The Kansas Sampler Festival will be held in Concordia in May 2008 and 2009.

It's the first time in the 16 year history of the event that it will be north of Interstate 70.

The Kansas Sampler Foundation chose Concordia, a town of about
5,500 in the north central part of the state, to host the event.

The festival will be in Garden City next year.

The Sampler Festival showcases several aspects of Kansas including art, food, entertainment, history and tourism. It represents about 130 communities across the state.