Fourth of July events in the Wichita area

After years of sparse patriotic fanfare, Wichitans finally have something to look forward to this Fourth of July.

The Wichita Parks Foundation will be throwing an Independence Day Block Party, which will last most of Saturday.

Independence Day celebrations are in high demand around Wichita, said development director Stacey Hamm.

“We get phone calls every year asking, ‘Is the city doing anything?’ and we always have to say no, so it’s exciting to be able to say yes this year,” Hamm said.

The lack of fireworks in the past few years was because of budgetary issues in the Parks and Recreation Department, Hamm said. The Parks Foundation, however, is a nonprofit organization separate from the city.

One of the biggest attractions of the party is the 1,000-foot water slide by Slide the City that will be set up across the Lewis Street Bridge (times you can slide depend on your type of ticket).

“It’s something unique Wichita has never had before,” Hamm said.

Only 3,000 spots are available. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 for a single ride and $40 for a triple ride. Tickets for unlimited rides is $60. Tickets will be available on-site Saturday for $5 more. Go to slidethecity.com to register.

In the south Lawrence-Dumont Stadium parking lot, there will be a Family Activity Zone that will include bounce houses, games and a pump track for BMX and skateboard riders. Well Done Skate Supply will have free skateboard demos. Kids are encouraged to bring their bikes, boards and, of course, helmets.

After a quick slide and skate, the celebration continues on the other side of the river with festivities on the Hyatt lawn. Guests can enjoy a beer garden along with live entertainment. Country singer Jessica Lynn will perform at 3 p.m. with her 10-person ensemble. At 7 p.m., local band Lucky People hits the stage as the headliner.

At 6:30 p.m., the US9 Armed Forces baseball team will go up against the Puerto Rico National Team at Lawrence-Dumont. General admission tickets are $7.

The day ends with a fireworks show at 10 p.m.

So far, feedback from the public has been positive. Hamm said the organization will “absolutely” hold the block party again, and plans for 2016 are already in the works.

“We will keep this going next year and for years to come,” Hamm said.

Here are some other Fourth of July events taking place around the area. For more, go to events.kansas.com.

Wichita

▪ The Riverside Citizens Association will hold its annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast and Children’s Parade at the Pagoda building in Central Riverside Park on Saturday morning. Breakfast will be served from 7 to 11 a.m. It costs $8 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Registration for the Children’s Parade is free and starts at 8:30 a.m., with the parade at 10 a.m. Kids will receive a packet of goodies and be entered into the prize drawing. Call 316-262-6165 for more information.

▪ The Second Annual Stars and Stripes 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Cessna Stadium. The event will feature free face painting, free photos, and an event shirt and finisher medal for participants. A Kids Fun Run for children younger than 10 will be approximately one hour after the start of the 5K. Registration is $40 for individuals, $35 for teams of 4 or more, and $15 for the Kids Fun Run. Visit starsandstripes5k.com for more information.

▪ The Arthur Gossett Post 273 and American Legion Fourth of July picnic will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday for veterans and their families. The picnic will be at the Robert J. Dole Veterans Administration’s Transitional Living Center, 5500 E. Kellogg. For more information, call 316-264-3752.

Augusta

A children’s parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, starting in the bank parking lot at Seventh and State streets. Children can ride tricycles, bicycles, scooters and wagons.

A fireworks show will begin at the Augusta City Lake around 9:45 p.m.

Derby

▪ The 34th annual Derby Firecracker Race will take place at High Park, 2801 E. James St., on Saturday morning. A four-mile run is at 7:30 a.m., followed by a one-mile run at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $25 for ages 13 and older and $15 for ages 12 and younger. Register at the Derby Recreation Center, 801 E. Market, or at runwichita.org.

▪ The Independence Day parade starts at 10 a.m. at Panther Stadium, 925 E. Madison Ave., proceeds west on Madison to Georgie, south on Georgie to Market, east on Market back to the middle school.

▪ The Derby Independence Day Celebration begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at High Park. It will include cornhole games and bounce houses. A sand volleyball court will be supplied with items to build sand castles. Free ice cream will be provided, and food will be available for purchase. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

For more information and events, visit www.derbyweb.com/july4.

El Dorado

A whiffle ball tournament kicks off the celebration at 9 a.m. Saturday in East Park, 100 S. Woodland, followed by arts and crafts and a fishing derby at 10:30 a.m. A bike parade for youth is at 10 a.m. A sack race and water balloon toss is at 11:15 a.m.

