Party in the Park is the Great Bend end-of-summer bash you won’t want to miss, says City Coordinator Christina Hayes. The day-long party on Saturday, Aug. 10, starts with mud volleyball, crafts and vendors and continues into the night with concerts and fireworks.
Most of the action takes place at Veterans Memorial Park but this year the Oozefest Mud Volleyball Tournament has moved to a new location on the Great Bend Expo grounds, located at 455 West Barton County Road.
“Join us at the Great Bend Party in the Park for a day of sun, smiles, and spectacular entertainment,” Hayes said. “Don’t miss out on the ultimate summer bash!
“To find the mud volleyball, just head out to the Expo Complex and once you get in follow the road to the right and you won’t miss it. We will have signs.”
Vendors in the park and mud volleyball at the Expo all start at 9 a.m.
Other activities at Vets Park include Paint in the Park from 9:30-11 a.m., where participants can make and take home a free paint project.
The Great Bend Kiwanis Club brought the Wet/Dry Parade to the party a few years ago and it continues to be popular. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at McKinley and 17th Street Terrace and continues west toward the railroad tracks. The first part of the route is a traditional parade but west of the railroad tracks it gets wet and wild. Parade participants bring the water and get it right back with the interactive water fight. Bring your water squirters and join in.
The Optimist Kids Fun Zone on the north side of the lake costs $5 and its inflateables will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Anything That Floats Race starts at 11:15 a.m. and offers a $250 prize.
From noon to 2 p.m., the Great Bend Police Dunk Tank will be open. The proceeds will fund Shop with a Cop, a holiday program where police officers take youths on a small shopping spree.
The Shifters Car Club will host a free car show from noon to 5 p.m. This year they’ve added a Rev Competition at 2 p.m..
Midwest Elite Wrestling Exhibition takes place on the north side of the lake from noon to 5 p.m.
There’s also a First Kansas Bank Money Pit in the sand volleyball area on the south side of the lake at 2 p.m. Participants are invited to “dig for dollars.”
Each year there’s some sort of competition. This year’s contest involves cup stacking. It starts at 3 p.m. on the south side of the lake. It’s challenging and fun to play, and even more fun to watch, sponsors said. “There’s no training that needs to be done for the cup competition,” Hayes said.
There’s also a cornhole contest at Al Burns Field. Register at 5:15 p.m. at the concert gates. Cost is $40 per team. For online registration go to https://www.greatbendks.net/DocumentCenter/View/3834/Cornhole-Participation-Form-2024?bidId=.
Concerts
Gates open for the concerts at 6 p.m. Tickets for the concert at $5 at City Hall or $10 at the gate. Inside the concert area, the Shutter Up Photo Booth will be open from 6-9 p.m.
This show starts with the Taylor Fugitt Band at 6:15 p.m., Poison Overdose Tribute Band at 8 p.m., fireworks at 10 p.m. and The Heathens at 10:30 p.m.
“We are very excited about the bands,” Hayes said. “Taylor Fugitt is originally from Great Bend. She was scheduled for June Jaunt last year but we got rained out. Then the Poison tribute band should be very fun and good. And The Heathens are always a great time too – they just released an album recently.” Lead Heathens singer Lyle Jones used to run the A440 music store in Great Bend and recently moved to Lawrence.
For more information
Learn more online at https://www.greatbendks.net/455/Events.
Registration forms for the Wet/Dry Parade are available at the City Office, 1209 Williams St., or online at https://www.greatbendkiwanis.com/wet-and-dry-parade.
For information about the car show call Deklyn Craven at 620-868-5047 or email djmcraven2004@gmail.com.
For Oozefest Mud Volleyball registration online go to https://greatbendrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Oozefest-Flyer-Registration-2024.pdf.
For Wet/Dry Parade registration go to https://www.greatbendks.net/DocumentCenter/View/3827/Kiwanis-Wet-Dry-Parade-Entry-Form-2024?bidId=.
