By David Markham
Event organizers are hoping for a beautiful day, 200+ vehicle entries, and 1,500+ spectators for this year’s Cars in the Park event on Saturday, Oct. 17. The 2025 event drew 174 vehicle entries and about 1,100 spectators.
Now in its 16th year, Cars in the Park is a major annual fundraising event benefiting Adaptive Recreation programming and JCPRD’s Special Olympics team, the Stormin’ Rangers. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Theatre in the Park parking lot in Shawnee Mission Park, which can be reached via a separate entrance at 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee. For spectators, there is a suggested donation of $10 per family.
This is a rain-or-shine event. However, in the case of severe weather, call the information line at 913-686-6030 x 14# before attending.
This event is meant to be fun for all ages and, in addition to hundreds of classic, modern, and unique vehicles, also features a live DJ, and food trucks. Local organization Kids & Cars will be on hand with Hot Wheels® cars and tracks, as well as play mats with roads for kids to interact with, and the KC Dream Team Car Club, a community-focused non-profit, will be showing some exotic vehicles.
This year’s event sponsor is Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.
Some elements of the event are being moved around this year. In order to improve access to shaded seating and restrooms, and to help with sound distribution; food trucks will be located at the west end of the parking lot near the Theatre in the Park Pavilion. Vendors will include: That Place, Travelin’ Tom’s, Kona Ice, Sissy’s Mini Donuts, Bryce’s Food Truck, and Tamale Kitchen.
Cars in the Park will again offer a 50/50 pot for participants. Attendees are under no obligation to make a contribution and may not be barred from participation if they do not contribute. T-shirts, featuring a new design for this year’s event, and ball caps will be available for purchase.
This car show invites area residents to dust off their prized vehicles and show up and show off as part of a variety of horsepower and hotrods which compete for awards and make a difference for JCPRD special Olympians.
Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are all welcome. For those who would like to register a vehicle, registration is $35 through 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, and $40 on the day of the event, with on-site registration beginning at 9 a.m. Register a vehicle online or call the Registration Department at 913-831-3359. All participants must be registered and on-site by noon to be judged. For participants, there will be door prizes.
New this year is a 16th category of competition, the Best Vintage category.
“We realized our awards previously began with the ‘50’s, and felt vehicles manufactured prior to 1949 needed their own category,” said Adaptive Recreation Coordinator Lise Dujakovich.
Cars in the Park is the only annual fundraiser for JCPRD Special Olympics and proceeds benefit more than 100 athletes by keeping program costs affordable, providing scholarships, and allowing the purchase of equipment and supplies.
Representatives of The Parks & Recreation Foundation of Johnson County will be on hand to collect donations and greet visitors. The foundation helps cover the cost of motor coach buses so athletes can travel safely to competitions across the state. If you’d like to get more involved with the foundation or make a donation, please visit JCPRDFoundation.org to learn more.
