See St. Joseph: Exercise, philanthropy and fun

Kendra Simpson, St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.
·2 min read

Jun. 20—From concerts to philanthropy and entertainment for the kids, this weekend has it all in this week's edition of See St. Joseph.

Lace up your running shoes and grab some water because it's time for the 4th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Ignite 5K. This isn't just any race. The Ignite 5K is a community-wide celebration of mentorship, empowerment and the boundless potential of our youth. All proceeds from the race go directly toward supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph and help ignite the potential of young people in our community. The race's course explores the bike trails of St. Joseph's Parkway System and is relatively flat with a few slight climbs so those of any ability can join in on the fun. The race begins 9 a.m. Saturday, June 22, starting and ending at the parking lot near Bode Ice Arena, 2500 S.W. Parkway.

If you're looking for something to do with the kids, look no further because Park-a-Palooza returns this weekend at Krug Park. This western-themed event is kid-centered but it's open to all ages. There will be a petting zoo, balloon artist, pony rides, a stick horse contest and so much more. There's even going to be a special appearance by the Mustangs' mascot, Rally. The event itself is free, but be sure to bring cash for vendors, merchandise and some activities. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Krug Park.

And what's a summer weekend in St. Joseph without our concerts? Through the Downtown Association, the Sounds of Summer concert series continues every Friday night at Coleman Hawkins Park. This week will feature The Vincents. They play everything from 1950s rockabilly to modern-day hits, all while performing what they call "musical shenanigans." From acrobatic balancing acts to seamless instrument swapping, you never know what will happen at a Vincents show. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 21, at the gazebo.

Then, return to Felix Street Square on Sunday for the weekly Imagine Eleven concert featuring the band Switch in Time. This eight-piece classic rock band performs some of the greatest music from the 60s to the 90s, including Chicago, Huey Lewis and the News, REO Speedwagon, Phil Collins and more. The show begins at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, at Coleman Hawkins Park.

If you're looking for a good time, you never have to look far because our hometown offers it all.