A parade will open Turner Days events at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, with parade entries lining up near Turner High School, 2211 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
According to Vikki Mullins, publicity chair for the Turner Days event, the parade is the “don’t miss” event of Turner Days. It is a two-day event.
“There’s a little of everything, it shows things going on on the festival grounds, some cars from the show and different school groups,” she said.
The Little Mister and Miss Turner float is part of the parade.
“This year’s theme is ‘Dream Big,’ and it’s interesting to see how the different school groups interpret the theme,” she said.
The parade will travel from the high school parking lot to 55th Street on Inland Drive. Afterward, events will be held at Steineger Field.
“Turner’s a real community, it’s our 33rd annual festival, and we hope to see people in our own community, as well as alumni and our surrounding neighborhood,” Mullins said.
Other Turner Days events include a breakfast, 5K run, Turner Walk of Fame inductees, a car show on Sunday, and entertainment by school groups. There is also a pumpkin decorating contest and a costume contest for preschool to second grade, and pumpkin chucking for older children.
Bands that are scheduled to perform include Stone Breakers and the Wood Band.
Mullins said food will be available for purchase from several vendors and will include Philadelphia cheesesteaks, funnel cakes, kettle corn, hamburgers and hot dogs.
The car show traditionally is a very large part of Turner Days, she said. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on Sunday and the car show runs until 3 p.m.
Hours of the event are from after the 10 a.m. parade until 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Turner Days will be held rain or shine, with no rain date.
Admission is free to Turner Days events, and any funds raised will go toward community projects, Mullins said. There are several Turner area projects and groups that will receive funds, including Project Grad and scholarships.
The Turner Days schedule is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/turnerdaysofficial/.
Some of the events on the schedule include:
Saturday, Oct. 14:
7:30 a.m. – 5K begins
5K Awards Assembly to follow
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Turner Middle School PTSA Breakfast Concessions
9 a.m. – Little Mister and Miss Turner candidates meet at Turner Elementary
10 a.m. – Parade begins (Parade runs north on South 55th Street from Douglas to Inland)
Booths to open following parade
11 a.m. – National Anthem by THS Choir
1:30 p.m. – Parade Award Presentation
Lil Mister and Miss Turner
Walk of Fame Inductees
2:30 p.m. – Magician
3 p.m. – Stone Breakers
5 p.m. – Booths close
Sunday, Oct. 15:
8 a.m. – Car Show entry parking begins
8 a.m. – noon – Car Show Registration
9 a.m. – Olive Branch Ministries Service
10 a.m. – Booths open
10 a.m. – Church of the Risen Lamb
11 a.m. – Preschool – 2nd grade free Halloween activities (Pumpkin decorating and Costume Contests)
Noon – Sixth Grade Academy Singers
12:30 p.m. – Preschool – 2nd grade free Halloween activities (Pumpkin decorating and Costume Contests)
12:15 p.m. – Car Show judging begins
1:30 p.m. – Kansas City Tsuruoka Karate
2 p.m. – Campfire Songs by Midland Trail Elementary
2 p.m. – Preschool – 12th grade free Pumpkin Chuckin’ Contest
2:30 p.m. – Car Show Awards, and Silent Auction
2:30 p.m. – Kansas City Tsuruoka Karate
3 p.m. – Car Show ends
3 p.m. – Wood Band
5 p.m. – Booths close