Summer is around the corner and that means so is the sixth-annual Great Bend Summer Street Stroll. The City Council Monday night approved measures setting the stage for the annual weekly event.

“These are both big successes,” Community Coordinator Christina Hayes told the council Monday night.

The council granted permission to host Summer Street Stroll and Farmers Market each Thursday night in Jack Kilby Square beginning May 11 and ending on Sept. 14. It also gave approval for people to be in the square between 10 p.m. and midnight June 2, July 20  and Aug. 3 for the free outdoor movies in the park.

The movies this year include:

• Friday, June 2 in conjunction with June Jaunt – “Big Hero Six.”

• Thursday, July 20 – “The Little Mermaid.”

• Thursday, Aug. 3 – “Little Giants.”

“As most of you know, the Summer Street Stroll Farmers Market is back and it’s continuing to get bigger and better,” Hayes said. “Aside from providing the public with fresh fruits, veggies, arts and crafts, we are providing the public with an opportunity to stroll our beautiful downtown and make memories.

Great Bend was a pilot program and is a leader in the statewide initiative of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which gives senior citizens with income restrictions monies each month to purchase fresh produce from licensed market vendors.

“For five years Great Bend has finally been on the state list for sanctioned farmers markets only because of our Thursday Night Summer Street Stroll and obeying the State of Kansas strict set of rules,” she said, crediting the Barton County Health Department’s partnership with Summer Street Stroll.

This involves blocking around 10 parking spots on the southeast end of the square (both on Kansas and Lakin avenues) starting at noon on days of the stroll.