Event includes a free concert

Put your “country” on and join the fun at today’s free Country in the Park outdoor concert and festivities at Exploration Park in the Mountain’s Edge master-planned community.

In its seventh year, the event will feature country music favorite Chris Cagle, rising star Chris Janson and the popular local Tony Marques Band. In addition to the performances, there are event and park activities for people of all ages.

Country in the Park is presented by Mountain’s Edge and KWNR (95.5 FM) from
2 to 8 p.m. The 80-acre Exploration Park is just south of Blue Diamond Road and the community’s entrance.

KWNR’s Jo Jo Turnbeaugh and other station staff will be holding prize giveaways. Attendees who come early and visit the KWNR booth between noon and 2 p.m. can register to win upgraded reserved seating for the concert.

Also, attendees can win an opportunity to meet, greet and take pictures with Cagle and Janson before their performances. Both have songs moving up the country music chart.

The Tony Marques Band opens the event from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by Janson from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and culminating with Cagle from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Against a mountain backdrop, the Exploration Park grassy amphitheater is where festivities will be centered. Concert-goers can bring a picnic, blankets and chairs. Food vendors include Smokin’ Sam’s, Papa John’s, Firehouse Subs, Chilled Out Shaved Ice and Funnel Cake Café.

Attendees are not allowed to bring alcohol. However, the Bud Lite Beer Garden will be available. It is being operated by A Time In History, a local nonprofit educational group. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Serving Our Kids Foundation.

Booths and exhibits include: Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, CenturyLink Prism Mobile Display, Connections Academy, Cornerstone Staffing, Healthy Body Imaging, Helldorado Days, Horses 4 Heroes, Jump ‘N’ Jungle, KB Home, King Putt, Mercedes-Benz of Henderson, Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community Home Finding Center, Nevada Department of Traffic Safety, Pole Position Raceway, RideNow Powersports, Silverton, Southern Nevada Strong, Star Nursery, Telus International, Timbers, Tireworks and William Lyon Homes. Many are doing their own promotions and giveaways.

Cagle has been a regular on KWNR with numerous hit songs, including “Got My Country On” and “Dance, Baby, Dance” from his current album “Back In The Saddle.”

Janson’s recently released single, “Better I Don’t,” is airing on the station and garnering nationwide buzz. His songwriting efforts also have found airwave success, including co-writing Tim McGraw’s fastest-rising single, “Truck Yeah.”

Having performed in previous years, the Tony Marques Band is being joined by new musicians this year. The crowd-interactive band has been drawing packed houses at monthly gigs at Harrah’s Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and the Flamingo’s Margaritaville restaurant and bar.

For more information about the event, you can visit www.mountainsedge.com or www.kwnr.com (keyword Country in the Park).

Event attendees are invited to explore the 3,500-acre Mountain’s Edge master plan. It is the country’s No. 5 fastest-selling master-planned community, according to leading independent real estate advisory firms.

Homebuilders are Beazer Homes, DR Horton, KB Home, Lennar, Pardee Homes, Pulte Homes, Richmond American Homes, Ryland Homes, Storybook Homes, William Lyon Homes and Woodside Homes.

One of the master plan’s hallmarks is its hundreds of acres of land devoted to open spaces, parks, trail systems and winding paseos — along with its community integration, connecting residents and neighborhoods to recreation areas.

Exploration Park features a replica of an Old West village with play structures and an archeological dig area. It also has a splash pad, picnic areas and the 2,846-foot-tall Exploration Peak with hiking and cycling trails and panoramic views.

For information about Mountain’s Edge, visit the information center, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. It is at 9275 S. Buffalo Drive. For details, call 702/898-5777 or visit www.mountainsedge.com.