Boone County Parks is turning 50 this year.
Such a milestone birthday warrants a party, said Jackie Heyenbruch, Special Events and Marketing coordinator.
“We are calling it ‘Parktacular,’ and it will be on July 30 at England Idlewild Park, toward the back of the park,” Heyenbruch said. “It will start at 11 a.m., and there will be entertainment, games, music and food trucks.”
Some of the shelters at the July 30 party will have park volunteers helping children do various crafting projects, and there will be tabletop games for people to play.
The purpose of the celebration, along with highlighting the last 50 years of serving the public with fun events, is to spotlight exactly what the parks system do — and the day will be a sampler of activities that have gone on for the last half century.
The programs did not all start when the parks started, but more gradually through the years.
Park planners hope people will be intrigued enough to check out the activities that are held through the summer and fall.
Nine concerts are scheduled for this summer, beginning June 4, and ending August 13. All concerts start at 7 p.m. and go until 8:30 p.m., and they are free to attend.
Groups include London Street, Philharmonic Brass Band, Cincinnati Dancing Pigs, Twigenburrys, Swingtime Big Band, String Theory, Fleetwood Dreams, Elvis Tribute Band, and the Florence Community band. The concerts are held at the Creekside stage in Boone Woods park.
If it rains, the concerts will be held at the Boone County library, but the seating capacity there is 200.
The Concert At Creekside series began in 1990 when Tom Zimmer of Mall Chrysler Plymouth came to the Boone County Parks Department and gave them a donation to hold a concert in the park. The first concert was held on the soccer field in Boone Woods park, and a permanent stage was constructed alongside the creek in 1992.
“The concert series is a staple of summer fun at Boone County Parks,” Heyenbruch said.
The Youth fishing derby began in 2000 as a part of the Grand Opening ceremonies for England Idlewild park. It was very popular, and people asked if the parks could hold the derby every year, so the annual fishing derby was born.
The Northern Kentucky Flyfishing organization provides poles and bait along with volunteers for the occasion, and pictures of the junior fishers and their catch are taken. This year the date will be Saturday, May 14, from 2 to 4 p.m., but families can fish at the ponds during the July 30 celebration as part of the activities.
On Aug. 27, Boone Woods will again be the site of a craft show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with food trucks and music, and lots of arts and crafts. The first craft show was held in 1980, and was so popular that it has continued as a favored event.
Another event that is incredibly popular is the Jack-o-Lantern walk, held in October, just before Halloween.
“This is a family friendly event, that began in 1990, and keeps people coming back every year, as new people join the fun,” Heyenbruch said. “It’s a night walk along a luminary lit trail with the Jack-O-Lantern entries on display along the trail. Traditional Halloween music is played and refreshments are served at the end.”
The first Walk was held at Boone Woods park but this event also outgrew its environs as the popularity grew. The next location was Central Park, and now it is being held at the Boone County Fairgrounds, an area that can accommodate the ever expanding crowds. This year the Jack-o-Lantern contest and Walk will be held on October 29, from 7:30 to 9 pm.
Corinne Hurst grew up in Northern Kentucky, and regularly took her three children to the Jack-O-Lantern walk.
“My kids always enjoyed the pumpkin walk,” she said. “It was always spooky, but not scary, so my three loved it when they were little. It is perfect for young families.”
On three Thursday evenings, from 7 to 7:45 p.m. at the Creekside stage in Boone Woods park, there will be special family fun nights, featuring the Madcap Puppets, Fantastic Fairy Tales, and Twelfth Night by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Once again, rain dates will be at the Boone County Library, where 200 seats will be available.
At Union Park, on 8 Wednesdays, food trucks will be on site to help with family suppers on those hot summer evenings, from 5 to 8 p.m.
