Festivaled-out after the Fourth? Consider this: an ice cream tasting festival with unlimited sampling of 25 flavors.
And it's all topped by a variety of entertainment, fun arts and crafts, a model airplane contest and a Parks and Recreation Department movie night. All to raise money to build a splash park in Jefferson City.
The Jefferson City Cultural Arts Foundation is sponsoring what they believe is Mid-Missouri's first ice cream tasting festival, to be held from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, July 10, along downtown High Street from Jefferson to Washington streets.
Ice cream will be provided by area vendors including Central Dairy, Culver's, Buck's Ice Cream, Schrocks Homestyle Ice Cream, Unilever, Prairie Farms and Sparky's.
It is modeled after the Scooper Bowl, said Cindy Layton of the Cultural Arts Foundation. That Boston event has been held on a regular basis for more than 30 years.
"What a great way to try all those ice creams you have been tempted to try but always lean toward your favorites. You might come up with a new favorite ice cream," Layton said.
Live music will be held throughout the event, including local men's choir "The Show-Me Showboaters" and Norman Ray, a steel drum performer from Kansas City who plays music with the feeling of lazy summer days in the Caribbean. Capitol Thrillers will hold a dance at the end of the day.
A strolling magician/juggler will also entertain the audience, while Disney's Frozen characters Elsa and Anna will also be on hand. Children can also enjoy face painting, games and more.
Arts and crafts are included in the price of admission. Capital Region Medical Center will sponsor a syringe painting craft and will feature its Reach Out and Read Initiative with Missouri River Regional Library. The DeRosier Gallery will help children create yarn monsters; other fun crafts will be available, including a Styrofoam model airplane contest.
And don't worry about the calories from the ice cream: Burn them off with a healthy exercise obstacle course.
"The evening will be capped off with free movie night on the Capitol lawn sponsored by the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. We will be selling glow necklaces at the end of the ice cream festival to be worn at the movie," Layton said.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for children and can be bought at the gate or purchased in advance with cash at a reduced rate at Carrie's Hallmark or Hy-Vee. They can also be bought through Downtown Jefferson City via the event's Facebook page or by scanning the QR code in the corner of the poster advertising the event in downtown stores.
"We are hoping for at least 500 people to give us a good kick-off for raising the funds for a free outdoor splash park," Layton said.
The Cultural Arts Foundation has been planning the splash park project over the past year, getting input from around the community regarding its placement.
"The splash park will provide a place for children to have fun, exercise, enjoy outdoor activities and be exposed to art, along with the adults that bring them to this type of facility," Layton said.
In early spring, the Cultural Arts Commission sponsored talks with leaders in the city. The general consensus for places a splash park would fit were by Lincoln University tennis courts, by the proposed new multipurpose building and across the river at the North Jefferson City Pavilion. While nothing is set yet, there are ongoing conversations to make this a reality with many different partnerships.
"We currently have several proposed splash park designs," Layton said. "We may start small with just below-ground water nozzles and expand to include above-ground pieces as we can afford them. It all really depends on how much money will be raised. The surface will be soft like in many playgrounds today. Water conservation will be a priority, so it will be able to turn off automatically when no one is using it. The facility will be able to accommodate children with disabilities, as there will be minimal standing water."