By David Markham
Start planning now to attend a family-friendly, leashed pet-friendly, and free public special event on a Saturday in mid-October.
Main festivities for the new Fun Fest at the Theatre in the Park will start at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 and will be preceded by a 5K at 9 a.m. and a Family Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. The event will also feature vendors and food trucks, hayrides and face painting, performances on the main stage from family musicians, local groups, bands, and more, and concludes with an announcement of the lineup for Theatre in the Park’s 2024 season beginning at 3:45 p.m.
“The biggest draw to the event is that it’s FREE to the public, and that there are so many things to do,” said Associate Artistic Director Guy Gardner. “You can bring your friends, family, or even yourself and spend some time shopping, spend some time throwing a frisbee, walking a beautiful path in the morning, taking a hayride, listening to musicians, and eating!”
This event is meant as a ‘thank you’ to the community for their support of JCPRD.
“It’s a day you won’t want to miss,” Gardner said. “We are planning this event to be fun for all ages and all types of groups. And don’t forget it’s leashed-pet friendly, so bring that furry family member to Theatre in the Park! Our hope is that it becomes a yearly event where JCPRD can say thanks you to the public in one of our beautiful locations – Theatre in the Park.”
Watch for more details about the event in the next issue of Explore JCPRD or visit theatreinthepark.org/fun-fest-at-theatre-in-the-park.
Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park via a separate entrance at 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee.