The CPA Picnic returns this summer with a “no place like home” theme and hopes to bring together floats, reunions and a sense of nostalgia for the 124th year.
Festivities will start Sunday with the golf tournament and continue June 12-14.
This is the second year the CPA has partnered with the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the picnic. This will be the first year the event has a theme, which came via online submission, CPA President Grant High said.
“The theme is very parade-oriented,” High said. “It’ll give people something to focus on or give them a baseline for their design for the parade.”
There will be around 40 floats of local businesses, school groups, reunion groups and more. The cash prizes for floats have increased, with up to $300 awarded for best representation of the theme. The parades are an important part of town history by bringing people of all walks of life together, he said.
“It just doesn’t matter where they’re from. Everybody comes together for it,” High said.
The week’s events will kick off Sunday morning with the annual golf tournament at the Oak Country Golf Course in De Soto. Registration is 7 to 7:30 a.m. before tee off at 8 a.m. Teams will be made of four people and cost $200 each group.
A new addition has been added to Thursday’s lineup by having an open mic for community members to perform live starting at 5 p.m. Those interested can sign up here.
The Main Street Market will have vendors from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Carnival rides will again be provided by WEEE Entertainment. The carnival will be open 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Attendees can purchase a wristband each evening for $33 for unlimited access to rides. Single tickets can also be purchased for $4 each. A family pack of 10 tickets can be purchased for $35 or a pack of 30 tickets for $100.
The Kids Parade will travel down Main Street starting at 7 p.m. Friday at Pilla Park. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. at 7th and Main Street. Anyone can participate and is encouraged to dress in costume, walk, ride bikes or be pulled in a wagon. Cash will be awarded for the most spirit as well as best representation of the theme.
Following the Kids Parade, Turkey Bone and Full Count Band will perform 8 to 11 p.m.
The Grand Parade will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday. Registration is at 6 p.m. at 7th and Elm behind Wendy’s and the parade will travel down 14th and Main, passing by Medicalodges and then traveling down Main Street. Floats, tractors, horses and vehicles are all welcome to participate.
CPA Vice President Kelly Jones said they hope more people will be involved.
“We put a lot of our budget toward the parade. People make it really fun,” she said.
Convention and Visitors Bureau President Jason Musick looks forward to people coming from out of town for the picnic, as well as getting to see the community celebrate in such a historic area.
“ I just get excited about downtown historic Eudora being busy,” he said.
The Grand Parade will also feature Musick as grand marshal since he was selected as Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.
Steven Bankey and the Flatland Band will perform at 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
The annual Jim Hoover breakfast will be scheduled for later this year rather than during CPA weekend. More information on that will come closer to the event.
Here is a full schedule of each day:
Sunday, June 8
8 a.m. — Golf tournament (registration 7 to 7:30 a.m.)
Thursday, June 12
5 p.m. — Open Mic Night
5 to 11 p.m. — Concessions
5:30 to 8 p.m. — Main Street Market
6 to 11 p.m. — Carnival rides and games
Friday, June 13
5 to 11 p.m. — Concessions
5:30 to 9 p.m. — Main Street Market
6 to 11 p.m. — Carnival rides and games
7 p.m. — Kids Parade
8 to 11 p.m. — Turkey Bone and Full Count Band
Saturday, June 14
5 to 11 p.m. — Concessions
6 to 11 p.m. — Carnival rides and games
7 p.m. — Grand Parade
8 to 11 p.m. — Steven Bankey and the Flatland Band