Manhattan
Around Manhattan
Photo: SharonPapierdreams · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Kansas · 134k people
Manhattan
Locals say Little Apple · “Little Apple”
Where the Flint Hills meet the purple pride.
K-State Purple
Welcome to the Little Apple! Whether you're here for K-State, the Flint Hills, or the friendly vibe, you'll find plenty to do. Grab a burger in Aggieville and enjoy the prairie views.
Clubs for Manhattan
No clubs for Manhattan yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Manhattan. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Manhattan. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Kansas State University The heart of the Little Apple, with historic buildings and open lawns.
- Bill Snyder Family Stadium Home of K-State football, packed on game days.
- Flint Hills Discovery Center Interactive exhibits on the tallgrass prairie.
- Sunset Zoo Small community zoo with a variety of animals.
- Konza Prairie Tallgrass prairie preserve with hiking trails.
- Wamego Oz Museum A quirky tribute to The Wizard of Oz in nearby Wamego.
- Outdoors Hike the Konza Prairie trails
- Outdoors Fish or boat at Tuttle Creek Lake
- With kids Visit Sunset Zoo
- With kids Explore the Flint Hills Discovery Center
- Evenings Bar hop in Aggieville
- Evenings Watch a game at a sports bar
- Locals love Aggieville bars and restaurants
- Locals love Konza Prairie hiking trails
Through the year
- K-State football Saturdays fall Home games at Bill Snyder Family Stadium draw the whole town.
- Aggieville Fake Patty's Day March A huge street party with drink specials and live music.
- Country Stampede June Major country music festival at Tuttle Creek Lake.
- Taste of Manhattan September Sample dishes from local restaurants in City Park.
- Little Apple New Year's Eve December Family-friendly celebration with fireworks and activities.
Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters; best to be out in spring and fall. Best: April–May and September–October are mild and pleasant.
Talk like a local
- “Little Apple”
- Nickname for Manhattan, KS.
- “Aggieville”
- The bar and restaurant district near campus.
- “K-State”
- Kansas State University.
- “Wildcats”
- K-State athletic teams.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Kansas State Wildcats NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- K-State Call Hall ice cream Campus dairy plant ice cream
- Aggieville burgers College-town bar food in the historic district
Where people go
- Aggieville Historic college‑town district with shops and bars
- Konza Prairie Tallgrass prairie nature preserve
- Fort Riley US Army installation with a long history
- Tuttle Creek Lake Reservoir for boating and fishing
Heritage and traditions
Manhattan, the Little Apple, is proud of its Flint Hills prairie heritage, its Big 12 college-town energy, and its deep military roots at Fort Riley.
This time of year in Manhattan
- K-State football Saturdays Fall Fall Saturdays are game days, with tailgating and purple everywhere.
- Oztoberfest October A Wizard of Oz themed festival in Wamego, with costumes, music, and vendors.
Say it like a local: “Pop” — Soda; carbonated soft drink.
Festivals
- Wamego Tulip Festival April Celebrates Dutch heritage with tulips, parades, and crafts.
- Oztoberfest October A Wizard of Oz themed festival in Wamego, with costumes, music, and vendors.
- Manhattan Flint Hills Balloon Festival September Hot air balloons fill the sky over the prairie, with food and entertainment.
- Riley County Fair July A classic county fair with livestock, carnival rides, and local food.
Landmarks with a story
- U.S. Cavalry Museum Located at Fort Riley, it chronicles the history of the U.S. Cavalry.
- Custer House A restored 1855 officer's quarters at Fort Riley, associated with George Armstrong Custer.
- Wamego Dutch Mill A landmark windmill in Wamego City Park, symbolizing Dutch heritage.
- Columbian Theatre A historic theater in Wamego, hosting performances and events.
Food traditions
- Bison burgers The Flint Hills are home to bison herds; local ranches supply lean, flavorful meat.
- Chicken fried steak A diner staple across Kansas, served with mashed potatoes and gravy.
- Sorghum syrup Local farms produce this sweet syrup, often used on biscuits or in baking.
- Prairie oysters A ranch tradition of fried bull testicles, often served at gatherings.
- Homemade pies Small-town cafes pride themselves on fresh, from-scratch pies.
Music and arts
- Country music The Country Stampede brings top country acts, and local venues host country bands.
- K-State Marching Band The Pride of Wildcat Land performs at football games with classic fight songs.
- Bluegrass Local bluegrass groups play at festivals and coffeehouses.
- Aggieville live music Bars and venues in Aggieville showcase local and touring bands.
A little history
- 1855 Manhattan founded by New England settlers.
- 1853 Fort Riley established as a military post.
- 1863 Kansas State University founded as a land-grant college.
- Settlement era The Flint Hills were never plowed due to rocky soil, preserving the tallgrass prairie.
- Late 1800s Wamego's Oz connection from L. Frank Baum's visit, inspiring the Wizard of Oz.
Rivalries
- K-State vs KU The Sunflower Showdown in football and basketball.
- K-State vs Missouri Historic border rivalry, though less frequent now.
- K-State vs Iowa State Farmaggedon – a battle of agricultural schools.
- Game day Wabash Cannonball
- Game day The Wave
- Outdoors Horseback riding in the Flint Hills
- Outdoors Kayaking on Tuttle Creek Lake
- With kids Ride the Tuttle Creek Dam
- With kids Watch the K-State marching band practice
Locals speak a Midland American English with a slight drawl. They say 'pop' for soda, 'ope' for excuse me, and affectionately call their town the Little Apple.
Only here
- The Little Apple nickname – a playful nod to New York City.
- Aggieville's Fake Patty's Day – a spring break tradition in March.
- The Flint Hills are one of the last tallgrass prairies in North America.
- The Konza Prairie research site – a globally important grassland.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'Little Apple' – it's the affectionate nickname for Manhattan.
- Expect hot, windy summers and cold, dry winters; dress in layers.
- Traffic on K-State football Saturdays is heavy; plan around game days.
- Try Call Hall ice cream – it's a campus tradition.
- Know that Aggieville is the nightlife district with bars and restaurants.
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Manhattan, KS. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.