By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There were a few changes to Great Bend's 2025 Party in the Park, most notably the absence of fireworks during Saturday night's concerts at Veterans Memorial Park. But Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Amanda Gaddis said this year's version was still successful in a presentation to the Great Bend City Council Monday night.
"We had 35 vendors. A lot of our food trucks that were out there reported back that they sold out of food, so that is a good problem to have for them. The Kids Zone is always a hit. The caricature artist, she got back to me. She did over 200 faces in the four hours she was there. She said her hand didn't stop; she just kept drawing for four hours."
The day opened with the Great Bend Rec's Oozefest Mud Volleyball tournament, in which 28 teams competed. Fifty-one vehicles were present for the car show, though Gaddis said that number likely suffered from a competing event in Bazine the same day. Twenty-three teams competed in the cornhole tournament, and nearly 600 attended the evening's concerts.
"We did have our recap meeting, and we have a lot of fresh ideas and new ideas for next year, so we're already planning for that," Gaddis said.
Gaddis thanked the council and city employees who helped make 2025 Party in the Park possible.