September 21, 2011 (Parkville, MO) -- Area businesses and community leaders have teamed up with Parktoberfest, an annual event held in Parkville, to help raise funds for post-flood park cleanup and restoration. Cory Miller, Chairman of Friends of Parkville Parks, the nonprofit organization responsible for planning the event, says that cleanup and restoration will cost thousands and thousands of dollars; with the help of area sponsors and supporters, they are halfway to reaching their goal of $35,000 gross. “I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for our city and our parks. It’s been an incredible experience to work alongside such a caring community,” said Miller. “We need as many people as possible to come down to Parktoberfest and help us reach our final goal.”

The 3rd Annual Parktoberfest takes place on Saturday, October 1st, in English Landing Park’s Farmers Market area. Gates open at 11am, and the party kicks off at noon with Alice 102 and Emcee Mark Vasto, publisher of the Parkville Luminary. There is live music all day on the main stage featuring The Elders - An Arse Kickin’ Band, The Yardogs - a Rockin’ Five-Piece Band, Kasey Rausch - our own Parkville singer/songwriter, Kyle Cimino (who was just named Best Guitarist in Kansas City) and bassist/guitarist Trevor Brown,  Victor & Penny (Jeff Freling, guitarist for Chicago’s Blue Man Group, and actress Erin McGrane of local/national TV commercial and movie fame), ex-Laker Kareem Rush and his smooth R&B, along with School of Rock’s Best and Brightest.  

Expect fun for the entire family. Parktoberfest welcomes the little ones and offers kid games, creative art, and an interactive music show by Rockin Rob. 

A Parktoberfest Fall Feast will be prepared by HyVee, with lighter fare provided by the Parkville Coffeehouse and Dave’s Dawgs. Or, stop by Piropos booth for the empanadas. Parkville restaurants will also be open for business and within walking distance of the event. The Beer Garden will serve Bob’s 47, Boulevard Wheat, Boulevard Pilsner, Sam Adams Octoberfest and Miller Lite.  A fine selection of wines will also be served. 

An assortment of vendors will be represented on the field. Friends of Parkville Parks will have a booth to encourage annual $25 membership which includes a membership card, e-blasts, and a T-shirt, available on event day at check-in. Stop by the Piropos booth for information on the Flood Recovery Benefit, to be held on November 15th, at Piropos restaurant in Parkville. Tickets for the benefit will be available at Parktoberfest. Officials of Platte County Parks and Recreation and the City of Parkville will be on hand to collect public opinion and ideas for the new forty four acre park expansion in Parkville. 

Sponsors and area business and community leaders supporting Parktoberfest include Miller’s Landscape and Lawn Care, North Kansas City Hospital, Charles Hevalow, Park University, Gomer’s Liquors, Dr. Robert Burns, Piropos Grille, Urban Tree Specialists, HyVee, Cripple Creek Rock Company, Stone Canyon, Zona Rosa, Rotary Club of Parkville, Wells Bank, Pizza Shoppe, KC Personnel, K&G Striping,  Alice 102, The Parkville Luminary, Nightlife KC, and Yelp! 

Partners and in-kind sponsors include Firefly Marketing Communications • FinditKC • N2 Publishing • MVS so•rev•com • AZDEF Production Group • Parkville Chamber of Commerce • W.R. Noble, CPA • Ultimate Athletic • School of Rock • Argosy Casino • Easy Moves • Main Street Parkville Association • Parkville Presbyterian Church • Platte County • City of Parkville • NightLife KC • Alice 102 • Parkville Coffee House • Central States Beverage • J&K Wines • Dave’s Dawgs • Grass Pad • Hunt Midwest/Martin Marietta • Industrial Hardware Distribution • Downing Construction Company • K & G Striping • Commercial Waterproofing • ECCO Select • Narrow Tree Nursery • Easy Moves • Johanna Strother • Nextaff • Bill Gresham • Chris Cardwell

FOPP Mission: Friends of Parkville Parks is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The purpose of this organization is to identify needs, to improve the public lands and parks in Parkville, Missouri, to act as a fundraising vehicle to address the specific improvements within those parks and lands, and to improve citizen awareness and involvement through volunteer opportunities. 

July 28, 2011 (Parkville, MO) – Friends of Parkville Parks, a nonprofit that was created to benefit the parks in Parkville, recently announced a fund has been established for recovery and cleanup once the floodwaters recede. The Flood Relief Fund will be funded in part by Parktoberfest, an annual event scheduled for October 1st. “We know cleanup will be expensive and we want to help raise enough money to get the job done right” said Cory Miller, founder and president of the Friends of Parkville Parks.

A donation button for the Flood Relief Fund has also been added to the Parktoberfest website that can be found at www.parktoberfest.net. In addition, Friends of Parkville Parks will set up a ‘Flood Relief Fund’ booth during Final Friday’s in Parkville, and GreenFest at The Uptown Theater on September 11th. Additional information regarding these events and other ways to help including membership to F.O.P.P. will be provided on the website.

