The HutchFest board is proud to announce the plans for the 23rd annual HutchFest to be held Friday, June 29th through July 4th, 2012. Events will be held downtown at Avenue A Park, in Carey Park, along Main Street and at the Kansas State Fairgrounds east parking lot with a park and watch fireworks extravaganza. So, pick-up your HutchFest button and be ready to help celebrate America and honor our veterans.

The tradition of HutchFest continues with events planned for all ages and attire. You can wear your bathing suit, dancing shoes, softball cleats or concert t-shirt to the many family friendly events we’ve got planned . There will be a 52 foot waterslide, live bands on Friday and Saturday, softball tournaments for all ages. A Mudd Volleyball tournament, a bike show, talent show, praise in the park and tons of great food make this year’s HutchFest very special. Many events will also be raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project with a check to be presented at the 4th of July parade on Wednesday. Wrapping up will be a park and watch fireworks extravaganza with music simulcast via KXKU Kicks 106 Country station at the fairgrounds.

HutchFest kicks off on Friday, June 29th with the talent show preliminaries in the gazebo at Avenue A Park in downtown Hutchinson. Washington Street between Avenue A and Avenue B will have live entertainment all afternoon and into the night. There will be lots of great food to choose from as we bring back Pronto Pups, a wide selection of BBQ, funnel cakes and cold drinks in the beverage barn. Inflate-O-Fun is providing a selection of water-friendly bouncies for all ages including a pit-stop tire change challenge. An air-brush tattoo artist will be on-hand and local vendors will be selling crafts. Santa Fe 21 will be hosting a karaoke contest with great prizes. Come dance the night away as local band Slippin’ Sideways will be playing a mix of country, rock and originals at 8:30pm on the Washington Street stage.

Carey Park will be filled Saturday with many family friendly events for the price of a $4 HutchFest button. Start your day early with some fitness and fun. There will be a family bike ride to Rice Park beginning at 8am. Zumba Mecca will be held in the Salt City Splash parking lot at 9am. This year, we start a new tradition of summer sporting events with two youth fast-pitch softball tournaments, adult co-ed and men’s softball tournaments and the 3rd annual co-ed Mudd Volleyball competition. Sign-up information can be found at hutchfest.com. Register for Mudd Volleyball at the Hutchinson Rec Commission.

A community expo tent will host several local groups. Lowes will put on a children’s craft workshop. There will be an arm wrestling competition, food eating contests and two stages of live entertainment. Wear your bathing suit and enjoy a water-friendly bounce house or take a ride on a 52 foot long water slide.

A live DJ will be playing tunes before the talent show finals, which begin at 6:30pm. Hutchinson native and recording artist, Morgan Wilk with her band MP3, will play at 8pm. Rounding out an evening of great entertainment, returning to HutchFest is national touring act Outlaw Junkies who play until sunset. Stick around as The Hutchinson Monarchs baseball team will be having a fireworks display following their game vs. the Kansas Cannons.

Return to Carey Park on Sunday morning as we begin a new tradition we call Praise in the Park. Bring a camp chair to the main stage are near the skateboard park and enjoy one of two outdoor church services. Two services will be held, one at 8:30am and another at 10:30am. Chris Cakes will be hosting a pancake feed that morning, beginning at 8am.

The Hutchinson Zoo will be open at 11am for an Old Tyme 4th of July Celebration will be held until 5pm. Enjoy a free train ride with your HutchFest button. The fun continues Sunday at 3pm in the afternoon when we go for the world’s largest water balloon fight. Salt City Splash will be open to swimmers with a HutchFest button from 7pm until 9pm.

DCI park in downtown Hutchinson will have cake and coke along with the traditional gospel sing brought to you by Morton Credit Union and Data Center, Inc. on Sunday evening beginning at 6:30pm.

The Tuesday car-show tradition continues in Carey Park at Acres and Elm. Mid-State Street Rods presents classic cars and street rods.

The Patriots Parade will be held on Wednesday, July 4th, beginning at 10am. Finally, we wrap up the 2012 HutchFest with a free park and watch fireworks extravaganza above the east parking field of the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Bring a camp chair and watch from the ball fields near the Severance street roundabout. Come help us celebrate America and honor our veterans this 4th of July weekend!

For an up-to-date schedule, volunteer or sign-up for any of the events visit https://www.hutchfest.com.

Questions, email info@hutchfest.com