The annual 5K run and 1-mile walk will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the school district’s cross country course near Tonganoxie Middle School.

The Team Tongie Block Party will be from 3-7 p.m. Sunday in the Tonganoxie High School parking lot.

This year’s block party will have some new attractions: a bike parade for youths in third grade and younger, an obstacle course among the inflatable games and a special video to which all Tonganoxie USD 464 grade levels are contributing.

“We couldn’t have done this without out Tara George and the event planning course,” said Diane Bretthauer, Team Tongie president, about the THS teacher and her event planning class. “They’ve stepped up and taken leadership of this, to be honest.”

Slated to perform at Sunday’s block party are the Voo Doo Jazz Band, Studio Chanel and Co. dance and cheer squads, Tonganoxie fourth-grade and middle school choirs and THS and TMS cheer and dance squads.

The THS and first-grade football teams also will be at a pie-throwing station.

The annual cake auction will start at 6 p.m., along with other auction items, including a photo session. Food and refreshments will be sold throughout the block party.

Bretthauer said that about 75 participants had signed up for the Splatter Dash. Runners and walkers will make their way through a combination of dyes on the course.

Participants can register on race day. A limited number of Team Tongie shirts will be available for participants who sign up on race day. Runners and walkers also can register in advance by calling Sue Walker at 913-845-3042 or Bretthauer at 913-369-6600.

Team Tongie festivities set the stage for THS Homecoming Week. A bonfire will start at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the valley southwest of Beatty Field on the THS campus.

Bretthauer said she is looking forward to a nice weekend for the events, which are the “bread and butter” of the organization’s fundraising efforts.

“It looks good for 70s on Sunday,” Bretthauer said. “We’re watching the weather very closely.

“There should be something for every age group. That’s something we really worked on this year.”

Donations to Team Tongie also can be made at any First State Bank and Trust location. Bretthauer said United Way of Leavenworth County donations now can be designated for Team Tongie as well.

The organization, which local volunteers founded in 2009, has raised and donated nearly $80,000 to Tonganoxie school district families needing help with medical costs and with other emergencies.

To learn more about this weekend’s event or the organization itself, go to teamtongie.com or contact Bretthauer.