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Neewollah 2009: Thoroughly Fun!
Welcome from Sean Clapp, 2009 Neewollah Generalissimo
I would like to invite one and all to “Neewollah 2009: Thoroughly Fun”. This year’s Neewollah Celebration will be held from October 23rd to October 31st.
Thoroughly Modern Millie will kick off this year’s festival on Friday night, the 23rd of October, 2009.  Come out and enjoy our talented local stage actors put on a lively musical performance.
Saturday brings the “Thoroughly Fun Run & 5K” held at the Riverside Park Oval. Upon completion of the runs, everyone is welcome to enjoy the Thoroughly Gut –Busting, Chili Cook-Off and Desert Contest. During the Chili Cook-off, everyone’s favorite, the “Medallion Hunt”, will begin. All are invited to test their brains at deciphering the daily medallion hunt clues.
On Monday, our “Thoroughly Modern Queens” will continue the Neewollah traditions with the Queen Neelah Talent Show; followed on Tuesday with the Queen Neelah Coronation.
On Wednesday, leave your calorie counter at home because the food vendors will be open for business downtown. Come down and taste all the cinnamon rolls, funnel cakes, corn dogs, turkey legs, Barbeque, and varieties of fried food that your system can handle. Wednesday also brings back the Thoroughly Entertaining Ottoway Carnival. While downtown enjoying the food and carnival, stop by the band stand and enjoy local vocal entertainers.
In addition to the Carnival and food stands, Thursday brings us the Doo-Dah Parade, and Friday is the Kiddie Parade.
 Saturday is the Grand Parade. Come out and enjoy this truly spectacular parade that begins with the traditional military fly-over and features numerous area marching bands, floats and antiques vehicles. After the parade, there are numerous fun activities to enjoy…the arts and craft fair located in front of the VFW, the High School Marching band Competition at the football stadium; the carnival, the food stands; and don’t forget the bandstand!
I am thoroughly pleased to announce that the finale for this year’s festival (the professional show) will be the band "Smash Mouth." The show will be back at Memorial Hall this year. What a great band to end the festival with!!
 Neodesha Resident Designs Neewollah 2009 Festival Logo The Neewollah Logo Committee is excited to announce that this year’s winner of the 2009 Neewollah Logo Contest is Leon Stout, of Neodesha, Kansas. Stout’s original design features the theme, “Neewollah 2009: Thoroughly Fun!”
Stout’s stylish use of modern fonts combined with the traditional Neewollah colors sets the stage for the largest annual celebration in the state of Kansas. The art will be prominently displayed on advertisements, banners, t-shirts, programs and official Neewollah merchandise.
Generalissimo 2009 Sean Clapp selects Thoroughly Modern Millie as the 2009 Neewollah Musical.
Millie Dillmount escapes to New York City from Salina, Kansas determined to marry her wealthy boss — whoever he may be. Bobbing her hair and assuming the modern look of a "flapper," she takes a room at the Hotel Priscilla for Women and gets a job as a stenographer at the Sincere Trust Insurance Company. In short time, she finds herself involved with Jimmy Smith, a poor but fun-loving paper-clip salesman; Miss Dorothy Brown, a gentle aspiring actress who never seems to have spare change; several other stagestruck young women staying at the hotel; and Muzzy van Hossmere, a madcap Manhattan cabaret singer and heiress with a zest for the high life and a glamorous penthouse.
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ABOUT NEEWOLLAH
Neewollah celebration (Halloween spelled backwards) began in 1919 as an effort to provide positive activities for kids of all ages in place of the typical Halloween pranks that occurred in the community of Independence, Kansas. In the beginning the events centered on parades, morning, afternoon, and night on October 31. The parades consisted mainly of decorated cars and carriages. Queens and princesses from area festivals rode in the parades, along with our own Queen Neelah who was selected based on votes bought at a penny each. The Great Depression and World War II interrupted the Neewollah celebration but in 1958 four businessmen revived and elaborated on the Neewollah theme bringing it back as a 3-day celebration. |
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Today Neewollah is the oldest and largest annual celebration in Kansas. The city of Independence will grow from a town of 10,000 inhabitants to 75,000 in the final days of the now 10-day celebration. Today's celebration now includes 3 parades, a Doo Dah Parade (adult Kiddies Parade), a Kiddies Parade and a Grand Parade. Chili Cook-off, a hometown musical and queen's pageant also add to the festival activities. The main downtown is filled with 30 plus food vendors, a large carnival and bandstand for nightly entertainment. The Arts and Craft show, Great Pumpkin contest along with the Band Competition, Fun Run and Bike Ride provided activities for everyone. A Children's show and Professional Saturday night Entertainment bring a conclusion to the diligent efforts of over 500 community volunteers.
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