Frankfort Parks Department Launches Summer Season with More Than 10 Events
FRANKFORT, Ind. — The Frankfort Parks Department is kicking off one of its busiest summers yet, with more than 10 events planned from May through September — including concerts, movies, block parties, a major park renovation, and a Fourth of July celebration tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The season begins this Saturday, May 24, when Sapphire Bay, the splash pad at Prairie Creek Park, opens to the public. Sapphire Bay opens at 11 AM Saturday. The splash pad opens at 10 a.m. Healthy Communities will have a table on-site offering free sunscreen and giveaways.
Forecasters expect temperatures to reach 67 on Saturday, 72 on Sunday, and 80 on Memorial Day.
“We want this to be a summer where families feel like there’s always something happening,” said Ellen of the Parks Department. “Whether it’s a free concert, a movie night, or just the splash pad on a hot afternoon, we want people out and enjoying the parks.”
Concert Series Returns to Prairie Creek Park
The parks department’s free summer concert series runs from May through September at Prairie Creek Park. Food vendors will be on-site for each show, including C&R Catering, Rollin in Dough Pizza, a Mexican food vendor, and funnel cakes.
The series opens Friday, May 29, with Doorway (a tribute to The Doors) and Back to Mac (a Fleetwood Mac tribute). Several concerts have been moved to Friday evenings this year to avoid conflicts with local graduation schedules.
Upcoming concert dates:
• June 13: Matt Jordan and Cook and Belle
• June 26: Davey and The Midnights and Indy Annies, an all-women country group
• August 15: The Time Travelers and The Flying Toasters
• August 29: Damon Mitchell and Midnight RedEye
• September 26: Love ‘N Fire and The Pretender, a Foo Fighters tribute
The parks department is also partnering with the Community Foundation on its 30th anniversary for a Downtown Thursdays performance June 11 featuring the Jake Towe Band, with additional Thursday shows August 13 (Off the Hook Indy) and September 10 (Mike Milligan & Steam Shovel).
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Movies in the Park and Block Parties
The Movies in the Park series begins June 5 with the live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ at Prairie Creek Park.
Subsequent screenings include Homeward Bound (July 10), Zootopia 2 (August 21), and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (September 25).
A special screening of Hamilton is set for July 3 at the Neighborhood Center at 7 p.m., tied to the national 250th anniversary.
Every Wednesday evening in June, the parks department will host block parties rotating through neighborhood parks. Each features free hot dogs, chips, a DJ, yard games including cornhole and ladder ball, and a touch-a-truck experience for children.
Basketball Court Renovation at TPA Park
One of the department’s larger infrastructure projects this summer is a $75,000 renovation of the basketball courts at TPA Park. The project will expand the courts to regulation size, enabling tournament play. Fencing and light poles are being relocated, and demolition is already underway.
Community Development Director Kimberly Black acknowledged the price tag can prompt questions.
“It’s a $75,000 project. And so you’re talking about two basketball courts — when I say that, people are like, are you kidding me?” Black said.
Naming rights sponsorships have already been claimed, but plaque donations are still being accepted. The parks department is targeting a ribbon-cutting on July 4.
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Fourth of July and 250th Anniversary Celebration
The July 4 celebration at Prairie Creek Park runs 3 to 9 p.m. and features three live bands, laser tag, human hamster balls on the baseball field, a water slide, a foam party, a dog show, food vendors, and fireworks by Ramsey Pyrotechnics. Vendor applications are being accepted now through the parks office.
Leading into the holiday, the ISA Freedom Tour — a traveling memorial honoring Lima Company marine veterans — will be displayed at the Prairie Creek Park Event Center July 1 through July 6, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free exhibit includes bronze statues, dog tags, and memorial walls.
Memorial Day Service
The holiday weekend begins with a Memorial Day service Monday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m. on the south side of the Frankfort courthouse lawn. Congressman Jim Baird will serve as keynote speaker. If it rains, the service moves to Day & Genda Funeral Home.
Following the ceremony, a flower and rose petal tribute — made possible by a donation from Heather’s Flowers — will be held at the soldier and sailor memorial at Prairie Creek Park. A lunch follows at the VFW.
For more information on any of the summer events, contact the Frankfort Parks Department directly.
Keep up with community events and have fun listening (and calling in) to Party Line Weekdays 8:30 to 9:30.
