City of Erie

Erie, Kansas is a city in and the county seat of Neosho County, Kansas, and situated in the valley of the Neosho River, about a mile northeast of the river.  Erie has been a member of the Kansas Power Pool since 2006.  Erie is famous for its annual Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion held during the second full week of July, including the annual Free Bean Feed. This reunion has been conducted continuously since 1873 and is claimed to be the oldest consecutively running Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion in the country. 

Salt pork and navy beans were a staple food for soldiers in the Civil War. So, it was natural to serve kettles of beans during these reunions. Soon it became a tradition. Now over 1,400 pounds of beans are cooked in more than 50 iron kettles on the Courthouse lawn by the American Legion Post. Other events include the Rodeo held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings during Reunion Week. The Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion culminates on Friday night when Mainstreet Memories provides a free country western concert featuring various artists.