Parks Department announces summer events schedule
By HOLLY GASKILL
With summer just around the corner, the Bluffton Parks Department has rolled out its plans for summer events.
Among the dozens of planned events, the department is adding three new free programs for children — the summer strawberry program, dancing and cheer workshops, and a tour of the stone quarry. A new “plants and poses” event will also be offered for adults.
The summer strawberry program will be offered from 10-11 a.m. every Tuesday in June. During this time, Linda Sturgeon, Wells County Farm Bureau education and outreach coordinator, will teach how strawberries are grown and lead children through a strawberry-themed activity.
The program was inspired by Indiana Farm Bureaus’s book of the year, “I Love Strawberries” by Shannon Anderson.
“Our goal is to extend reach into more classrooms, schools, libraries and homes with a book that celebrates agriculture and the important role farmers play in protecting our land and its resources,” Sturgeon said in a press release.
Dance, cheer and tumbling classes will also be available for free throughout the summer at ABC Studio and Activity Center, 1169 N. Main St. Suite 1 in Bluffton.
The nine available classes will sample a variety of dance styles from 5:30-6 p.m. — cheer on June 21, jazz on July 12, ballet on July 19, tumbling on July 25 and July 27, lyrical on July 26, clogging on Aug. 9, tap on Aug. 16, and hip hop on Aug. 23. Age requirements and additional information is available on the Parks Department website.
The tour of the Rock Creek Stone Quarry is open to all ages. Children will have the opportunity to learn more about quarries and see the different spaces and machinery involved in the quarry. The tour will be from 2-3 p.m. on June 5 at the quarry, 781N 500W in Bluffton. Pre-registration is required.
“Plants and poses” will be held on May 20 at Washington Park. The outdoor event will include an hour all-levels yoga course beginning at 9 a.m., followed by brunch, mimosas, and succulent planting. Registration costs $25 or $20 without mimosas.
Additionally, the iron kid triathlon will return to this year’s summer events on June 24. The competition includes four age groups — 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12. It begins at the Wells Community Pool for the swimming portion then competitors will bike a one-mile route through the neighborhood and finish with a half-mile run on a trail.
Specific permits, including training wheels or parental guidance, are detailed on the event website. Registration costs $20 until May 20 and $25 after. Awards will be given to the top three boy and girl age group winners; t-shirts and finisher medals will be given to all participants.
A full list of returning summer events, event information, and registration are available at blufftonindiana.net/parks-department.
• Rock Steady Boxing — every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Washington Park
• Farm Wagon — every Tuesday from 8:45-9:30 a.m. at Life Community Church
• Animal Tracks Matching Game — available during all of May
• Pedal Wells Challenge — May-August
• Yoga in the Park — every Thursday at 6:45 p.m. from May-July, Washington Park
• Yoga in the Park — every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from May-July, Washington Park
• Intro to Pickleball — every Tuesday and Thursday in June at 10 a.m., Washington Park
• Scientific Tuesdays — every Tuesday in June at 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Power Your Wheels in the Park — May 13, 10 a.m., Roush Park
• Theater Thursday — May 18, 10 a.m., Wells County Public Library
• Hue Can Paint (Be Happy) — May 22, 6 p.m., Washington Park
• Nerf Wars — May 25, 5:30 p.m., Bluffton City Gym
• Fort Wayne Ballet Performance — May 30, 7 p.m., Roush Park
• Gagaball — June 1, 2 p.m., Roush Park
• Craft Club (3D foam Safari Animals) — June 5, 11 a.m., Rock Creek
