Saturday, June 3rd @12PM | Officially Powered by Evergy
Hosted By
KSHB 41 Anchor Kevin Holmes & Community Relationships Director Cynthia Newsome
Guest Judges
Dr. Marjorie (Marj) A. Williams, Brian B. Shynin', Brandon Calloway
Honorary Dignitaries
Alvin Brooks & Frank White, Jr.
The entire community is invited to JOIN the celebration and watch over 100 parade entries marching into the heart to fate 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District.
Parade
Rallying Blocks
18th & VIne to 18ht & Highland--Royals
**Photos with Slugger**
18th &. Highland to 18th & Woodland-- Commerce Bank
**Free Cooling Packs**
18th & Woodland to 18th & Michigan- Evergy
**Free Hand Fans & Community Photo Booth **
18th & Michigan to 18th & Euclid --Evergy
Unable to attend in person??
Watch the parade LIVE starting at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 3 on kshb.com and the KSHB 41 app on smartphones and smart TVs. Also check out a SPECIAL BROADCAST of the parade at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 and at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 19, on 38 the Spot.
All entries must be received no later than May 15th; no exceptions will be made.
Parade Entry Fees
$50
Groups, Organizations, and Nonprofits
$100
Business and Commercial
2023 Award Categories
Drill & Dance Teams (Top 3)
1st $250.00 & Large Trophy
2nd $150.00 & Large Trophy
3rd $100.00 & Plaque
Best Motor/Car Club--
$100.00 &
Dash Plaques
Best Float--$500.00
Best Business/Organization--
$100.00 & Plaque
Special Performances
FREE face painting, pony rides, balloons, artists, AND MORE!!
New Orleans Black Indian Cultural History
The history of Black Indians in New Orleans, Louisiana is a unique and complex one, rooted in the blending of African American, Native American, and French cultures. Black Indians in New Orleans can trace their ancestry to the period of French and Spanish colonial rule when Native American tribes such as the Houma, Choctaw, and Chitimacha intermarried with enslaved African Americans. This resulted in a mixed-race population that was a distinct part of New Orleans society, with its own cultural traditions, music, and social practices.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Black Indians in New Orleans continued to preserve their cultural heritage through music and dance. They formed communities and organizations, such as the Creole Wild West, that showcased their unique blend of Native American and African American cultural traditions. The Creole Wild West, in particular, was a highly influential group of Black Indian Mardi Gras Indians, who paraded in elaborate, hand-sewn costumes and participated in traditional Native American tribal dances.
The Black Indian tradition in New Orleans was further strengthened during the 20th century, as the community continued to celebrate its cultural heritage through music, dance, and Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras Indian tradition, in particular, has become a hallmark of the Black Indian community in New Orleans, as the participants of these parades showcase their elaborate costumes, music, and dance, often in competition with other Mardi Gras Indian tribes.
However, despite its rich cultural heritage, the Black Indian community in New Orleans has faced numerous challenges, including poverty, discrimination, and marginalization. Despite these obstacles, the Black Indian community in New Orleans has remained resilient and continues to celebrate its cultural heritage, especially through its annual Mardi Gras celebrations.
In recent years, the Black Indian community in New Orleans has gained increased recognition and support, as its cultural heritage and traditions have been celebrated and documented by local and national organizations. The Black Indian cultural heritage in New Orleans has been recognized as a National Heritage Area, and the community has also been recognized by the National Park Service as an important cultural and historical resource.
The history of Black Indians in New Orleans is a unique and rich part of American cultural heritage, rooted in the blending of African American, Native American, and French cultures. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Black Indian community in New Orleans continues to celebrate its cultural heritage through music, dance, and Mardi Gras, and its cultural traditions have been recognized and celebrated as a valuable part of American history and heritage.
Rebirth Brass Band
Whether seen on HBO’s Treme or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at The Maple Leaf, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they’ve also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound. “Rebirth can be precise whenever it wants to,” says The New York Times, “but it’s more like a party than a machine. It’s a working model of the New Orleans musical ethos: as long as everybody knows what they’re doing, anyone can cut loose.” In the wake of the sometimes-stringent competition amongst New Orleans brass bands, Rebirth is the undisputed leader of the pack, and they show no signs of slowing down.
Learn more about the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band online @
Special pre-parade performances by
The KC Dynamites
Mac Sauce
& Bikes Up Guns Down
Starting at 11:45 am
Juneteenth Flag
The Juneteenth flag was created in 1977 by activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, with the help of illustrator Lisa Jeanna Graf. The deliberate process of designing the flag, which is brimming with symbols of the day’s meaning, has made it an integral component of the holiday.
The flag was revised in 2000 into the version we know today, according to the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation. Seven years later, the date “June 19, 1865” was added, commemorating the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told enslaved African Americans of their emancipation.
Deliberately consisting of a red, white, and blue color scheme just like the American flag, the Juneteenth flag has a white star in the center, meant to represent both Texas (the Lone Star State), as well as the freedom of enslaved people in all 50 states. In that same vein, the white bursting outline surrounding the star is said to have been inspired by a nova, which is an astronomical event that marks the birth of a new star—in this instance symbolizing a new beginning for African Americans in the United States.
The arc that extends across the width of the flag, at the intersection of the red and blue sections, is yet another symbol of a new beginning, or rather, a new horizon. The red, white, and blue color scheme that mimics that of the American flag was a conscious choice, meant to connote that enslaved people (who were not granted citizenships) and their descendants were and always have been Americans, as well as signifying the United States’ continued responsibility to do right by those affected by the continued injustices faced by Black Americans that are still yet to be fully dismantled.
Community Float | Contribute to the project!
