Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

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FEATURING

Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

SantaCaliGon Days Festival Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest Grain Valley Fair Days

AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE EXAMINER WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

September 2017 15 - 16 - 17 Main Festival Hours Hours of Operation:

Friday, September 15 – Noon to 10pm Saturday, September 16 – 10am to 10pm Sunday, September 17 – 10am to 6pm

Beer & Wine Garden Hours Friday, September 15 – 4pm to Midnight Saturday, September 16 – 2pm to Midnight Sunday, September 17 – 10am to 5pm (Car Show)

Must be 21 year of age to enter the Beer & Wine Garden on Friday and Saturday. No cover charge to enter the beer garden on Friday & Saturday from opening times until 6pm, after 6pm there will be a cover charge.

Car & Bike Show

Sunday, September 17 - at 11th Street in the Beer & Wine Garden Gates will open to presenters at 9am and to the general public at 10am. The car show will take place come rain or shine.

Shuttle Locations Locations:

Side Pockets (1 School Bus will run from this location) – East Side of Parking Lot near State Route 7 Office Depot (1 School Bus will run from this location) – West Side of Parking Lot towards State Route 7 Buses will run from these locations to Security Station 8 at 8th Street & East Main Street.

Happy Hour Special & Hours

Each bus is air conditioned and has as few steps as possible. They hold two people per seat for a total of about 25 people per bus.

Buses will run continuously unless drivers are in need of a quick break.

Friday, September 15 – 4pm to 6pm* Saturday, September 16 – 2pm to 6pm*

Parade

* No Cover Charge during Happy Hour times.

Carnival Hours

Shuttle Hours

Hours of Operation: Friday, September 15 – Noon to 11pm Saturday, September 16 – 10am to 11pm Sunday, September 17 – 10am to 6pm

Hours of Operation: Friday, September 15 – 5pm to 10pm Saturday, September 16 – 8am to 10:30pm Sunday, September 17 – No Shuttle Service

Everyone Loves a Parade!

You can find one right here on Saturday morning of the Blue Springs Chamber Fall Fun Festival, starting at 10am!

This year’s parade theme is MARDI GRAS! Information and photography provided by www.bluespringsfallfestival.com and the Blue Springs Fun Fall Festival Facebook.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net

I

f you go to the Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival on Sept. 15-17, including the Saturday morning parade, don’t forget to break out your beads for the Mardi Gras.

Many favorites return for the annual downtown street festival hosted by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. The festival attracts about 130,000 attendees over the three days, according to the Chamber.

There will be a carnival on 12th Street and the Kidz Zone for children-centered activities at 10th and Main, including Lego racing and a rock wall for climbing. Games such as giant jenga, washers and volleybeer (think of a combination of volleyball and beer pong) will take place in the beer garden over course of the weekend.

Jeri Willingham, special events coordinator for the Chamber, said a new addition to this year’s festival is the Escape Room, where participants have five minutes to solve clues and escape a place.

Blue Springs

FALL FUN

FESTIVAL

As a newcomer to the Chamber, Willingham said she’s excited to sample the various food vendor offerings, which will include popular treats such as burgers, turkey legs, funnel cakes, curly fries, kettle korn and freshly squeezed lemonade. A giant cinnamon roll and flower pot pizza also will be available.

With a couple weeks still to go, Willingham said she anticipates the vendor spaces will be sold out. The last ones tend to be taken after Independence’s Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival over Labor Day weekend.

Nashville artist, “The Voice” contestant and Smithville native Casi Joy will cap Friday’s lineup on the Side Pockets Main Stage at 9:30 p.m., a performance that Willingham says should

pack the beer garden. The hard country rocking Damien Gunn Band, another metro area artist, will be on before her at 7:30 p.m. Friday and also will close Saturday’s entertainment lineup at 9:30 p.m.

“We’ve got a lot of other great entertainment coming in.”

