By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
When Christina Hayes was hired by the City of Great Bend as community coordinator, one of the first projects she was tasked with was creating the June Jaunt event. The festival has continued to grow in Great Bend as it will enter its 13th year this June.
Hayes said a new feature this year will be a parade Friday, May 31 organized by Great Bend Alive, the city’s downtown development arm of Great Bend Economic Development.
"Great Bend Alive will still have their Fridays on Forest because May 31 is the last Friday of the month," said Hayes. "We don't have a beer garden in the square anyway. They will put together a parade for Friday night. That will be in addition to our car show. I'm excited for the addition."
Games, contests, food, tours, entertainment and music are always on tap at Jack Kilby Square each year.
The outdoor festival was first designed with multiple stops along K-96 Highway. Hayes said she will probably send out a survey eventually to see if the community wants to rebrand or make changes to June Jaunt in the future.
"June Jaunt originally happened from Ellinwood and down K-96 to Tribune," said Hayes. "We had nine different communities that were part of this. The idea was to get people to travel. What we learned quickly is it's not really likely for someone to go from Great Bend all they way to Tribune. To make it in a day's trip, it's strenuous."
June Jaunt always lands on the first weekend in June, which starts with May 31 this year.