Organizers for Rumble in the Hills set for July 21-22 at Rocky Fork State Park include (front row, l-r) Keith Fickert, Joey McGuire, Mike McGuire and Ron Snyder; (back row, l-r) Chris Sexton, Greg Kneitzer, Kevin Kneitzer and Michael Glern.

Just two weeks before they are set to take place, officials have announced that power boats races and other activities will return to Rocky Fork State Park this year.

Now called Rumble in the Hills, this year’s races will be held July 21-22 with the races starting around 9 or 10 a.m. each day. The race course will be in the same location around two islands on the lake’s east side where more than 25 world records have been set in past years.

There will also be a fireworks display on Saturday, July 21 at dark, a Budweiser beer garden both days, along with food carts and flea market vendors.

After being held for 25 out of 30 years, the races were canceled in 2015 and have not been held since.

“With the race having over a 20-year history at Rocky Fork Lake, most people familiar with the area remember them. Doc Yinger created and organized the races for two decades, doing an outstanding job with it and making it a success,” said Mike McGuire, the driving force behind the return of the races with his father, Joey McGuire. Continue reading….

Planning is moving forward for the “Smoke on the Water” barbecue contest set for September at Rocky Fork Lake, according to Highland County Board of Commissioners President Shane Wilkin.

Destiny Bryson, executive director of the Highland County Visitors Bureau, said last week that the new event, set to be held Sept. 23 at the overlook at Rocky Fork Lake, is sanctioned through the Kansas City Barbecue Society, and will feature professional barbecue teams competing for a shot at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational. To continue reading click here.

Destiny Bryson, executive director of the Highland County Visitors Bureau, and Highland County Commissioner Jeff Duncan share a chuckle during Wednesday’s meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners.

“Smoke on the Water,” a new community event featuring a barbecue contest and canoe and kayak race, is set to be held in September at Rocky Fork Lake, according to Destiny Bryson, executive director of the Highland County Visitors Bureau.

Bryson, who announced the event at a Wednesday meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners, said the barbecue contest is sanctioned through the Kansas City Barbecue Society, and will feature as many as 35 professional barbecue teams competing for a shot at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational. To keep reading click here.