• Tot Bubble Day — June 6, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Scientific Tuesdays — June 6 and 13, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Crafting for a Cause — June 7, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Egg Drop Challenge — June 7, 2 p.m., Bluffton City Gym
• Tot Lego Day — June 8, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Lego Play Day — June 8, 9:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Art in the Park (DIY Keychains) — June 9, 10:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Simply Queen Concert — June 9, 8 p.m., Kehoe Park
• Dan Heath & the Paradise — June 11, 7 p.m., Kehoe Park
• Band Craft Club (Tropical flying disk) — June 12, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Tot Scavenger Hunt — June 13, 9:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Crafting for a Cause (Cloth bags) — June 14, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Foam Party — June 14, 2 p.m., Pickett’s Run Splash Pad,
• Tot Chalk it up — June 15, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Theater Thursday — June 15, 10 a.m., Wells County Public Library
• Chicks Run 5K (Ladies Only) — June 15, 7 p.m., Pickett’s Run
• Rock Painting — June 16, 10 a.m., Roush Park
• Art in the Park (Foam Sailboat) — June 15, 10:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Matchbox Car Playday — June 19, 10 a.m., Roush Park
• Craft Club (Fiesta & Fish Mobiles) — June 19, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Animal Explorers — June 20, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Crafting for a Cause — June 21, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• Fuse Bead Magnets — June 21, 2 p.m., Washington Park
• Loom Hot Pad — June 21, 3 p.m., Washington Park
• Cheer Class — June 21, 5:30 p.m., ABC Studio
• 5 in 5K (Race 1) — June 21, 7 p.m., location TBA
• Tot Puzzle Day — June 22, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Shaving Cream Fight — June 22, 2 p.m., Pickett’s Run Park
• Art in the Park (DIY Sunglasses) — June 23, 10:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Eliminator Concert — June 23, 8 p.m., Kehoe Park
• Iron Kid Triathlon — June 24, 8 a.m. Wells Community Pool
• Community Worship Celebration — June 25, 7 p.m.
• Stuff and Fluff — June 26, 10 a.m., Roush Park
• Craft Club (Binoculars) — June 26, 11 a.m., Roush Park
• River Clean Up — June 26, 5:30 p.m., Wabash River Pavilion
• Tot Messy Art — June 27, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Dinosaur Dig — June 28, 10:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Crafting for a Cause — June 28, Roush Park
• 5 in 5K Series (Race 2) — June 28, 7 p.m., location TBA
• Tot Play Day — June 29, 9 a.m., Roush Park
• Paper skyscraper — June 29, 2 p.m., Bluffton City Gym
• Superhero Race Family Event — June 29, 7 p.m., Pickett’s Run
• Light Up the Night Bike Ride — June 29, 9 p.m., Pickett’s Run
• Art in the Park (glow bug magnet) — June 30, 10:30 a.m., Roush Park
• Independence Day — July 4, 10 p.m., city of Bluffton
• 5 in 5K Series (Race 3) — July 5, 7 p.m., location TBA
• Dave Matthews Tribute Band — July 7, 8 p.m., Kehoe Park
• Jr. Veterinarian Day — July 11, 2 p.m., 1890 North Main St.
• Drawing class — July 12, 11 a.m., Washington Park
• Bucket Drumming — July 12, 2 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Roush Park
• 5 in 5K Series (Race 4) — July 12, 7 p.m., location TBA
• Drawing class — July 13, 11 a.m., Washington Park
• Beyblade Spin off — July 13, 3 p.m., Bluffton City Gym
• Drawing class — July 14, 11 a.m., Washington Park
• Crush Concert — July 14, 8 p.m., Kehoe Park
• Cornfield Mafia Concert — July 16, 7 p.m., Kehoe Park
• 38th Infantry Division Band — July 19, 7 p.m., Kehoe Park
• 5 in 5K Series (Race 5) — July 19, 7 p.m., location TBA
• Theater Thursday — July 20, 10 a.m., Wells County Public Library
• Hue Can Paint (Flamingo) — July 31, 6 p.m., Washington Park
• Theater Thursday — Aug. 17, 10 a.m., Wells County Public Library
• Touch A Truck — Aug. 26, 9 a.m., Common Parking Lot
holly@news-banner.com