Red Velvet Crush will perform at 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday, followed on Saturday by Sean McNown at 5:30 p.m. and Dirt Road Addiction at 7:30 p.m.

The St. Mary’s Medical Center Community Stage, located on Main Street between Eighth and Ninth streets, will have a variety of performances Friday evening, all day Saturday and then Sunday afternoon.

The parade begins at 10 a.m.

Saturday, running from the 15th and Vesper streets, south to Main, then east to 10th and north to R.D. Mize Road near St. John LaLande Catholic Church.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

2017 Blue Springs Fall Fun Fest Map Parade Route 10:00 am Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017

Parade begins @ 15th & Vesper turns East on Main then North on 10th St. and ends @ RD Mize Rd. near St. John LaLande Catholic Church

Post Office

Picnic Area Public Restroom Handicap Restroom Public Telephone Storm Shelter

SW Smith Street STREET Police Station

CLOSED

Security Station 5

Jones Street Lost Child Booth #68 Booth #87-88 Main Stage

Walnut Street

Section M-Booth 700-702

Section L--Booth 600-611

Section J-Booth 400-411

Section K-Booth 500-516

County Beverage Beer Garden and Side Pockets Main Stage

Security Station 7

7 Highway

Handicap Parking

Railroad Tracks

MAP LEGEND

Chamber Office

Security Station 8

Section I-Booth 287-306

Section H-Booth 258-286

Information

Main Stage

Smith St

12th Street

S

Carnival

14th Street

E

W

Street Section G –Booth 236-257

Section F-Booth 209-235

11th Street

Section E-Booth 200-208

Section D-Booth 59-113

8th Street

Section C-Booth 37-58

Main N

15th Street

Section B-Booth 10-36

Community

Security Station 1

City Hall St. Mary’s Medical Center

Section A -Booth 1-9

Kidz Zone

CFJCPD

Oak Street

9th Street

Security Station 4

City Staff Parking

By Permit Only. Handicap parking

10th Street

Security Station 2

Shuttle Bus: Side Pockets and Hobby Lobby parking lots. East Main Street Festival entrance.

Security Station 6

Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival 2017

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Sponsored By: Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce & Saint Luke's East Hospital

Featuring: Casi Joy As Seen On The Voice

l

va Carni

250

+V end

ors

September 15-17, 2017 Downtown Blue Springs (816)-229-8558 www.BlueSpringsFallFestival.com

Parade

And Much, Much More!

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Carnival Hours

September 1ST - September 4th, 2017

Provided by Wade Shows

The 45th Annual Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival in Independence, Missouri, commemorates the origin of the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails during the country’s great westward expansion by early pioneers. More than 300,000 attendees spend Labor Day weekend at the region’s oldest and largest festival.

Thursday, August 31st – 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM Friday, September 1st – 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM Saturday, September 2nd– 10:00 am – 12:00 AM Sunday, September 3rd – 10:00 am – 12:00 AM Monday, September 4th– 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Festival Hours

Contests

Friday, September 1st: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM Saturday, September 2nd: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM Sunday, September 3rd: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM Monday, September 4th: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

4th Annual ‘Little Mister & Miss Independence’ Contest The 4th Annual Little Mister & Miss Independence” contest is for children ages 4-6 who reside in the City of Independence. The winners will be judged on personality, poise and attire and will be asked to tell the judges their name, age and what they like best about SantaCaliGon. Contestants are asked to bring their favorite book to share and to tell what they like best about the book. Each child will receive a goody bag for their participation. The winners, one male and one female, will be awarded a $50 savings account or gift card from a local financial institution, sash & crown (male) a sash & crown (female) and will ride on a sponsored float in the Independence Chamber Halloween parade on Saturday, October 28th, 2017.

ADMISSION All activities (excluding carnival) are FREE.

