Campus News

UK Fun Day Expected to Draw Thousands

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 16, 2012) — Workers are busy today setting up the midway rides, inflatable attractions, vendor tables and  performers’ stage to make Thursday a Fun Day for the University of Kentucky community.

The Office of the President once again sponsors this celebration of community, UK Fun Day, beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday and continuing through an evening concert that begins at 8 p.m.

President Eli Capilouto invites the entire campus community to bring their families to enjoy the festivities at Commonwealth Stadium.  "I'm emboldened by the spirit of our faculty and staff who work tirelessly in pursuit of our Kentucky Promise," Capilouto said. "UK Fun Day is a special time to express appreciation for the work and dedication of the entire campus family, and celebrate that which makes our institution special."

There will be something for everyone at this annual event coordinated by the Staff Senate and the volunteers of the Appreciation Day Commission. Everything is free -- gifts, food, carnival rides, entertainment, even all-day stadium parking in the Blue Lot and Red Lot.

By 2 p.m. nine carnival rides and eight inflatable attractions will be set up in the Blue Lot, nearest the intersection of Alumni Drive and University Drive for the young and young at heart.

From 2 to 5 p.m. tomorrow, the south concourse of Commonwealth Stadium will offer activities including vendors and their giveaways, a UK T-shirt giveaway, prize drawings, special guest appearances, and various exhibits. Tours of the Johnson and Nutter facilities are also planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Attendees can enter the south concourse through any gate between and including West Gate #7 and East Gate #12. An area has been set aside near West Gate #9 for staff members to vote for new representatives to the Staff Senate and Women’s Forum between 2-5 p.m.  UK Fun Day T-shirts will be given away just across from South Gate #1.

At 4 p.m., as musicians start warming up, UK Catering Services employees will fire the grills to serve plenty of food in the Blue Lot where activities for kids and adults will be held. Activities include carnival rides, magicians, clowns and live musical performances by UK talent, featuring IronWorks at 4 p.m., the Hepcats Swing Dance Club at 5 p.m. and The Famous Deceptors at 6 p.m. The day will end with a concert by Superfecta, beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m.

Three buses are scheduled from 1:30-5:30 p.m. with pick-ups and drop-offs at the following locations:

·        Administration Drive (next to Buell Armory)

·        UK HealthCare Good Samaritan Hospital (main entrance)

·        Wildcat Plaza (Avenue of Champions)

·        UK College of Agriculture/Hospital (Emergency Department entrance)

·        Johnson Center (Seaton) (metered area)

·        Nutter Center (corner of Complex Drive)

·        Commonwealth Stadium, Gate 9 

Then, the shuttle’s route changes from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. One bus will run between the UK College of Agriculture/Hospital Emergency Department entrance and the stadium (student shelter, between the Red & Blue Lots). For a map of the shuttle stops, visit https://www.uky.edu/pts/sites/www.uky.edu.pts/files/enews_images/uk-fun-day-bus-stops.jpg.

All of the buses used for Fun Day will be equipped with Cat Tracker (the GPS tracking system); Parking and Transportation will specifically label those buses as Fun Day in the apps and on the Web for Thursday. Riders can view the actual location of all CATS buses on all routes by using Cat Tracker, a real-time GPS-based bus locating system. Visit http://uky.transloc.com. You can also track the buses via the free Transloc iPhone, Android and BlackBerry apps, by using your smart phone to scan the QR codes found on each bus stop sign or by using the SMS codes found at each bus stop.

Visit a photo album of last year's event at 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/universityofkentucky/sets/72157629678265438/with/7176058082/

For questions about the day, please contact Appreciation Day co-chairs Jann Burks and Bryan Back or Holly Clark in the Office of the Staff Senate.