Food, family, music, books and fun at Library at the Park

Juana Guerra and her family today participated in the Dash KCK at the Beatrice Lee Community Center, then went together to enjoy the Library in the Park event at Big 11 Lake at 11th and State Avenue. They posed for a picture in front of the lake. Family members said it’s like a reunion for them, and they like to participate in it every year. The Library in the Park event continues through 2 p.m. Saturday. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Winners of the Dash KCK run were announced afterward at the Library at the Park event Saturday. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
R U Reading greeted visitors on Saturday morning to the Library in the Park event at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The event continues until 2 p.m. Saturday. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Five restaurants participated in a taco contest on Saturday at Library in the Park. Visitors may enjoy tacos from the five vendors and then vote on the best one. The vendors will be serving free tacos until 2 p.m. Saturday. (Staff photo)
Visitors to Library in the Park enjoyed eating free tacos and enjoyed free Sheridan’s custard on Saturday at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. The event continues until 2 p.m. Saturday. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Free Sheridan’s frozen custard products were a favorite on Saturday at the Library in the Park event at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Free Sheridan’s frozen custard products were a favorite on Saturday at the Library in the Park event at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
The first 500 children attending Library in the Park received a free book, “Little Melba and Her Big Trombone,” by Katheryn Russell-Brown. The event continues until 2 p.m. at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Balloon animals were a favorite at the Library in the Park event Saturday at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Getting musical instruments ready for the instrument petting zoo Saturday at the Library in the Park event were Mark Adair, left, and Margaret Halloin, with the Kansas City Symphony’s education department. Visitors to the event may look and play with the musical instruments. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Visitors tried out the musical instruments Saturday at the musical instrument petting zoo at the Library in the Park event at Big 11 Lake at 11th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Face painting was another popular activity Saturday at the Library in the Park event. Sheryl Nance-Durst painted faces at the event, which continues until 2 p.m. at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
The mobile library was at the Library in the Park event Saturday at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State. (Staff photo)
Tents that display movies and media are at the Library in the Park event Saturday at Big 11 Lake. Bands also are performing at the event today. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Walking around Big 11 Lake on Saturday were visitors to the Library in the Park event. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Visitors to the Library in the Park event today received a free T-shirt showing the other items they received for free today at the event at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State. (Staff photo)
Checking in at the Library at the Park event and receiving a passport that could be stamped at different booths along the way. The event continues until 2 p.m. Saturday at Big 11 Lake, 11th and State, Kansas City, Kansas. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)