Renee Dinsmore
Event emcee
Elected in 2023 to WaterOne board
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Join us for the 9th annual
FOREVER THE FREE STATE GALA
We're excited to announce that on Saturday, August 10th, the Forever the Free State Gala is returning to the Overland Park Convention center again this year. We're thrilled to welcome all of you in person for our event.
The annual gala is our primary fundraiser and we look forward to your continued support. Your generous donations keep our local office open year-round, allow us to hire and maintain a professional full-time staff, and fund our get-out-the-vote efforts.
Let’s join together on August 10th to continue building the
Democratic Party in Johnson County!
Speaker lineup for the 2024 FTFS Gala
Join us to hear uplifting and inspiring messages from our Party's top officials
Sharice Davids
US representative
Laura Kelly
Governor of Kansas
David Toland
Lt. governor of kansas
Mike Kelly
Chair of the Johnson County Board of commissioners
Jeanna Repass
Chair of the Kansas Democratic Party
Deann Mitchell
Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party
Program
5:30 PM
Registration opens
6:00 PM
VIP Reception opens
6:00 PM
General cocktail reception begins
7:00 PM
Main event begins
9:00 PM
Main event concludes
10:00 PM
Post-event reception concludes
Ticket Options
Standard ($175)
- Individual Ticket
- Custom wineglass
VIP Premium ($350)
- VIP Reception
- Custom Wineglass
Sunflower Table ($1750)
- Table of 10
- 2 VIP Tickets
- 10 custom wineglasses
Jayhawker Table ($3500)
- Table of 10
- 10 VIP Tickets
- 10 custom wineglasses
Ad Astra Table ($5000)
- Priority table location
- Table of 10
- 10 VIP Tickets
- 10 custom wineglasses
Student ($85)
- Individual Ticket
- Must be a student (age 25 or less)
Frequently asked questions
What do my Gala donation funds support?
- Your donation stays in Johnson County.
- Your donation helps support the election of Democrats in competitive local races.
- Your donation supports our year-round, permanent office in Overland Park, a hub for community outreach.
- Your donation funds our professional staff
- Your donation funds outreach via knocking, texting and mail to the 148,000+ registered Democrats in Johnson County
- The gala is a great reason to get that one outfit out of the back of the closet and get fancy for an evening. Full length gown, tux, cocktail dress or just tie, whatever you do, feel confident and have fun.
Is it a cash bar?
- No! Beer, wine and cocktails are included with your ticket both before and during the show!
- Wine will be served with dinner.
Where is parking?
- Parking is available in the lot on the north side of the convention center and in the parking garage to the east.
- Valet parking, if needed, is available in the front (south side) via The Sheraton Hotel.
Are there vegetarian options?
- You can order a vegetarian plate when you purchase your ticket.
If I am hosting a table, how do I identify my guest list?
- There is a link on the registration page where you can list your guest names.
Is the venue ADA Accessible?
- Yes, for more information contact Overland Park Convention Center at (913) 439-5382.