Information and photography provided by www.santacaligon.com and SantaCaliGon Facebook.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

THE 45TH ANNUAL SANTA-CALI-GON DAYS FESTIVAL

By Jeff Fox jeff.fox@examiner.net

T

he Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival transforms the Independence Square on Labor Day weekend and attracts an estimated 300,000 people.

The festival is Sept. 1 to 4. The carnival opens Aug. 31 in the large parking lot bounded by Kansas, Liberty, Walnut and Osage.

Among the headlining musical acts are Blackberry Smoke, a Southern rock band taking the stage at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 2, and Julia Othmer, who plays on the beer garden stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2.

A revived feature this year is “Main Street 1849,” reflecting the Independence Square of that era. It’s on Main Street between Lexington and

Kansas and is to include old-time music, a blacksmith, a one-room schoolhouse, a historic jail, kettle corn, root beer, a photo booth and information on the city’s historic sites. Children can pan for gold. Wagon rides will go to the National Frontier Trails Museum a few blocks away.

“And we’re very excited to incorporate that back into our event,” said Lois McDonald, vice president of community development at the Independence Chamber of Commerce and the chamber’s chief Santa-Cali-Gon organizer.

McDonald said the festival had 235 vendors last year and so far more than 250 have signed up this year.

“I’m pretty happy to have the va-

riety of food,” she said.

Off-site parking is available in the large lots at the Community of Christ Auditorium. Shuttle rides to the Square are $1 each way for those ages 12 and up.

The Chamber of Commerce is still looking for volunteers.

“Whether it’s an hour, two hours, all day – we’ll take it,” said Mikealene Evans, director of marketing and communications.

The main stage is near City Hall on Maple Avenue on the east edge of the Square. The schedule: • Friday – 5:30 p.m., Jeremy Bar-Illan; 7:30, Stone Senate; 5:30, Madison Rising.

• Saturday – 3:30 p.m., Makenna

and Brock; 5:30 p.m., Jericho Woods; 7:30 p.m., 90 Proof Twang; 9:30 p.m., Blackberry Smoke.

• Sunday – 3:30 p.m., Cat Beach Band; 5:30 p.m., Crossroad Station; 7:30 p.m., Caleb Paul and the Gillis Silo; 9:30 p.m., Hillbilly Vegas.

The beer garden is in the lot west of the Pharaoh Cinema 4. The stage schedule: • Friday – 5 p.m., The Garden; 6 p.m., Southern Nights Band; 7:30, Damien Gunn.

• Saturday – 5 p.m., Julia Reynolds; 6 p.m., Cedd the Light; 7:30 p.m., Julia Othmer.

• Sunday – 5 p.m., The Resonance; 6 p.m., Michelle Hawkins, 7:30 p.m., Natu Visinia.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Oktoberfest Contests

  

Festival Dates & Times:

Baby Contest Grab your little one and join the baby contest, sponsored by The Goddard School.

DATE: Saturday, September 23 TIME: Check-in at 10:30 a.m., event starts at 11:00 a.m.

PLACE: Community Stage

Home Brew Competition - CALLING ALL BREWERS! The Lee’s Summit Chamber and Grains & Taps are pleased to partner together in presenting the 2017 Oktoberfest People’s Choice Home Brew Competition. Oktoberfest attendees will have the opportunity to partake in a tasting event at Oktoberfest from noon–3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 in the Biergarten while participating home brewers serve up samples of their best brews!

Information and photography provided by www.lsoktoberfest.com

Friday, September 22 from 5 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, September 24 from Noon to 4 p.m. Carnival Only

Oktoberfest Contests

Visit today!

Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Competition Back for another year is the Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Competition.

