April is all about Easter this year. With the annual celebration falling a little later in the spring this year, many are counting on nicer weather for their egg hunts, sunrise services and other family activities.
The sixth annual EasterFest, the Topeka Easter Parade & Fun Fair, will return to North Topeka on Saturday, April 20, 2019. About three thousand people attended last year to watch the parade, visit the Fun Fair, listen to live music, visit over 70 vendor & exhibit booths, attend the Health Fair and take part in the Big Egg Hunt or other activities.
Every year, dozens of churches, businesses and non-profit organizations take part in the parade, and dozens more set up vendor booths and kids’ games as part of the family fun fair. There have been lots of floats with a variety of themes, and all shapes and sizes of other vehicles, as well as walking entries such as schools, military groups, marching bands and more. The event is coordinated by C5Alive, a Christian leadership offshoot of the Capital City Christian Chamber of Commerce (C5).
Again this year the Easter Parade will be on North Kansas Avenue, from NOTO Arts District to Garfield Park, followed by the Big Egg Hunt in the Garfield Park playground area, put on by First Southern Baptist Church. From 10am to 3pm, vendor booths, food trucks and kid’s activities will be happening all over Garfield Park, inside the shelterhouse and inside the gym. This year, even more churches, non-profit organizations, schools and local businesses are expected to enter floats and marching bands, etc., in the parade, as well as set up activity booths at the fun fair.
The Family Fun Fair will consist of activities geared toward children and families, as well as health & wellness vendor booths, vendor exhibits, and more. Live performers will be on hand all day, such as jazz bands, dance troupes, praise bands, solo artists, street entertainers and more.
New this year is Bingo at the Vendor Market, with great prizes valued at over $20 donated by the vendors and sponsors. The Ball Toss will be back, with a chance to win one of three new bicycles, and the ever-popular cake walks return as well. The Easter Bunny will be back to take pictures with the kids this year too! Facepainting, pony rides and food trucks are always among the most popular attractions, along with the free entertainment.
More sponsors and participants are still being accepted for the Vendor Market and Health Fair. Volunteers are also needed to help with the entire event.
Major sponsors for the event include Integrity Insurance, Peggy Beasterfeld Tax & Accounting, Metro Voice News, Autumn Home Plus, rezit designs, Health & Wellness Magazine, The Pad Restaurant, Equity Bank, Patton & Patton Attorneys, Blue Dot A/C Plumbing & Heating and Capital City Flooring.
For more information, visit www.TopekaEasterParade.com, email info@C5Alive.org or call 785-640-6399.
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