By Abby Cambiano
Northeast News

SummerFest kicks off the new school year for KCPS with live entertainment, athletic competitions, educational games and free food on August 5th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools Board of Education headquarters at 2901 Troost Ave. The annual event is open to the community.

The celebration will be divided into event zones, including partners of KCPS, healthcare, sports and gaming, school, and dream zones. In addition, there will be a play area for students that includes face painting, arts and crafts, a book nook, bouncy houses and more.

The School Zone will help parents and students prepare for the upcoming school year by providing a one-stop-shop for school supplies, divided by KCPS feeder zones: Northeast, East, Central, Southeast, Signature and Special/Optional. SummerFest will be giving away free backpacks stuffed with necessary school supplies this year to students who pre-register.

“Last year was mostly focused on meeting the new superintendent and welcoming the school board to 2901 Troost,” Nicole Collier, director of the KCPS Education Foundation, said. “This year we really want to build on the relationship between schools and students and parents.”

Students will be able to meet their principals when they receive their free backpacks and school supplies. Collier said the event also helps students find their place in Kansas City Public Schools, knowing which elementary, middle and high school they will attend.

For free immunizations and sports physicals, students who have pre-registered at www.kcpublicschools.org can visit the Health Zone in the Westport Room of the Board of Education Building. Students under the age of 18 need to have a parent or guardian present. Immunization records can be acquired at the event, so students only need to be pre-registered.

The Sports and Gaming Zone will have a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the SummerFest Hoops Courts. Students will have the opportunity to show off their soccer skills, run football drills, play kickball, practice wall climbing and play video games.

“Last year we didn’t have the game truck, and so this year we really wanted to have something for everyone,” Collier said.

For refreshment, students and their families can head to the Food Zone, which is in the parking lot south of 29th street, where they will find a free meal of a hotdog, chips and a drink from Smithfield Foods. Local vendors and food trucks will be on site as well.

Nearby, on 29th between Troost and Forest in the Partner Zone, guests can visit with KCPS Partner organizations that will be there to provide families with resources like Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Restart, counseling and social work, Children’s Mercy and LINC.

“We will have folks that provide community service to students,” Collier said. This zone will not only help students prepare for the school year, but help families in the long run.

In the Dream Zone, KCPS students will be encouraged to get creative with face paint and arts and crafts, while also featuring the book nook and a bouncy house. The youth activity area is geared toward students between the grade levels of pre-kindergarten and 5th grade.

The Bedell Performance Stage will feature live entertainment and music from KCPS, including student performances from students of Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, as well as local talent.

Ray Weikal, KCPS public relations, said this year’s event “will be bigger and better than ever.”

While this is only the second SummerFest, the event is expected to return annually. Five thousand people were in attendance last year.