Head to the Biergarten on Saturday and test your strength. The object of the game is to hoist a full liter stein longer than anyone else. Competitors must use only one hand and steins must be held at arm’s length. One male and one female winner will be crowned and will receive an etched Sam Adams pewter stein.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Historic Downtown Lee’s Summit 2ND STREET

Parking garage

STREET

WINEZELT

Arts & Crafts Fair

DOUGLAS

Biergarten

Pony Rides & Petting Zoo

KIDS STREET Brat Tent

CARNIVAL

Arts & Crafts Fair

3RD STREET

Rootbiergarten

Brat Tent Community Stage

WINEZELT

SPORTZELT

EET

4TH STREET

GREEN STREET

SE MA IN STR

EET

IN STR

SW MA

Main Stage

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

BEER

Food &

By Debbie Coleman-Topi Special to The Examiner

V

FUN

isitors to this year’s annual Lee’s Summit festival can enjoy the usual fair fodder plus a twist on a popular home brew tasting contest and a new haunted trailer that will test participants’ escape skills. Oktoberfest will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

23 in downtown Lee’s Summit.

The food, drink, music, entertainment and some contests reflect the festival’s German theme. Organizers expect this year’s attendance to be comparable to last year’s, which drew about 70,000, said Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Director of Communications Stephanie Kusek.

This year’s festival marks the 28th annual event. A specially formed committee launched the festival in 1989 as a fundraiser for a new Lee’s Summit Chamber office. No plans are yet underway for a special celebration marking the festival’s 30th year, Kusek said, because chamber staff is concentrating on the chamber’s 50th anniversary in 2018.

Biergarten highlights include a People’s Choice Home Brew Tasting contest featuring a record number of 50

competitors. From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, attendees can sample beers for a fee before casting ballots.

Traditional German food includes schnitzel, sauerbraten, red cabbage, potato salad and apple streusel.

Kid-friendly plates also are available.

A juried arts and crafts fair will have dozens of local and regional vendors with artwork, handmade crafts and collectibles.

Live entertainment is featured on the Main Stage and the Community Stage. Friday on the Main Stage has Clint Martinez and the Underdogs, Big Mama Band, and Michael Dale and the Desert Wine Band, with concerts kicking off at 5 p.m. On Saturday, entertainment starts at 1 p.m. with local performers. The evening acts are Double Vision at 6:30 p.m. and Elton Dan and the Rocket Band at 8:30 p.m. The Community Stage opens at 5 p.m. on Friday and then at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, with mostly local dancers and high school entertainers.

“Escape the Living Dead” is a new attraction this year and allows players to collaborate on clues to escape the trailer after being locked inside. The goal is to escape within five minutes or face zombies. Website: escapethelivingdead.com. Cost is $5 per person with a maxi-

mum of four people each round, Kusek said.

The Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Competition, at 3 p.m., Saturday in the Biergarten, is designed to test strength. One male and one female will be crowned and win etched Sam Adams pewter steins.

Other competitions include a baby contest starting at 11 a.m. Saturday on the community stage, in which children show off their finest outfits and talent to win prizes.

A grape stomp at 6 p.m., Friday, right outside the Biergarten, emceed by 106.5 The Wolf radio personality Codie Allen, will feature celebrity contestants stomping grapes with their bare feet to determine who can create the most juice.

Children’s activities include a carnival offering about a dozen rides, which will continue from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, despite the rest of the festival having concluded Saturday night. A Kids Street featuring crafts, games, a petting zoo and free Rootbiergarten drinks for those 12 and younger.

Sports fans won’t miss games as they can view them at SPORTZELT, which includes large-screen TV’s, a bar and food.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Grain Valley

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, September 8th, 2017 Jayme & Wickett from 98.1 KMBZ Live Remote...... 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Large Pavillion Beer Garden.................................................................2:00 PM - 11:30 PM Dana and Parks from 98.1 KMBZ Live Remote.......... 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Location: Large Pavillion Baby/Toddler Contest Voting Open.......................... 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM Location: Information Tent Carnival and Vendor Hours........................................4:00 PM - 11:30 PM FOCUS Club BINGO..................................................... 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM Location: Community Center Midnight Rodeo............................................................ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion State Line Drive...........................................................9:30 PM - 11:30 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion Saturday, September 9th, 2017 DISC Dogs..................................................................... 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Location: West Baseball Field Baby/Toddler Contest Voting Open.......................... 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: Information Tent Fair Hours..................................................................11:00 AM - 11:30 PM Wood Valley Pickers................................................. 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

