Lawrence Community Nursery School gears up for its annual block party

Dunk tanks, live music, pancakes and running — they’re all part of a fund-raiser for a nursery school that’s been a Lawrence tradition since the 1940s.

The Lawrence Community Nursery School will hold its seventh annual Red School Rockin’ Block Party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 645 Ala.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re expecting a great crowd,” parent and organizer Tricia Klein said. “I think we’re going to have a heck of a turnout. We had about 200 people come last year and I think we’re going to blast the roof off of that number.”

In addition to the block party, the nursery school also is offering a pancake feed, as well as a benefit run and family fun walk called “To the River and Back.” Registration for the run begins at 7:15 a.m. at the school.

Money raised from the events helps pay for insurance for the school’s teachers and school maintenance.

“The whole day is a lot of fun,” said Stephanie Duncan, teacher and director at the Lawrence Community Nursery School. “The parents put a lot of work into this. I come and end up staying for the better part of a day and there’s a lot of good music.”

Music at the event is child-friendly and the lineup for Saturday includes Melanie Dill, The New Amsterdams and The Prairie Acre.

The block party also will feature a henna artist, chair massages and a dunk tank.

One person participating in the dunk tank is Lawrence resident Rust Eddy, who will be dressed as a Bucknell University fan.

“What dunk tank clown doesn’t goad the ball throwers?” he asked. “I’m not going to be evil and mean-spirited about it, but I hope to have a little bit of fun.”

6News meteorologist Jennifer Schack also has signed up to be dunked.

The fee to participate in the “To the River and Back” run ranges from $5 to $23 and that includes registration, a T-shirt and all-you-can-eat breakfast after the race. For nonrunners, the pancake feed is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Tickets for the Red School Rockin’ Block Party are $4 for adults and $2 for children.

For more information, call Klein at 832-2552.