🎨🍕 Mom & Son’s Paint & Pizza Party — FREE! 🍕🎨

Looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday together? Join us for a creative (and delicious!) afternoon of painting, bonding, and pizza!

🗓 Saturday, Feb 21
⏰ 1:00 – 4:00 PM
🎨 Paint, canvas & supplies provided
🍕 Pizza included — come hungry!

👕 Don’t forget to bring your own smock and get ready to make memories (and masterpieces!) together.

Don’t miss out on this FREE family event! 💙👩‍🎨👦

🎶🌾 Bluegrass for a Cause! 🌾🎶

Join us for an evening of toe-tapping bluegrass music with the Salt River Band — all to support a great cause!

🗓 Saturday, March 21
⏰ 4:00 – 6:00 PM
🎻 Live Bluegrass Concert

This fundraiser benefits the NEMO Senior Citizens Meal Delivery Program, helping seniors in Kirksville and LaPlata receive nutritious meals.

💵 $10 suggested donation
🍿 Snacks & drinks available for purchase
🎟 Raffle prizes you won’t want to miss!

Come enjoy great music, support local seniors, and make a difference in our community. Bring a friend and help us spread the word! ❤️🎶

🐰🎶 Easter Sock Hop — FREE! 🎶🐰

Hop on over for an afternoon of dancing, fun, and Easter excitement!

🗓 Saturday, April 4
⏰ 2:00 – 4:00 PM
🎧 Music by DJ Shane Cassady
💃🕺 FREE dance fun for kids!

Enjoy kid crafts, snacks, games, and lots of smiles at this high-energy Easter celebration. Bring the whole family and let’s dance! 🌸🐣

🌸☕ Mother & Daughter Tea — FREE! ☕🌸

Celebrate the joy of motherhood with a beautiful brunch experience just for moms and daughters.

🗓 Saturday, May 9
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🍽 Brunch provided
🎤 Guest speaker & live entertainment

A special time to connect, celebrate, and make lasting memories together. 💕

🌟🎤 1st Annual Gary Cunningham Talent Show 🎤🌟

Think you’ve got talent? 🎶🕺🎸 Or know someone who does? This is your moment to shine!

🗓 Saturday, June 13
⏰ 1:00 – 4:00 PM

✨ Open to ALL ages & ALL talents — singing, dancing, comedy, magic, and more!

🎭 Auditions required
📅 Wednesday–Friday, June 10–12
💻 Online or in-person auditions available

(send online/recorded auditions to manager@garycunninghameventcenter.com)

💰 CASH PRIZES!
🌱 BONUS OPPORTUNITY: Selected performers will be invited to perform live on stage at the 2026 Soybean Festival!

👉 Visit our website for full details and entry information.
Bring your talent, bring your courage, and take the stage! 🌟👏

🎨✍️ Patriotic Art Show & Essay Contest ✍️🎨

Calling all students in grades K–12! Show your creativity and patriotism through art or writing for a chance to win CASH PRIZES!

🗓 Entries Due: May 31, 2026
🎨 Theme: “In God We Trust”
🏆 Multiple age brackets

📍 Winner Presentations & Art Show
🗓 Friday, July 3
⏰ 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Gary Cunningham Event Center
🎉 FREE & open to the public

✨ All submitted artwork will be proudly displayed at the Event Center.
📝 Essay winners will read their essays live during the event!

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to be recognized, share their talents, and celebrate our values as a community.

🍦😎 Back to ‘Cool’ Ice Cream Social — FREE! 😎🍦

Cool off and get ready for the school year with a sweet community celebration!

🗓 Monday, August 17
⏰ 5:00 – 7:00 PM

✨ FREE ice cream plus:
🎯 Games
🎨 Crafts
🍎 Snack packs
📚 Books
✏️ School supplies

Bring the kids, bring your friends, and enjoy a relaxed evening of fun before school starts. Let’s head Back to ‘Cool’ together! 🍦🎒

🎃👻 Halloween Spooktackular Dance — FREE! 👻🎃

Get ready for a frightfully fun night of music, dancing, and costumes!

🗓 Friday, October 30
⏰ 6:00 – 9:00 PM
🎧 Featuring DJ Andre Swift

🕺💃 FREE dance & costume party for ALL ages!
Dress up in your spookiest, silliest, or most creative costume and hit the dance floor with friends and family.

Music, costumes, and Halloween fun — you won’t want to miss this Spooktackular night! 🕸🕯

🦃🍂 2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner — FREE! 🍂🦃

Join us for a time of fellowship, gratitude, and a shared meal as we come together as a community.

🗓 Saturday, November 21
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

The LaPlata Upsilon Mu Sorority is proud to host this FREE Community Thanksgiving Dinner, open to everyone.

Whether you come with family, friends, or on your own, you’ll find a warm welcome and a delicious meal. Let’s celebrate the season of thankfulness together. 💛🍽

❄️🎄 Winter Wonderland — FREE! 🎄❄️

Step into the magic of the season and join us for a day full of holiday cheer and family fun!

🗓 Saturday, December 19
⏰ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

✨ FREE Winter Wonderland activities include:
🎅 Visits with Santa
🧸 Toys for kids (registration link coming in October 2026)
🍲 Soup supper
🎶 Christmas carol sing-along

🎉 Fun for the WHOLE family all day long!

🎁 Don’t miss our Special Silent Auction, with proceeds benefiting the GCEC Community Fund — celebrate the season while giving back.

Mark your calendars and make Winter Wonderland part of your holiday tradition! ❤️🎄