As temperatures near triple digits, the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is offering respite from the heat with a cool dip and a variety of pool events including themed pool parties for children, a Father's Day special and a chance to show off your crafting skills on a 50-meter water course.
First on the summer lineup is Friday's "Welcome to Neverland Pool Party" at Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool. The evening runs 6:30-8 p.m., with treasure hunts, crafts, snacks and face painting to keep your child engaged. Admission is $10 for children ages 2-10; guardians get in free but are required to stay for the entire event. Registration is encouraged.
Celebrate Father's Day with a free swim anytime from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday at the Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool or the Memorial Park Family Aquatic Center. Admission for dads is free with a paid youth admission. No registration is required; just show up and have a good time.
Gear up for an evening of fun and bright color at Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool's second themed party of the summer. The "Trolls Pool Party" will be 6:30-8 p.m. July 16 for children ages 2-10. Snacks, games and activities await. As with previous children's pool parties, guardians get in free but are required to stay the entire event. Admission is $10 per child, and registration is encouraged.
Perhaps one of the more anticipated events of the season is the Aug. 6 "Float Your Boat" competition in which participants - in teams between two and six - craft rafts or "boats" made strictly of cardboard and duct tape, then test whether their skills are watertight on a 50-meter course. Captains and their boats must check in by 5 p.m. on race day, and the event takes place from 5:30-7 p.m. at Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool. Pre-registration is required for this event; admission is $20 per boat, but spectators get in free.
Rounding out the list is a chance for furry friends to cool off with a dip in the pool and a refreshing PupCup from Culver's. The "Hot Dippity Dog Swim" is 6-7 p.m. Aug. 15, the last day of Memorial Park Family Aquatic Center's pool season. Admission is $5 per dog. As water quality will inevitably change once dogs are off their leashes in the water, the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is asking attendees to refrain from bringing young children to swim during this time.
Registration for applicable events can be found at bit.ly/3iTe3Y6. Additional information can be found on the JC Parks website, www.jcparks.com/events/.