By: NICOLAS FIERRO
ABILENE - A full day of learning history, enjoying great food and entertainment in dedication for Mother's day is set to occur this Saturday.
The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (ASSVR) is celebrating Mother's Day weekend with a trio of events that will start at 9:30 am on the Rock Island Depot on 200 SE. 5th St.
According to Steve Smethers of ASSVR, attendees will get the chance to experience the "roots of Kansas and the history of America" right in Abilene.
"We have alot to offer and this weekend will be a great opportunity for people to enjoy themselves," said Smethers.
Starting at 9:30 am will be the Flint Hills Express excursion train ride that will take off from Abilene’s 1887 Rock Island Depot. During the ride, participants can experience a two-hour mansion tour of the historic Seelye Mansion at 10:00 am. People will get to understand what the life of the Seelye's (A.B. and Jennie Seelye) was like.
This will then be followed by a tea party on the train, occuring at 1:00 pm. Food will be served which will consist of chicken salad finger sandwiches with a hit of curry, scones with Devonshire style cream, fruit salad, cheese puffs, devil's food cake with Seelye chocolate icing and old fashioned lemon bars. The tea party will also have some recreated dessert recipes that were made from Jennie Seelye. Black English breakfast tea or Seelye old fashioned fruit punch will also be served.
Tickets for 1:00 pm train ride are only on sale until 1:00 pm on Thursday, May 8th.
Furthermore, a matinee performance "Steel Magnolias" will be held at Abilene's Great Plains Theater, starting at 2:00 pm on 215 N. Campbell St. Ended by a Mother's Day dinner at 6:00 pm in the ASSVR Limited Dinner Train. The dinner and theater package is $120 per person and can be purchased only through the Great Plains Theater site: https://www.greatplainstheater.com/steel-magnolias.
To purchase tickets go to, https://asvrr.org/rides/