Give Like Gage
Bring a canned food donation
Celebrate Guilford Gage’s spirit of generosity by giving back through Project Topeka. Receive free admission or rides at participating attractions when you donate.
- Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center
- Gage Park Mini-Train
- Reinisch Rose Garden
- Topeka Zoo
- Gage Park Amphitheater
- Big Gage Shelter House
- Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Friday only
Two days rooted in Gage Park history.
Celebrate the people, places and attractions that have made Gage Park one of Topeka’s favorite gathering places. Founders Fest brings together the Topeka Zoo, Shawnee County Parks + Recreation, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, the public library and community partners for free family experiences throughout the park.
2 Days
Friday & Saturday
Free Fun
With canned food donations
Across the park
Multiple activity locations
All ages
History, music and play
Presented in Partnership With:
Founders Fest schedule
Come for one favorite tradition or make a full weekend of it. Times and particiapants are subject to change.
Friday, October 2
Free Admission to Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
Explore the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center with free admission when you bring a canned food donation.
Special activities include:
- 9 AM - 1 PM - A visit from the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library Learn and Play Bus
- 10 AM - 12 PM A youth-focused Gage Park history presentation by Devin Cooper in the Top City Build Room
Free Gage Park Mini-Train Rides
Bring a canned food donation and enjoy a free ride on the Gage Park Mini-Train.
Garden Grooves Concert
Enjoy a free outdoor concert featuring the Topeka Symphony Orchestra String Quartet in the Reinisch Rose Garden.
Garden Grooves Concert
Saturday, October 3
Free Admission to the Topeka Zoo
Spend the day exploring the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center. Admission is free with a canned food donation. When it’s time for lunch, stop by Sunflower’s Café for something fresh from the grill.
Free Gage Park Mini-Train Rides
Bring a canned food donation and take a ride aboard one of Gage Park’s most treasured attractions.
Activities Throughout Gage Park
Explore family-friendly experiences happening around the park:
- Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library bookmobiles
- Touch-a-Truck at Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center
- Open play with the Shawnee County Parks + Recreation Rec + Roll Van
- Community Resource Fair on SW Blaisdell Drive
- Topeka Rose Society at the Reinisch Rose Garden
- Gage Park historical presentations and exhibits at the Big Gage Shelter House
Live Entertainment at the Amphitheater
Bring a lawn chair and enjoy live performances throughout the afternoon.
Pet Parade
The Kiwanis Pet Parade begins at Hill’s Bark Park and concludes at the Amphitheater, where awards will be presented.
Staging for the Kiwanis Pet Parade begins at 11 AM. The Parade begins at 11:30 AM.
Registration coming soon!
Explore every corner of the park.
Big vehicles, helpful neighbors and stories from the archives turn a walk through Gage Park into a day of discovery.
10 AM – 2 PM
Touch-a-Truck
Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center
Get an up-close look at community, construction and emergency vehicles.
- City trucks and street sweeper
- SWAT BearCat and National Guard
- Fire, police, cranes and school buses
10 AM – 2 PM
Community Resource Fair
SW Blaisdell Drive, west of Playland
Meet local organizations and discover community services and resources.
- Health and recovery resources
- Service and civic organizations
- Accessibility and community partners
10 AM – 2 PM
Discover Gage Park History
Big Gage Shelter House
See presentations, plans, drawings and rarely viewed pieces of park history.
- Introducing Guilford Gage
- Animal Land and bathhouse blueprints
- Rose Garden plans and 1970s ledger
Gage Park through the years
Make a day of it!
Celebrate one of Topeka’s favorite places with history, music, animals, rides and hands-on family fun.
Good to know before you go
Founders Fest activities take place at multiple locations throughout Gage Park.
Bring canned food donations for participating free admission and rides. Drop-off locations are available throughout Gage Park and at KCDC on Friday.
Some activities are outdoors and weather dependent.
Performers, vehicles, organizations and scheduled times are subject to change.
Food trucks will be available in designated zones near the Amphitheater, Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center and Playland.
Sunflower’s Café, located inside the Topeka Zoo, will be open.
Lost & Found is located at the Big Gage Shelter House.
