City of Shawnee

Parks and Rec Month

Every July, Shawnee Parks & Recreation celebrates the spaces, places, programs, and people that make up the Parks & Recreation field. We invite everyone to join the celebration with free programs, events, activities, and fun surprises for residents and neighbors.

Reading to the Rooster: Wednesdays, July 1 - 29
A person in a large hat reads to a group of children sitting on benches next to a chicken coop. It's a sunny day, creating a relaxed, outdoorsy learning atmosphere.Kids can kick off their Summer Reading and practice their skills with the very best audience... our chickens! Visit the fine feathered friends at Shawnee Town 1929 Museum FREE every Wednesday morning in July, where kids can pull up a chair and show off their reading skills to our help entertain our flock. They absolutely love meeting your kids! We even have a selection of farm-themed books to read. Arrive anytime from 10:00 am  - 12:00 pm and read a story or two to our chickens – they can’t wait! 

Thanks to the Johnson County Library for co-sponsoring this event as part of their Summer Reading Program.

Date: Wednesdays, July 1-29, 2026
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: Shawnee Town 1929
Freedom Fling: Saturday, July 4
Two people in patriotic attire stand smiling by a pool. One wears a cowboy hat, and the other has a bow. The mood is festive and summery.Make a splash this 4th of July! Each pool will have concession specials and games every hour beginning at 1:00pm with our annual soda pop drop!

Date: Saturday,  July 4, 2026
Time: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Cost: Free for season pass holders, 1/2 price admission with a canned food donation
Location: The Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center and Splash Cove
Popsicles in the Park: Saturday, July 11
A smiling young boy in a "Shark School" shirt enjoys a blue popsicle at a splash pad. Wet hair and colorful trunks add to the playful, summery vibe.Chill out this July with a refreshing twist at Popsicles in the Park! Splash into summer at one of our splash pads and savor a delicious frozen treat! While you're here, don't forget to snag one of our Parks & Rec Month calendars, packed with exciting FREE activities!

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 10:00am-11:00am
Cost: Free
Location: Wilder Bluff Park
Drop-In Pickleball: Sundays, July 5 - 26
A coach in a white shirt and visor demonstrates hitting a pickleball to a young boy on an indoor court. The scene conveys a learning moment.Funny name, serious sport! Try your hand at Pickleball at the Shawnee Civic Centre! This popular sport combines elements of tennis and badminton. In honor of Parks & Recreation Month, play for FREE every Sunday at the Shawnee Civic Centre!

Date: Sundays, July 5 - 26, 2026
Time: 5:30pm-8:30pm
Cost: FREE
Location: The Shawnee Civic Centre
Touch-a-Truck: Wednesday, July 15
A joyful young child sits on the yellow seat of a John Deere utility vehicle, holding a popsicle. The scene is outdoors, with a playful summer vibe.Fire trucks and tractors and bobcats, oh my! Bring your little ones out to Shawnee Town 1929/Herman Laird Park on Wednesday, July 16th. Watch their eyes light up as they sit in the driver's seat of these big trucks and old rigs! 

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Shawnee Town 1929/Herman Laird Park
Dive-In Movie: Saturday, July 11
People in a swimming pool sit on inflatable tubes watching a movie on a large screen at night. The scene is lively and relaxed, with an outdoor cinema vibe.Join your family, friends, and neighbors for a Dive-In Movie Night on Saturday, July 11th at the Soetaert Aquatic Center, 13805 Johnson Drive. The gates will open at 8:00 p.m. In honor of the FIFA World Cup, the movie, Kicking and Screaming, will start at dusk. Bring your own flotation device or use ours.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: The gates open at 8:00pm and the movie begins at dusk
Cost: Free with a canned food donation
Location: The Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center

Mobile Wellness Hub: Saturday, July 18
We are Healthier Because We Live Here! Join Shawnee Parks & Recreation and our Mobile Wellness Hub partners for a monthly Mobile Wellness Hub. These events are FREE and open to the public. Each fair will include food distribution from Harvesters, wellness screenings, and fun and games with Shawnee's Wellness Hub.

The Mobile Wellness Hub Food Pantry is available for anyone in the community. Each participant receives a variety of food items. Distribution begins at 9:30am and goes till 11:30am or till the food has been distributed.


Date: July 18, 2026
Time: 9:00am-11:00am
Cost: Free
Location: Shawanoe Elementary School, 11230 W 75th St
Inclusive Creativity Hour: Monday, July 20
A woman and a man smiling, holding colorful popsicle-shaped crafts with "Hello Summer" text. They are indoors, in a warmly lit room, looking proud.Finding a dedicated time to be creative has noticeable benefits. This class is designed in a way that allows all ability levels to participate side by side. We will be creating sharpie coasters. These vibrant, one-of-a-kind coasters look like beautiful watercolor paintings with bold blends of color.


Date: July 20, 2026
Time: 10:00am-11:00am
Cost: Free
Location: The Shawnee Civic Centre

Pre-Registration for this activity is required. Register online. (Registration opens in May)
Jammin' on the Green: Wednesday, July 29
Two women are joyfully dancing at an outdoor event, surrounded by seated, relaxed people. String lights and trees create a festive atmosphere.Help us welcome Betse & Clarke String Band to the Jammin’ stage! This dynamic fiddle and banjo duo—joined by a few talented friends—will treat audiences to a toe-tapping performance rooted in Ozark old-time music, blending traditional tunes with creative new compositions.

Admission is free! Enjoy bottled water and snacks, bring your own chair, and feel free to bring along your leashed, well-behaved pup. Limited bench and picnic table seating available.

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Shawnee Town 1929
Aqua Bootcamp: Saturday, July 25
A group of people in swimwear stand chest-deep in a pool, lined up along the edge. Some hold pool noodles. The mood is relaxed and sunny.Join us to burn calories and de-stress with this high-intensity  workout at the pool! Using weights, floats, deep and shallow water, this workout focuses on toning your body with interval strength and cardiovascular training. Bring your suit and get ready to feel a new kind of burn under the sun!

Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time: 9:00am-10:00am
Cost: FREE
Location: Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center

Pre-Registration for this activity is required. Register online (Registration opens in May).