NOW RECRUITING COMMUNITY/CORPORATE GROUPS, YOUTH GROUPS & CHURCHES INTERESTED IN RECEIVING A SUPPLY KIT TO HELP BUILD FAMILY FLAGS TO HANG FROM OUR FAMILY TREE FLOAT TO REPRESENT THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
PLEASE HELP SHARE THIS EXCITING community initiative that JuneteenthKC will be leading within your next to help build a community float that will lead this year's parade procession!! -- We are able to make special arrangements to drop off supply kits and pick them up by May 30th to return back to Stone Lion to attach to the float if necessary.. Please just have groups interested email JuneteenthKC@gmail.com so we can discuss making special accommodations.
JuneteenthKC is excited to announce we will be working with Stone Lion puppets and inviting the community to help build a float that will represent this year's official theme "The Homecoming"--celebrating the importance of learning your family history
JuneteenthKC in partnership with Stone Lion puppets will be offering community build days and family take-home construction kits to help create flags that will hang from the float to represent their household.--Details about the project are attached to this email.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO BUILD!!
Stone Lion Puppets Studio: 2400 E. Truman Road KCMO
Members of the community are welcome to sign up to visit the Stone Lion Puppets Studio:
-
May 7th & May 21st 1:00-4:00 pm
-
May 30th-June 2nd 5:00-8:00 pm
Family Parade Home Building Kits are available:
-
April 24th
Supply Wish List:
-
Yarm/String
-
Large Beads
-
Feathers
-
Small Decorative Items (Small mirrors, Jewelry Pieces
Please contact 816-673-0004 if you are able to contribute any of the items listed.
PARTICIPANT FAQs
How will you showcase your freedom?
Parade Floats—Tips for Inexpensive Parade Float Ideas – Ultimate DIY Guide
https://www.sengerson.com/entertaining/decorate-parade-float/
Parade Banners—Banners are the easiest and best way to have your business identified during a parade. Banners are usually held by a couple of people or strung along the side of a vehicle.
Parade Signs—Signs are a great and useful tool for getting your name out there for not much money. Signs can be small enough for a child to hold, or as large as taking up the back of a truck.
Vehicle Decals—Create flashy and eye-catching vehicle decals to plaster all over displaying exactly what your business does and how it can help people with particular problems.
ASK FOR HELP— Use resources like brand managers, promotional consultants to come up with a solution to your parade needs! Take it a step further and ask for SPONSORSHIP. We want you to come out of the parade assured that you had a blast and improved the visibility of your business at the same time.
TIPS FROM THE PARADE COMMITTEE:
MAKE SURE YOUR GROUP’S LOOK IS COHESIVE—Wear branded apparel like shirts, hats, sunglasses, shoelaces, socks and use banners to get your message across! Get People's Attention—Think bright colors, loud, highly visible, large or unusual!
PICK A PRODUCT THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION—Think about your colors, your mascot, the needs of your customers or community, the type of business you operate. Choose something relevant to your work and that you want people to have!
-
Ex: Religious Tracts—Many churches or religious organizations take this time to pass out religious tracts showing the way to salvation. If you do this, don't be pushy about it or try to go through the tract with the person right there. Simply hand it out and keep walking. If they are interested, they will read it. Place a sticker with your organization's name, address and phone number on the tract so they can contact you for further information.
PICK SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE EVENT—Stick with the theme and the colors of the event to get instant use out of the product. Think cultural patterns, colors, shapes, and designs.
-
Ex: Flags—Hand out small RBG flags during the parade. Don't give more than one to each person or you may run out. Passing them out near the beginning of the parade route allows the attendees to wave them throughout the rest of the parade.
PICK SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED AT THE PARADE—Is it going to be hot? How about something that cools you down like a cooling neck wrap, beverage koozie, visor, or fan? Raining? Ponchos or Umbrellas. Dry and windy? Lip Balm! Bright? Sunglasses! If it goes into use immediately, there are a bunch of people there to see it right away and advertise for YOU at the parade.
PICK SOMETHING THAT HAS UTILITY—And that people don’t already have or need more of. Think tools, first aid, flashlights, key rings, hygiene products, etc. PICK SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SEEN REPEATEDLY—Pick a product that the person will look at over and over, like mouse pads, bags, calendars, pens, office accessories, and apparel.
PICK SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN USE AGAIN FOR SOMETHING ELSE—Do you go to trade shows, have your own events, regularly give your customer’s gifts or the like? Buying in larger quantities will save you money in the long run!
-
Candy—Purchase large bags of candy to hand out during the parade route. Individually wrapped candies are best, so you don't pass germs around and so children can pick up the ones that land on the ground. Lollipops, gum and mints are perfect. Small Toys—You can purchase small toys in bulk from online retailers or catalogs. Items like bouncy balls, slinkies and tiny animals are perfect.
ENLIST FRIENDS IN THE PARADE TO HAND OUT YOUR STUFF—At the parade, most of the people on the floats are going to be handing out generic, unbranded items. If you have more than you need, get other folks to hand out your product for you! They will more than likely be happy just to have more stuff to hand out. With everything being distributed along the parade round, parade-goers rarely know who handed them something, which is why it is so much better for any items you distribute to have your logo and contact info on it.
MAKE SURE YOUR INFORMATION IS INTRIGUING AND THEY CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU—Make sure that there is enough info on your product to spark interest and enable contact. You need your logo, what you do in very few words and website or phone #. Don’t overwhelm with text, but get them curious!
Ex: Business Pamphlets—If you are promoting a business or organization in the parade, put together a small pamphlet or flier. You can hand them out as you walk the parade route. Make it a magnet or tape a piece of candy to the back so people won't just toss it in the garbage. Include a coupon for your business to bring new patrons in.
Thank you to our sponsors!
