The annual kickoff to the K-State football season is set to get underway Thursday night with Purple Power Play in the Park.
Each year K-State fans from Manhattan
Recently Purple Power Play was moved from Poyntz Avenue to City Park due to changes in logistics in the downtown area. Event organizers say the move has come with several benefits, and the pep rally will likely remain in City Park for the foreseeable future.
“For vendors, they can set up their booths the first day and they don’t have to take them down,” said Vice President and Vendor Coordinator Allie Webb. “They can if they want to, but when they were downtown on Poyntz, you had to take your booth down and start over the next day. So the vendors really like it.”
This year’s Purple Power Play is also 
different in that the Wildcats’ home opener falls on week three of the college football season. Webb says the scheduling has come with both pros and cons.
“There are some of our regular vendors that aren’t able to be here due to the state fair so we’re misisng them a little bit,” Webb said. “There are also vendors we’ve picked up who couldn’t come on Labor Day. So we’ve picked up some and lost some that will be back next year.”
Here’s a look at what to expect during this year’s event…
THURSDAY
6:00 – ATA Taekwondo
6:25 – 90 Proof Project
7:30 – Bates Dance Studio
7:50 – K-State Marching Band
8:05 – K-State Band Pep Rally
8:20 – K-State Classy Cats & Cheer Squad
8:20 – K-State Baseball
8:20 – K-State Women’s Soccer
8:20 – K-State Football
FRIDAY
6:00 – Groove 42
6:00 – Washington Dance Studio
7:45 – K-State Marching Band
8:05 – K-State Band Pep Rally
8:20 – K-State Classy Cats & Cheer Squad
8:20 – K-State Women’s Basketball
8:20 – K-State Men’s Basketball
Sundown – Fireworks