tabbed as the world’s worst tourists during a survey of some 4,500 hotels worldwide.
Japanese travelers ranked No. 1, followed by the British and the Germans (we love German tourists here in Crawford County; you could say we have a few chicken restaurants we would like to take them to).
As for the French, the 4,500 hotels polled characterized French tourists as bad with foreign languages, arrogant and tight-fisted. It also doesn’t help that some 90 percent of French travelers stay home and visit France instead of leaving the homeland.
35th annual Four State Farm Show
Next weekend the 35th annual Four State Farm Show will take place south of Pittsburg on Highway 171, east of the Highway 69 and 400 junction.
To help capitalize on the over 20,000 visitors expected to pass through Crawford County during the event, the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau encourages local businesses with marquees or signs to place a welcome note up next week.
A simple gesture of “Welcome Four State Farm Show,” “Welcome Farm Show Vendors” or “Welcome Farm Show Visitors” will help drive customers to your business if they know that you know they are in town and why they are town.
The Carona Depot and Railroad Museum will also have an open house from Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the Four State Farm Show and Meadowbrook Mall will have its annual Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Sale.
Upcoming events
A number of fun things are taking place in and around Crawford County, be sure to get out and about and enjoy these activities:
• Saturday and Sunday, more great baseball action will take place at Jaycee Ballpark as Pittsburg Post 64 welcomes team from Springfield, Mo., to town this weekend for a Legion Baseball Festival at Jaycee Ballpark. Times and pairings available in the sports section.
• Monday and Tuesday, former University of Kansas basketball standout Jeff Boschee returns to Pittsburg for his third annual Jeff Boschee Basketball Clinic at Pittsburg High School.
The two day clinic is co-ed and costs $75 per player. Athletes going into grades 3-6 in the fall of 2009 will have their clinic from 10 a.m.-noon. Athletes going into grades 7-9 in the fall of 2009 will have their clinic from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The clinic fee will include a backpack, a T-shirt, a basketball and an autograph session with the coaches and to be announced KU players. For more information, contact David Devaney at (816) 941-2623, or visit www.jeffboscheebasketballclinics.com.
• Wednesday, the Pittsburg Community Band will offer a free concert at the Pittsburg State University Oval from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The concert will be under the direction of Dr. Craig Fuchs. The group has been invited to perform during the Kansas Bandmasters Association conference in Wichita on Friday, July 17. The concert will be a preview concert of the program to be performed in Wichita. Audience members should bring a blanket or lawn chair as seating will not be provided.
• Starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday, July 19, the Pittsburg Community Theater will perform “Guys and Dolls” at Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, contact Memorial Auditorium at (620) 231-7827 or log onto www.memorialauditorium.org.
Craig Hull is the director of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It is the purpose of the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote travel and tourism in Crawford County, Southeast Kansas and the Midwest. He can be reached at chull@pittsburgareachamber.com or at 1-800-879-1112.
PITTSBURG —
