A child and her mother paint a big pair of white "K and S" letters in a college hall's atrium.

A look back at Open House through pictures

Families collaborate on painting a large K-State letters display as part of an interactive art activity in the Engineering Hall lobby. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.

Kristina Bonner

By Kristina Bonner

K-State News and Communications Services

Friday, April 24, 2026

From hands-on experiments to campus traditions, K-State's 2026 Open House gave community members, prospective students and families a glimpse of the learning, creativity and hands-on opportunities students get every day on campus.

Across labs, classrooms and outdoor spaces, visitors explored academic programs through interactive demonstrations — from twisting pretzels and testing food science concepts to building, painting and creating alongside current students.

The day also showcased the energy of the K-State community, with performances, tours and opportunities to connect with faculty, staff and student organizations.

Scroll through the gallery for a snapshot of the curiosity, creativity and Wildcat spirit on display throughout the successful day.

ALT Text: A family makes dough together in a Kansas State campus kitchen, with an adult wearing a purple K-State Wildcats cap helping a young child while another adult with a baby in a carrier rolls dough.
A family works together to twist pretzels in the Bakery Lab in Shellenberger Hall.  Photo by Alyssa Storm, Department of Grain and Food Science.
Three Kansas State students in purple shirts and blue gloves pose with large bags of popcorn in a food processing facility on campus.
The Food Science Club shows Kansas State University graduate students how common household kitchen ingredients can affect the pH balance, changing the color of tea.  Photo by Alyssa Storm, Department of Grain and Food Science.
Three Kansas State students in purple shirts and blue gloves pose with large bags of popcorn in a food processing facility on campus.
Grain and Food Science graduate students pose in front of hundreds of corn puffs made in the extrusion lab.  Photo by Alyssa Storm, Department of Grain and Food Science.
ALT Text: A Kansas State staff member in a purple shirt drives a lawn tractor pulling barrel train cars with children riding through the agricultural campus grounds.
Kids take a spin on the "Grain Train" at the O.H. Kruse Feed Mill. Photo by Alyssa Storm, Department of Grain and Food Science.
Kansas State College of Health and Human Sciences promotional materials and purple pom pom decorations on a table at a campus outreach event with visitors in the background.
Kansas State College of Health and Human Sciences promotional materials sit on a table as prospective students and families explore the program during an open house event. Photo by Zoe Schumacher, College of Health and Human Sciences.
Kansas State students in purple shirts engage children with hands-on building activities using colorful blocks and magnetic tiles at an interactive table during a campus outreach event.
Children engage with hands-on activities at an interactive table while student volunteers demonstrate educational materials during the College of Health and Human Sciences. Photo by Zoe Schumacher, College of Health and Human Sciences.
Kansas State Human Development and Family Science students engage children in a colorful cup stacking activity at a purple-decorated table with K-State Wildcats promotional materials.
A student volunteer guides children through a colorful cup-stacking activity at the human development and family science demonstration table. Photo by Zoe Schumacher, College of Health and Human Sciences.
Children in purple Kansas State shirts pose with K-State Wildcats photo booth props including a purple paw and mascot cutout while a parent captures the moment on a smartphone.
A visitor captures children posing with Kansas State-themed props at a photo booth decorated with purple and silver. Photo by Zoe Schumacher, College of Health and Human Sciences.
A Kansas State kinesiology student in a purple shirt teaches a child about human anatomy using a life-size anatomical model at a campus research lab outreach event.
A kinesiology student uses an anatomical model to explain human body systems to a young visitor at the research lab display. Photo by Zoe Schumacher, College of Health and Human Sciences.
Aerial view of Kansas State University's Open House event in the Student Union with purple-decorated booths and interactive displays.
Prospective students and families explore academic program displays in the Student Union. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
A Kansas State volunteer in a purple shirt presents a food tray to a smiling child in a purple hoodie and parent at an outdoor campus community event.
A plant demonstration to young visitors at an outdoor exhibit table. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
Families paint colorful designs on large K-State letters in the Kansas State Student Union lobby, with the Wildcats mascot logo visible on the wall behind them.
Families collaborate on painting a large K & S letters display as part of an interactive art activity in the Engineering Hall lobby. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.

Kansas State University students staff an American Nuclear Society table inside the College of Engineering, displaying projects and engaging with visitors.
Members of the American Nuclear Society and the Engineering booth pose for photos. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
A Kansas State student in an apron demonstrates printmaking techniques using a brayer on paper in a campus art studio while children and families observe during an outreach event.
A Prairie Fire Printmaker student preps a paint stencil for shirt designs. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
A Kansas State printmaking student demonstrates techniques to visiting families gathered around a table displaying various prints in a campus art studio.
A printmaking student demonstrates traditional printing techniques to prospective students and their families gathered around a table of artistic prints in the studio. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
A Kansas State student helps children make buttons during a hands-on activity in a campus classroom.
A young visitor creates a button with a student volunteer during a hands-on experience. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
A Kansas State food science instructor in a purple shirt and hairnet offers samples to a family with young children during a campus food production demonstration.
A bakery science instructor offers samples to a family during a tour of the food production facility, showcasing the program's commercial kitchen operations. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
K-State twirlers and spirit squad perform outdoors on campus, waving purple flags as a crowd and band members look on.
Allie Phillips perform a routine flanked by flag bearers, cheer team and the band during an outdoor welcome celebration for prospective students. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.
Kansas State cheerleaders in purple uniforms with silver pom-poms perform during a campus parade as spectators in K-State purple line the steps of a brick building.
Prospective students and families gather outside the student union to watch the cheerleaders and band perform during the campus open house festivities. Photo by Kristina Bonner, K-State News and Communications Services.

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