A summer-long maze created by nationally recognized prop master and artist Frank Navarrete of Loxahatchee will be among the “Summer in Paradise” activity offerings in downtown West Palm Beach. The maze will be configured out of construction materials with interactive play zones, shade areas and water misters on the Great Lawn.
Visitors to the West Palm Beach waterfront can expect to see the fun spin on the orange construction cones that often dot West Palm Beach during this year’s Summer in Paradise (SIP) campaign. The fifth annual campaign, which encourages visitors to take a “SIP” of fun and free activities, will have a construction theme to embrace Phase II of the Clematis Streetscape project, which aims to create wider sidewalks with more shade trees to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Phase II improvements are scheduled to break ground on the 100 and 200 blocks of Clematis Street in mid-May, and Summer in Paradise programming runs from Thursday, June 6 through Thursday, Aug. 1.
While the iconic orange traffic cone will signal road work ahead, it will also be a key image in the city’s Summer in Paradise branding. Each activation plays on the word cone and activities include:
• Cone-y Island, the summer-long maze created by Navarrete, will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., June 6 through Aug. 1 on the Great Lawn.
• Cone Checkers will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and during special event hours through Aug. 1. Come play checkers on a giant checker board with cones converted into checker pieces.
• Cone in the Zone, Mondays through Sundays from June 9 to July 31. The Mandel Public Library is hosting a fun, summer twist on “Elf on the Shelf.” The public is encouraged to come in and search the stacks to locate Mr. Coney McConerson, the library’s decorated mini orange construction cone, who will be hiding in the library all summer long. Find Coney, bring him to a customer service desk and win a prize.
• Kid’s Cone Zone, during various events from June 6 through Aug. 1. Big City of West Palm Beach trucks and construction vehicles will be on display for kids to touch and explore.
• Snow Cone Saturdays, weekly from noon to 2 p.m. from June 8 through July 27. Waterfront visitors can claim a free small snow cone on Saturdays throughout SIP, while supplies last. Location of snow cone giveaway will be announced weekly.
• Orange Out, weekly on Fridays through July 26. Downtown employees are encouraged to wear “traffic cone” orange on Fridays to win prizes.
Pop-up surprises all summer long including dance performances, prize giveaways and more.
Summer fun will be anchored by the Summer in Paradise kickoff at Clematis by Night on Thursday, June 6 from 6 to 10 p.m., and the finale, the Clematis by Night Back to School Bash, on Thursday, Aug. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. The kickoff will include nonstop musical entertainment from four different bands playing back-to-back on two stages.
Additional special Summer in Paradise dates include the Thursday, June 27 Clematis by Night where, in partnership with the City of West Palm Beach’s Summer in Paradise events, the United Way of Palm Beach County will host its 90th Anniversary Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Residents and visitors are encouraged to come out and enjoy live music, food and games for the whole family to celebrate 90 years of providing access to the basics for those most in need. The United Way will give out free t-shirts to the first 90 guests and free snow cones while supplies last.
Summer in Paradise activities will take place along the West Palm Beach waterfront at 101 N. Clematis Street. The two-month promotion also includes twice the number of bands weekly at Clematis by Night, monthly Screen on the Green movies on June 14 and July 12, and monthly Sunday on the Waterfront concerts on June 16 and July 21.
For more information about Summer in Paradise and other waterfront events, visit www.wpb.org/events or call (561) 822-1515.
