People are invited to catch a free ride on the Dolly Trolly this weekend to see some of Great Bend’s murals, according to Christina Hayes with the Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau. It’s all part of the 2023 K-96 June Jaunt, which runs from Friday through Sunday, June 2-4.
The mural tours at 9 and 10 a.m. on Saturday will begin and end at the corner of Forest and Williams, which sports a B-29 mural by Arcy and “Sunset & Sunrise at Cheyenne Bottoms” by Melanie Ryan.
Andrea Bauer from the Barton Arts Movement (BAM) will be the guide as the trolly travels past several murals. No reservations are required to hop on the trolly, Bauer said. Seats are first-come, first-serve.
“There are 22 spots on the Dolly Trolly and we’ll depart from the B-29 Mural at Forest and Williams at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The 30-minute tours will share details about Great Bend’s murals, the Barton Arts Movement, and behind-the-scenes details about the mural process.”
The trolly will pass multiple murals near the following areas:
• 16th and Williams - “Clara Barton,” “Something for Everyone,” and “Migration”
• 11th and Main - “Create” by Mindy Allan and “Starting Line” by Arcy
• Art Alley in the downtown ally from Lakin to Forest
This event is co-hosted by the City of Great Bend and BAM.
Mosaic picture wall
“A really fun feature” of this year’s June Jaunt with be the Mosaic Picture Wall, Hayes said. Come take a picture with the machine from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday in Jack Kilby Square. “It will print out and your picture will become a bigger picture of ‘something fun!’ What will it be!?”
Flow Foundry
Returning to June Jaunt this year are the aerial performers known as Flow Foundry. Established in 2014, Flow Foundry is “Wichita’s first and only Aerial and Flow Performing Arts Studio.” Hayes describes their show as “beautiful and stunning.”
Their performance starts at 2 p.m. Saturday in the band shell in Jack Kilby Square. They are part of a day-long lineup of live entertainment. See the schedule on page 3.
One change in Saturday’s schedule is the Business/Family Olympics at 1 p.m. Due to a lack of registration, Hayes said the organizers will go with “something new.”
“In place of Business Olympics we have a VERY FUN and entertaining event we are adding,” she said. What that will be remains a mystery at this time.
Three days of events
With all this and more to look forward to on Saturday, the public won’t want to miss the daily June Jaunt events that start Friday, June 1.
The fire and police chief’s badge hunt will return this year. Explore Great Bend will post clues as to the locations of the badges on Facebook at 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. all three days of the event. The winner gets a $50 gift certificate to any Great Bend store.
There is also the June Jaunt Jumbo Monopoly. Pick up game pieces in participating stores for a chance to win $200 to use in any of those stores.
A new event is the City Council Quest, created as a way to help people get to know their elected city officials. Pick up a Council Card and find these local leaders; take a selfie with them and their signature for a chance to win prizes.
Friday Cruise Night
Among Friday evening’s events is the Car Show and Cruise Night from 6-9 p.m. in the courthouse square. People will cruise up and down Main Street starting at 8.
“Everybody is welcome,” regardless of the year, make or model of the vehicle, said Decklyn Craven with the Shifters Car Club. “Bring the family and just have a good time.”
Craven will be there with his blue, 1962 Mercury Monterey. For those entering the car show, prizes will be awarded at the band shell.
More Friday events
Friday evening also features the kickoff for the Great Bend Public Library’s Summer Reading program, with activities on the library’s front lawn at 1905 Williams St.; free ax throwing at Hatchet Axtion, 1210 Main; and a free outdoor movie, “Encanto,” at dusk at the band shell.
“Encanto” from Walt Disney Animation Studios tells the tale of a magical family, the Madrigals, who live in a charmed place called Encanto. The family’s only “normal” child, Mirabel, discovers Encanto is in danger and she might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.
Prior to the movie showing, there will be an Encanto Key Hunt from 5-7 p.m. sponsored by Rana Luna. Meet Mirabel and hunt for the key and a grand prize.
