In an effort by the CPA to draw more youth to its annual event, this year’s picnic found new ways to get local kids involved.
President Grant High said the CPA decided the concession stand will be run by youth organizations Thursday and Friday night, and then Eudora’s churches will take over the stand Saturday night, instead of the stand being run by Eudora’s churches all three nights.
High said this move will hopefully draw more youth participation to the CPA.
“We witnessed for quite a few years the decline of the CPA. One way to get more people involved with it is to involve younger members of the community that we weren’t really reaching,” High said.
The high school soccer team will serve hot dogs and hamburgers Thursday and Friday night out of the concession stand. The wrestling team will have a tent set up in CPA Park to serve walking tacos, quesadillas and rice bowls all three nights. The football team will also have a tent to serve soft drinks all three nights as well.
Barbwire Barbecue owner and CPA Picnic hospitality director Jason Musick said it is important to get these youth organizations involved in local events.
“I think when you get community groups in it just gives out really good small town feel, and that’s what people love to be around,” Musick said.
Musick said the Barbwire Barbecue food truck will also be at the event Friday and Saturday night.
For the second year in a row, there will be a beer garden in CPA Park for all three nights. The CPA partnered with Main Street Wine and Spirits for the beer garden, High said.
There will also be a community breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday morning in CPA Park. High said the breakfast is to recognize Jim Hoover, who was involved in the CPA for many years.
Musick said the carnival will provide food as well. The carnival will be directly across Main Street from CPA Park.
The carnival will feature many rides, including the Freak Out ride, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, tractor rides and a super slide.
High said the CPA is excited to have WEEE Entertainment back this year to provide the rides, even though it took some convincing to get them come back to Eudora as WEEE has grown into a larger company that provides rides for some of the biggest carnivals in Kansas and Oklahoma.
“Eudora is about a third or a fourth of the take they’re used to getting now,” High said. “But they did tell me last year that they would consider it (coming back) because they don’t have any issues when they come to Eudora, and it’s quieter when they’re in Eudora and it’s just a relaxing and good time.”
Community feedback was so positive on the carnival last year that High said it was a relief to get WEEE to come back and provide the rides again this year.
“All of our work that we put into trying to get them back here paid off,” High said. “So we’re really trying to wow them and impress them, and we would like the community to know that everyone should come out if they want us to continue to be able to retain that carnival.”
Patrons can purchase a wristband for $30 that will allow access to all the carnival rides for that evening or purchase single tickets for $4 per ticket.
Two parades will run during the picnic as well. The kids parade will start at 7 p.m. Friday night while the Grand Parade will start at 7 p.m. Saturday night.
For the kids parade, parades coordinator Kelly Jones said those who want to participate should register from 6-7 p.m. Friday night at Pilla Park. The parade will start from Pilla Park and head south down Main Street.
Kids are encouraged to decorate their bicycles or walk in the parade in costumes. Kids can ride on motorized vehicles as well, but no cars are allowed, Jones said.
This year, the kids parade will be led by Baby Jay and KC Wolf, which Jones said will be a fun addition to the parade.
“It’s something more for the kids to enjoy,” Jones said. “Everybody gets excited about a mascot.”
Cash prizes will be given for the best rides. First place gets $100, second $75 and third $50.
For those participating in the Grand Parade, Jones said to register at the Parks and Recreation Department from 6-7 p.m. Saturday night. The Grand Parade will take the same route the homecoming parade took, which will start on 16th Street and head to Medicalodges Eudora on Maple Street before going up Main Street and ending at CPA Park.
Jones said the high school cheerleaders will help lead the way for the parade along with the fire department and police station.
Participants of the Grand Parade are also encouraged to get creative with their floats or rides. Jones said classic cars and hay trailers are welcome as well.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the best float with first place receiving $200, second $150 and third $100. There is also a cash prize for the best car, trailer or motorized vehicle. For this category, first place gets $75, second $50 and third $25.
Along with many other activities, live music will also be played Friday and Saturday nights. Undercover — an 80s Experience will play Friday night, and then Beet Red featuring Derrick Smith and Nolan Smith, and the Lazy Wayne Band will provide the tunes Saturday night.
With all the work he and the CPA have put into this year’s picnic, High said he is excited to see this Eudora tradition continue as well as get the younger generations involved.
“We’re trying to combine the greatest elements of our past with the best that the future of Eudora has to offer,” High said. “But we are just trying to bring everybody together. It’s just a time when Eudorians get together and just socialize.”
Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected].