Grain Valley

Fair Days

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

(Continued) Fair Parade...................................................................1:00 PM - 2:00 PM FOCUS Club BINGO....................................................1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Location: Community Center Life Connection Church’s Kid Zone..........................1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Armstrong Park East Shelter House Beer Garden...............................................................2:30 PM - 11:30 PM Nace Brothers..............................................................2:30 PM - 4:30 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion Monarch Conservatory of Performing Arts Performance ���������3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Behind Community Center Key School of Dance Performance............................4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Behind Community Center Mario Manzini - a Houdini Tribute Show....................4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Location: East Stage of the Pavilion Simple Shot..................................................................5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion Beard and Mustache Contest sponsored by Beard Up �������� 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Location: Large Pavillion Releve Performing Arts Performance........................5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Location: Behind Community Center FOCUS Club BINGO....................................................6:00 PM - 9:30 PM Location: Community Center Mario Manzini - a Houdini Tribute Show....................6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: East Stage of the Pavilion Baby/Toddler Contest Winners Annouced................6:30 PM - 7:00 PM Location: South Stage of the Pavillion 7 Bridges Road - a Tribute to the Eagles..................7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion Fair Fireworks..............................................................9:00 PM - 9:20 PM Faded Stranger..........................................................9:30 PM - 11:30 PM Location: Main Stage of the Pavilion

GREAT FUN - GREAT FOOD DON’T MISS IT!

By Jeff Fox jeff.fox@examiner.net

T

he Grain Valley Fair is held Sept.

8-9 in the grounds near the Community Center on Main Street.

In addition to the carnival, fireworks, food and music, the parade is one of the biggest annual events in the city.

Organizers say more than 20 vendors have been added since last year, and more vendor spaces have been opened up. Vendors open at 4 p.m. Friday.

The carnival also opens at 4 p.m.

Friday.

The 20-minute fireworks show is at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Several new things are on the schedule.

Organizers said 816 drones will be on hand for demonstrations, and the Kansas City Drone Racing Club has races set for 6:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

The main stage will be full.

Performers are: • Midnight Rodeo, 7 p.m. Friday.

• State Line Drive, 9:30 Friday.

• Wood Valley Pickers, 11 a.m.

Saturday.

• The Nace Brothers, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday.

• Simple Shot, 5 p.m. Saturday.

• 7 Bridges Road (an Eagles tribute band), 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

• Faded Stranger, 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The parade starts at 1 p.m., Saturday, at the high school. It goes east on Eagles Parkway, north on Main, west on Walnut, south on Kirby, then west again on Eagles Parkway back to the high school.

A new feature this year is a parade

grandstand area at Walnut and Main, with bleachers in the parking lot next to the post office. That’s a short walk from parking at the fair.

Also on the schedule: • KMBZ radio personalities will broadcast from the large pavilion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

• The beer garden is open from 2 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and from 2:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

• Voting in the baby/toddler contest is from 2 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Winners are announced at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the south stage of the pavilion.

• Bingo is from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the Community Center.

• Disc Dogs is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday.

• The Life Connection Church’s Kids Zone is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the east shelter house at Armstrong Park.

• There’s a performance by the Monarch Conservatory of Performing Arts at 3 p.m., Saturday behind the Community Center, followed by the Key School of Dance at 4 and Releve Performing Arts at 5.

• Mario Manzini does a Houdini tribute show at 4:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. on the east stage of the pavilion.

• The beard and mustache contest is at 5 p.m. Saturday at the large pavilion.

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Eastern Jackson County Fall Festivals Guide

County Beverage Co. is a Proud Sponsor of the 2017 Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival.