Wrapping up Saturday, the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference held its state baseball and softball tournament at the Great Bend Sports Complex. Athletes from across the state, as well as fans, and local spectators visited the complex, and local residents had the chance to experience outstanding college sports.

This past Saturday, the sounds of Latino music and smells of Latino food filled the Courthouse Square in downtown Great Bend. A large crowd filled the popular and historic outdoor venue for the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.

At the Great Bend City Council meeting Monday night, the council heard an update on the fifth-annual June Jaunt event June 3-5. The epicenter of  the event is the downtown square.

The council approved special hours and other dispensations to allow the activity to take place.

In addition, there will be the Summer Street Stroll, which includes a farmers market and free movies. This is also in the square.

The point is that the square, and other parks in our fine community for that matter, are going to start jumping as spring and summer get into full swing. We have wonderful places to gather and a lot of enthusiastic and energetic people planning things to do.

Now, it is up to the rest of us to take advantage of these activities. There is that perennial complaint that there is nothing to do in Great Bend, but the above list flies in the face of that thinking.

Not only are these events entertaining, they are also free or relatively inexpensive to attend.

Let’s get outside, get some fresh air, fill our beautiful outdoor facilities and quit grumbling. It is a great way to shake off that cabin fever.

Dale Hogg