A fun holiday travel review
Festival in Independence, Kansas
Back in 1919, the City Fathers decided to provide a way to eliminate the typical Halloween pranks that had been occurring around that holiday. To that end, they began a program of positive activities for kids of all ages. These activities included several parades throughout the day and evening of October 31st, with decorated cars and carriages, along with Queens and Princesses from area festivals. These included their own town Queen who was elected based on the number of votes bought at a penny each.
The festival was interrupted by The Great Depression and World War II, but in 1958 local businessmen revived and elaborated on this festival and brought it back as a 3-day celebration. The festival is named NEEWOLLAH (Halloween, spelled backwards).
Neewollah
This annual Halloween festival held in Independence, a town of only 8,500 inhabitants, is today the largest annual festival in all of Kansas. During the festival, which now is a 9-day celebration, the town grows to 75,000 people.
Events have grown to include three parades, including one for the kiddies, and a Grand Parade. There is also a Chili cook-off, a musical, and the Queen Neelah pageant.
There are food vendors, an Arts and Crafts show, and a Fun Run. You will find a bandstand for nightly entertainment. This festival has activities for everyone of any age.
A Musical is a planned part of the festival each year. In 2026, the musical will be Disney’s FROZEN. The show is always performed by a local cast and live orchestra.
Summary
This year’s Neewollah Festival will be held October 23 - 31, 2026. To find out more about Independence, Kansas, including its Neewollah Festival, the free park & zoo, the several interesting museums, and the Children’s Summer Theatre, please visit: http://www.indkschamber.org/
*Travel Review of the Neewollah Festival in Independence, Kansas
~Written by Wednesday Elf
**Source of images: Pixabay
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What an awesome idea for entertaining children and adults! The festival sounds fabulous! