Lecompton ? The streets of this tiny town on the Kaw haven’t always been so friendly.

During Kansas’ territorial period, when abolitionist and pro-slavery factions clashed over principles they were willing to live by and die for, violence in the territory and its capital was commonplace.

Paul Bahnmaier, president of the Lecompton Historical Society, left, accompanies Mary Allman, the new executive director of the Kansas State Historical Society, on a tour of historic sites in Lecompton. The tour Wednesday included Constitution Hall, in background at right, a national landmark and state historic site and the Territorial Capital Museum, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“It was a rough time to live,” said J. Howard Duncan, whose play about the tumultuous period from 1854 to 1861 will have its premiere Saturday at Lecompton’s Territorial Capital Festival. “They would just plain go up to one another and shoot each other.”

Times have changed, of course, and the lineup at this year’s festival doesn’t include any gunfighting. But carnival rides, animal races, a parade and a performance of Duncan’s play are among events organizers hope will attract visitors Friday and Saturday to the historic town northwest of Lawrence.

“We really do like to share our history here,” said Susan Clemons, Territorial Day committee member.

Lecompton has plenty of history to share. Tours through Constitution Hall and the Territorial Capital Museum, scheduled to open to festival visitors at 9 a.m. Saturday, will provide glimpses at the evolution of Kansas as a free state. Pioneer skills demonstrations beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday will show how blacksmiths, soap makers, post rock cutters and others perfected their crafts in times gone by.

And Duncan’s play, “Kansas Territory,” will breathe life into long-dead champions of either side of the slavery debate at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Territorial Capital Museum.

The festival is not just about showcasing history. It’s also about bringing together community and family for a weekend of fun. The Saturday night street dance and concert is a particular favorite of festival-goers, Clemons said.

“Everybody just brings their lawn chairs. It’s a good time to socialize and meet new people,” she said.

Most festival events are free, except the carnival rides, which will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and after 11 a.m. Saturday on Elmore Street. Other events include a teen street dance, frog and turtle races, a scavenger hunt, a church dinner and ice cream social.

The festival draws more than 1,500 people each year. Duncan hopes some of those visitors will take a break from the whirlwind of activities to step back in time and consider the history of Lecompton’s stormier days by watching his play.

“There were people who truly in their hearts believed slavery was acceptable. It’s impossible for us to see that today,” he said. “That’s one of the services the play provides. It gets modern people to think about the controversy.”

	Friday6 p.m.-9 p.m. Carnival and games6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Registration for turtle and frog race, scavenger hunt and bicycle race6:30 p.m. Softball tournament7 p.m. Cake walk9:15 p.m.-11 p.m. Teen street dance with DJSaturday7 a.m.-10 a.m. Pancake feed at Community Building8 a.m. Horseshoe tournament8 a.m. District 1 Abate Show, Lane University parking lot8:30 a.m. Frog and turtle races8:30 a.m. Softball tournament9 a.m. Pioneer skills living history and demonstration (blacksmith, post rock cutter, Oregon Trail travelers, broom makers, weavers, spinners, wood carvers, potter, water color artist, wheat weaver, soap maker and fur trader craft)9 a.m. Territorial Capital Museum and Constitution Hall opens10 a.m. Parade line-up, Lecompton Elementary School10:30 a.m. Parade judging, only decorated entries will be judged11 a.m. Parade begins, theme “Bald Eagle Pride”11 a.m. Carnival and games open11 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Register for bike race, preschool through fifth grade11 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Register for scavenger hunt, sixth through 12th grade11:30 a.m. United Methodist Church dinner1 p.m. Kids bike race begins2 p.m. Premier of play “Kansas Territory,” by Lecompton resident J. Howard Duncan, Territorial Capital Museum3 p.m. Historical scavenger hunt, prizes will be awarded4 p.m. Historic piano recital and jamboree, Lecompton United Methodist Church5:30 p.m. New Horizons Tae Kwon Do demonstration6 p.m. Ice cream social, with entertainment by a gospel band and Perry-Lecompton High School cheerleaders, city park8 p.m. Lawn and garden awards and announcement of winners from day’s events9 p.m. to midnight Street dance and evening concert by “Green Worm”For more information, call (785) 887-6097.