Free food is available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Municipal Pool will be open for a free swim from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Fireworks start around 9:30 p.m., following the free 7 p.m. Broncos game at McDonald Stadium, 210 N. Griffith. For more information, go to www.eldoks.com.

Goddard

Fourth of July celebrations begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Discovery Intermediate ball parks, 201 S. Main. The Pina Brothers will be performing until 9:30 p.m. Softball fields are available to those who want to bring their own equipment. Other features include a moon bounce and free hot dogs, watermelon, ice cream and water until they’re gone. A firework show begins at dusk, followed by a free swim at the Goddard City Pool through midnight. For more info, go to www.goddardks.gov.

Haysville

▪ Independence Day weekend kicks off early at 6:15 p.m. Friday with Uncle Sam’s Soggy Jog and Pool Party. Racers will battle sprinklers, hoses, wet zones and more as they run or walk the 1.5-mile path around Riggs Park. Afterward, the pool party will be at Dewey Gunzelman Swimming Pool, 525 Sarah Lane. Registration is open to ages 5 and up and begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $5 per entrant and includes four pool passes.

▪ Fourth of July events begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with an Independence Day Parade at Haysville Middle School, 900 W. Grand, that ends at Haysville True Value, 325 N. Main. Other events include the Kids Fishing Derby at 9 a.m., frog races at 11 a.m., raft races at 11:45 a.m., and a water carnival at 1 p.m. The Youth Firecracker Parade begins at 6:45 p.m. Children are welcome to ride their bikes, strollers and wagons.

The Beatles cover band, Across the Pond, will perform from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Citizen of the Year will be announced at 8:30 p.m., and the fireworks begin at approximately 9:45 p.m. at Riggs Park, 706 Sarah Lane. Go to www.haysville-ks.com for more information.

Hutchinson

▪ HutchFest begins Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Events include a car, truck and bike show, teen night and Hutchinson’s Got Talent Show.

▪ On Saturday, the 32nd annual Patriots Parade on Main Street kicks off at 10 a.m. A barbecue cook-off will be held from noon to 3 p.m. in the Sunflower South building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. A community picnic begins at 1 p.m. in the Expo Tent with food-eating contests, artisans, vendors and exhibits.

HutchFest Night at the Races will be held Saturday evening at the Grandstands, with gates opening at 5 p.m. Admission to the races is $12 (ages 11 and up), $5 for kids under age 11. Seating for the Fireworks Extravaganza opens at 9:30 p.m., and the show starts at 10 p.m.

The weekend concludes Sunday with a free family swim at Salt City Splash from 7 to 9 p.m. Free food starts at 6 p.m. for the first 400 guests.

A HutchFest bracelet or button is required. They’re available at area Kwik Shops for $4, and for $5 at HutchFest. For a complete schedule, visit hutchfest.org.

Park City

Park City’s Salute to Freedom celebration packs a full schedule starting with a parade at 9 a.m. Saturday and ending with fireworks at 10 p.m. Activities throughout the day include car show, inflatables, a water slide, obstacle course, food vendors, ice cream social, watermelon feed, pet show and more. At 7 p.m. local band Poultry ’n Motion will perform with opening act Road 23. All events are free, and a free ticket is required for the concert, which can be picked up in the park.

The parade begins at 61st Street from Spangles to Hydraulic to Hap McLean Park. It will include a flyover by the Commemorative Air Force and the McConnell Air Force Base Color Guard. Registration begins at 8 a.m. All other activities take place at Hap McLean Park.

For a complete schedule, go to www.parkcityks4th.com.

Rose Hill

An ice cream social is at 8 p.m. Saturday in Shorty Cox Park, 600 E. School, with games, prizes and music. Bring a chair for the fireworks display, which will begin at dusk. For more info, visit www.rosehillrec.com.

Garden Plain

The city has a full day of events scheduled, with the 5K Freedom Run and 1 Mile Fun Run at City Park starting at 7 a.m. ($15 entry fee). A parade on Main Street is at 11 a.m.

There will be inflatables, a dunk tank and other kid-friendly activities from noon to 6 p.m. ($10 bracelet for unlimited rides and games.) A watermelon-eating contest happens at 4 p.m. for three age groups. From 7 to 11 p.m., dance the night away with music by Moonlight DJ. Fireworks go off at 10 p.m.

For a complete schedule of events, go to www.gardenplain.com.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Fourth of July events in the Wichita area."