Hutchinson, KS, located just 45 minutes northwest of Wichita, is the home of another historic Black gathering. This year, the folks in Hutchinson will mark their 134th Emancipation Celebration. 

While not quite as old as the Nicodemus celebration, this event also serves as an informal homecoming for the city’s Black residents. This year, their annual event traditionally held the first weekend in August, is Aug. 4-6.  

The event typically begins Friday evening with Jazz in the Park, in downtown Hutch. On Saturday, a parade down Main St. begins at 10 a.m., followed by the community picnic on the campus of Hutchinson Community College. Saturday evening there’s a dance, and the event concludes Sunday with GospelFest and ice cream social at Stringer Hall at Hutch Community College. For more info, search Facebook.com for “Hutchinson Emancipation Celebration.”  

The Minnis clowns, all members of Hutchinson’s Minnis family, are an enjoyable regular at the Emancipation Celebration Parade.
Pope family and friends bring a Western touch to the celebration.

Since 1996, Bonita has served as as Editor-in-Chief of The Community Voice newspaper. As the owner, she has guided the Wichita-based publication’s growth in reach across the state of Kansas and into...