Parktoberfest will be the first major event held in Parkville since floodwaters inundated the park. “We’re planning a huge party where everyone can come and have a good time in Parkville once again,” said Miller. The event is on Saturday, October 1st, rain or shine, and kicks off at noon until 7pm. Admission is free and fun for the whole family. Highlights of the event include:

·      Live music by: The Elders; The Yardogs; Kasey Rausch; Kareem Rush; Victor and Penny; and School of Rock House Band.
·      Beer lovers rejoice! Hand-selected brews and a range of fine wines.
·      Food: Parktoberfest will be cookin’ and serving up a fall feast.
·      Kidz: Rockin Rob Music Show, games, and more!

Sponsors for Parktoberfest include: North Kansas City Hospital; Park University; Miller’s Landscape & Lawn Care; The Parkville Luminary; Fire Fly Marketing Communications; AZDEF Production Group; MVS Productions; N2Publishing; School of Rock; and Gomers Liquors.

Mission: Friends of Parkville Parks is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.  The purpose of this organization is: to identify needs to improve the public lands and parks in Parkville, Missouri, act as a fundraising vehicle to address specific improvements within those parks and lands, and to improve citizen awareness and involvement through volunteer opportunities.

Contact: Maureen Veto-Slater
816.200.1857
maureenvs@gmail.com
http://www.parktoberfest.net

Party for the Park


May 17, 2011 (Parkville, MO) – Friends of Parkville Parks (F.O.P.P.) announced plans for the 3rd Annual Parktoberfest in English Landing Park, Saturday, October 1st, 2011. The event kicks off at noon and goes all day until 7p. Admission is free.

Enjoy music and entertainment all day on the main stage. Music includes The Elders – An Arse Kickin Celtic Band, The Yardogs – A Rockin Five-piece band, Kasey Rausch – A Parkville singer/songwriter, and School of Rock’s - Best and Brightest.

Beer lovers rejoice! Parktoberfest’s beer garden is currently hand selecting the finest brews to be announced soon. Alongside the beer garden, select from a range of wines and an array of food by some of Parkville’s finest restaurants.

Expect fun for the entire family! Parktoberfest welcomes the little ones and offers Kid games, creative art, and an interactive music show by Rockin Rob!

Sponsors for the event include: North Kansas City Hospital; Park University; Miller’s Landscape & Lawn Care; Parkville Luminary; N2Publishing; and School of Rock. Friends of Parkville Parks (FOPP) 501(c)3 donates all monies raised to the parks that define Parkville.

October 1st, 12p – 7p
English Landing Park
Admission is FREE
http://www.parktoberfest.net

September 22, 2010, (Parkville, MO) -- Mark Ballard, Music Producer for Parktoberfest, October 2, in English Landing Park, has announced the lineup for this year’s festival. Their second annual event presents a variety of genres on the Main Stage, from Rock to Country & Folk. There will also be an interactive musical performance on the River Stage for the kids! Ballard is Director of The Kansas City School of Rock (in Parkville), and is pleased to feature many of his current and former students along with a mix of some of the hottest local & regional bands around. And, it's all free!

The event kicks off at noon with Star 102's morning team, Ed & Jul, along with Parktoberfest Emcee, Mark Vasto, Publisher of the Parkville Luminary.

Along with the fantastic music lineup, festival goers will also enjoy food from local restaurateurs, a wine and beer garden, games, raffle prizes, and an opportunity to be heard. Parktoberfest founder, Cory Miller, says: "We had a blast last year and this year we have an even better reason to party. We've teamed up with Platte County, and the City of Parkville to announce plans and ask residents for their ideas for a new park in Parkville!" Parktoberfest will offer a platform to collect public opinion and ideas for Platte Landing Park, a 144 acre area soon to be developed west of English Landing Park.

Parktoberfest sponsors include: Millers Landscape, North Kansas City Hospital, Park University, Yelp, Star 102, Parkville Luminary, Pitch Magazine, School of Rock, N2publishing, Grass Pad, Q104, Mix 93, and KFKF.

THE BANDS:

* Bob Walkenhorst & Jeff Porter -- Bob as been in the music scene for over 25 years, and is truly an American treasure! Author Steven King was so inspired by Bob and the Rainmakers that he included Bob’s lyrical quotes throughout his book, The Tommyknockers. Bob and stage partner Jeff Porter, will have a full band including former Rainmaker drummer, Pat Tomack.

* Outlaw Jim and the Whiskey Benders -- A hard-hittin’ Outlaw Country Band. With Jim Eaton’s deep smooth voice and rough guitar riffs, along with the Whiskey Benders tearing it up on the back, they’ve been compared to the original Outlaws but with a flare all their own.

* CIMINO -- A fresh new rock band featuring current and former students of the School of Rock. These guys recently have opened for American Idol Chris Allen, Counting Crows, and Bare Naked Ladies.

* The Kansas City School of Rock House Band -- Made up of ten of the schools most experienced and talented students. They won the MVP award on last year’s famous “Shiprocked Cruise” where they played before and with Heavy Metal greats like RATT, Skid Row, Tesla, and Queensryche. On September 26, 2010, they’ll be one of the opening bands for Aretha Franklin on the KC Live stage of the Kansas City Power and Light Entertainment District.

