De Soto’s annual festival is returning this summer to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

This year’s De Soto Days festival will feature 40 vendors, a carnival, a parade and much more during the downtown celebration from Aug. 29 to Aug. 31.

The carnival will have over a dozen rides including a carousel and a ferris wheel. Attendees can get unlimited access for the day by purchasing a $25 wristband or can purchase single tickets for $1 each.

The carnival will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Along with the carnival, Festival Chairwoman Rhonda Patterson said there will be a dedicated kids zone to make it an all-ages event. The kids zone will have a face painter, caricature artist and a balloon artist.

“All that is free to the community,” Patterson said. “It’s a real family atmosphere.”

The annual two-mile long parade will begin at the high school, go through downtown and finish at Miller Memorial Park at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The parade will showcase various members of the community like the mayor, businesses, the high school’s band and the cheerleading squad.

Patterson said she’s excited to see all of the organizations’ floats.

To further celebrate the 60th anniversary, the parade will also feature a flyover at 11 a.m.

Patterson said she encourages the community to come out and celebrate the city.

“I think it’s just a great time for everyone to unwind,” she said.

The festival’s committee tries to plan as many free activities as they can to ensure that everybody can come to the festival and have a good time, Patterson said.

“As far as the community, what we try to do is make this a free event because we are totally volunteers,” she said.

Over the weekend, Patterson said they have over 40 volunteers helping with set up, parking, clean up and everything in between.

“Without the sponsors and the volunteers, I’m not sure we would be continuing each year,” she said.

There will also be a beer garden downtown from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. There will also be cocktails available.

Various food trucks will also be at the festival all weekend serving Mexican, barbecue and sweet treats.

Live entertainment, including music, martial arts and a pageant, will also be ongoing all weekend.

After the festivities are over, there will be a 5K and fun run at 8 a.m. Sunday at Lexington Lake Park. The run, presented by Always & Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary and the De Soto Veterinary Clinic, is dog-friendly and will have treats for all attendees and their dogs.

Registration is $10 for the fun run and $20 for the 5K. Click here to register. 

Here’s the full weekend schedule:

Thursday

6 to 10 p.m. – Carnival rides

6 to 11 p.m. – Festival

6 to 11 p.m. – Beer garden

6 p.m. – Betso O and the Hollaback Boys perform at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage

6 p.m. – Miss and Little Miss De Soto Days Pageant at the City of De Soto stage

8 p.m. – The Instamatics perform at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage

Friday

5 to 11 p.m. – Beer garden

5 p.m. – Lily B. Moonflower Band performs at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage

6 to 10 p.m. – Carnival rides

6 to 11 p.m. – Festival

6 to 8 p.m. – Face painting

6 p.m. – Ellie performs at the City of De Soto stage

7 p.m. – Compati performs at the City of De Soto stage

8 p.m. Candice Hill performs at the City of De Soto stage

8:30 p.m. – Landrush performs at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage

Saturday

10:30 a.m. – Parade

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Festival and beer garden

11:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Face painting

11:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Special guests at the photo booth

Noon to 10 p.m. – Carnival rides

Noon to 4 p.m. – Balloon and caricature artists

Noon – Dunk tank begins and Savannah Chestnut performs at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage

12:30 p.m. – Rockin’ Rob performs at the City of De Soto stage

1 p.m. – Fruit pie contest

2 p.m. – Signal Ridge performs at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage and Atomic Blonde performs at the City of De Soto stage

3 p.m. – De Soto High School dance team performs at the City of De Soto stage

4 p.m. – Olathe Dance performs at the City of De Soto stage

4:30 p.m. – Caprice Classic performs at the Panasonic Energy and Merck Animal Health stage

5 p.m. – Forge Martial Arts performs at the City of De Soto stage

6 p.m. – Compati performs at the City of De Soto stage

7 p.m. – Cory Jackson performs at the City of De Soto stage

8:30 p.m. – Landrush performs at the City of De Soto stage

Sunday

8 a.m. – 5K-9 Race and Fun Run at Lexington Lake Park