Saturday July 24t 2010: Party in the Park

Free Entertainment Abounds at Party in the Park
Second Annual Celebration in Swope Park takes place this Saturday

JFree entertainment is abundant at this weekend's Party in the Park scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 9:00am-5:00pm in Swope Park.
BLUES & BREAKFAST
Beautiful Wild Women The free entertainment begins with Blues & Breakfast at Starlight Theatre from 9:00am-Noon. Attendees can enjoy all-you-care-to eat Chris Cakes pancakes for just $5 while enjoying performances from the following local bands:

Wild Women of Kansas City: Returning for a second year, the Wild Women of Kansas City consist of talented, seasoned performers from the Kansas City area, including veteran performer Myra Taylor, who began her career in the 1930s. Also featuring Millie Edwards Nottingham, Lori Tucker and Geneva Price, the Wild Women are a force to be reckoned with. On keyboard is Bill Manness, a lifelong resident of KC and attorney by day. The Wild Women were named the 2007 Best Musical Group by Kansas City Magazine.

Frank Plas and the Silvertones: Inspired by traditional blues artists including T Bone Walker, Otis Rush, Freddie King, Buddy Guy and many more, Frank developed his own unique style of playing at the age of 15. Shortly thereafter, Frank, along with Rich Stoy on bass, Mike Weakley on drums, and Roger Calkins singing, formed the Silver Tones. Their first performance was in the spring of 1959 at the ninth grade talent show at Indian Hills Junior High in Prairie Village, Kansas. The band's popularity developed quickly. Soon after they were playing at a variety of Kansas City Locales including the Promenade Ball Room, The Prom Coke Bar, The Chicken Coop, The Combo Club, The Flamingo Lounge and Barry's Barn. There were many other places, too numerous to name. But the most famous, and arguably the locale that made them famous, was the Soc Hop, where they were the "house band" for years to come. It was not uncommon, on Saturday night at the Soc Hop, to have twelve to fifteen hundred teenagers turn out to see the Silver Tones.

AnnaLee and the Lucky So and Sos : The make-up of AnnaLee and the Lucky So and Sos draws from a diverse mix of musicians. Every member brings varied experiences and talents from years of performing in every venue imaginable-from opera houses to roadhouses. The "Diva" of the band is AnnaLee. She brings a serious set of pipes to the table and delights in leading her Lucky So and Sos through a night of jump and jive. AnnaLee traversed the country for several years doing musical theater and finally found a home, and a band that loves her in the City of Fountains.

The Starlight STARS will perform in between sets by the bands. The Starlight STARS are a musical theatre training program for upper middle and high school students.

SUMMER BLOCK PARTY/FREE SWIM POOL PARTY
Hot 103 JAMZ hosts a free Summer Block Party in conjunction with Party in the Park. The Summer Block Party is a community celebration in honor of KPRS' 60th anniversary. The Block Party runs from 1:00-4:00pm, Lewis and Wild Cat Hollow Roads, and will feature live music entertainment, food and beverage vendors, prize giveaways, a Kids' Zone, and more.

Block Party Concert Schedule:
1:00-2:00pm: DJ Brian Brooks
2:00-2:15pm: B Double E
2:25-2:40pm: Game Tight Mike
2:45-3:00pm: The Gingerbread Man
3:05-3:20pm: W
3:25-3:40pm: 101 Swag
3:45-4:00pm: TQ and Vertigo

KCWE29 presents a Free Swim Pool Party from 1:00-5:00pm at Swope Pool, 6700 Lewis Road. The pool party features free admission, healthy snacks provided by Children's Mercy Family Health Partners, games, prizes, giveaways and music by Hot 103 JAMZ DJ Myron Fears.

NEWLY ADDED EVENT
In addition to Mother Nature Reads and Hike with a Naturalist, the Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E. Gregory, has added Kids, Water, Bugs and Fish to their Party in the Park schedule of events. From 10:00am-3:00pm, kids will learn all about the bugs in our streams, the fish that eat them and what they can tell us about the quality of the water. Watch the Heart of America Fly Fishers as they tie flys of those bugs and show participants how to cast a fly to attract fish. Presented by the Little Blue River Watershed Coalition and Heart of America Fly Fishers.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
9:00am 1 & 2-mile Health Walks, Southeast Community Center
9:00am-12:00pm Blues & Breakfast, Starlight Theatre (ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CHRIS CAKES PANCAKES, $5/person)
9:00am-12:00pm Earth Riders Trail Association (ERTA) Hikes & Rides, Camp Lake of the Woods
9:00am-1:00pm SNAG Golf course for parents and kids; Free 15 minute mini-lessons by PGA Professionals, The First Tee of Greater Kansas City at Heart of America Golf Academy
9:00am-3:00pm Beanstalk Children's Garden Open, Kansas City Community Gardens
10:00am-2:00pm Mother Nature Reads and Crafts, Lakeside Nature Center
10:00-11:30am Herb Walk Workshop, Kansas City Community Gardens
10:00am-2:00pm Fishing with Sol Pro Bass Club, Lake of the Woods
10:00am-3:00pm Kids, Water, Bugs and Fish, Lakeside Nature Center
10:00am-3:00pm Kansas City Cricket games, Lewis Road fields
10:00am-3:00pm Zoo Tales, Kansas City Zoo
10:30am-12:00pm Hike with a Naturalist, Lakeside Nature Center
11:00am-2:00pm Ethnic Enrichment Commission Culture Box Displays, Southeast Community Center
1:00-4:00pm KPRS Block Party & Concert, Lewis Road & Wild Cat Hollow Road
1:00-4:00pm Free Child ID Cards by Western & Southern, KPRS Block Party
1:00-5:00pm KCWE29 Free Swim Pool Party, Swope Pool
1:00-5:00pm Battle of Westport Museum Open, 6601 Swope Parkway
2:00 & 4:00pm Battlefield Walking Tours, Battle of Westport Museum

Visit the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation website for all the Party in the Park details as well as a downloadable flyer and map of Swope Park.


Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation's mission is to improve the quality of life by providing recreational, leisure and aesthetic opportunities for all citizens, and by conserving and enhancing the environment. We accomplish this mission by providing quality programming, making the best use of existing resources, developing a supportive and influential constituency, developing effective collaborations and partnerships, and acquiring and preserving natural features.
Website: http://www.kcmo.org/parks

Swope Park
Swope Park is the crown jewel of the Kansas City, Missouri park system. At 1,805 acres, it is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and home to many of Kansas City's finest attractions including the Kansas City Zoo, Lakeside Nature Center, Swope Memorial and Heart of America Golf Courses, Kansas City Wizards training facility, Southeast Community Center and Starlight Theatre.
Website: http://www.kcmo.org/parks.nsf/web/swope