* Kasey Rausch -- Americana, Country, and Bluegrass singer-songwriter from Parkville. Rausch is a popular folksinger around the metro who recently also starred in a local film called, "Dark Sisters." She’ll be including in her performance two appropriately titled songs for the event called, “Parkville” and “Platte County Good Ol’ Girl.”

* The Yardogs -- A Rockin’ Kansas City favorite, featuring the songwriting of Roger Brough, the beautiful voice of his wife, Saundra Brough, and the award-winning guitar virtuosity of son, Chris Brough.

* Rockin Rob -- Geared for 2-10 year olds, Rockin Rob’s interactive children’s show promotes learning through the language of music, movement and FUN! Don’t let the kids miss Rockin Rob’s one hour show beginning at 1:30 in the Kid's Zone.

Parktoberfest is a nonprofit event founded by Cory Miller and organized by a group of volunteers and Friends of Parkville Parks (FOPP).

###

Contact: Maureen Veto Slater
maureenvs@gmail.com
www.parktoberfest.net

September 10, 2010 (Parkville, MO) -- Officials of Platte County Parks and Recreation and the City of Parkville will be joining Parktoberfest in English Landing Park on Saturday, October 2nd, 12p-8p, and collecting public opinion and ideas for a new 144 acre park in Parkville. Says Parktoberfest founder, Cory Miller, who also represents Friends of Parkville Parks (FOPP), “It makes sense to highlight the new Platte Landing Park at Parktoberfest and hear what residents want to see featured in the plans.”



The English Landing Park Expansion project includes properties owned by Platte County and the City of Parkville. The new park will be located west of and adjacent to Main Street and the current English Landing Park. The citizen driven process will be coordinated by Jim Kunce, Assistant Director of Platte County Parks and Recreation, and Sean Ackerson and Shannon Thompson of the City of Parkville.



County staff and steering committee members will share a booth at Parktoberfest to take suggestions and answer questions about the planning of the new park. In addition their booth will also feature the following activities:



#1: Pennies for Parks - This will be an interactive voting system where people use pennies to vote for the amenities they would most like to have included at Platte Landing Park.  All pennies will be donated to the same fund as those raised from other Parktoberfest activities.

#2: Graffiti Wall, “Tag – You’re It” - People will be encouraged to write and sketch their ideas for the park on the graffiti wall at the booth. 


Other highlights of Parktoberfest include live music all day on the main stage, a wine and beer garden, adult games, food from many local restaurants, and kids’ interactive games and entertainment. 

Bill Grigsby will be kicking off the event, along with Star 102's morning team.

Sponsors include Miller’s Landscape & Lawn Care, North Kansas City Hospital, Park University, Star 102, The Pitch, Parkville Luminary, Jack Miller, and N2publishing.

September 1, 2010 (Parkville, MO) – What started in 2009 as a group of caring Parkville residents organizing a party to help raise funds for park improvements, has grown into a dedicated team with a clearly defined mission. The new Friends of Parkville Parks (FOPP) will donate all monies generated from this event toward maintaining and beautifying the wonderful parks that define Parkville, MO. The second annual Parktoberfest, will be held in Parkville’s English Landing Park on Oct 2nd, promising an eclectic mix of music, food and family fun.

According to Parktoberfest Founder and Director, Cory Miller, the event has generated a great deal of interest and a large turnout is expected this year. “It’s a good cause and everyone is excited about being involved in a fun event that is geared toward the beautification of our park, for both residents and visitors.” Participation in Parktoberfest continues to expand along with the schedule of events including live music coordinated by School of Rock, and many food vendors including some of Parkville’s finest restaurants such as Piropos, Café des Amis, Agave, Cafe Cedar and Stone Canyon Café. Sponsors include Park University, North Kansas City Hospital, and The Parkville Luminary. Admission to Parktoberfest is free.

Parktoberfest 2010
- Saturday, October 2nd 2010
- 12-8 PM
- English Landing Park
- Music all day
- A wide array of beverages including wines, beers and other non-alcoholic beverages
- A Family Friendly Zone featuring activities, face painting and more

Bands Include:
- CIMINO – Classic Rock – Winner of Mix 93.3’s Red, White & Boom competition!
- The Yardogs – A Northland Favorite – Folk/Rock – Think C,S,N & Y meets Tom Petty!
- Outlaw Jim & The Whiskey Benders – KC’s #1 Country Rock Band
- The School of Rock House Band – will have just returned from headlining @ The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Aug. 4th) in Cleveland, OH
- Bob Walkenhorst, Jeff Porter and Friends featuring a “Rainmakers Jam” with The School of Rock and former members of “The Rainmakers”!!!

Bill Grigsby will be kicking off the event, along with Star 102's morning team!

Event sponsors include:
Star 102-radio sponsor
Pitch Magazine-print sponsor
The Parkville Luminary-print sponsor
North Kansas City Hospital
Miller’s Landscaping Gold Sponsor
Park University Silver
School of Rock entertainment Sponsor
Many local restaurateurs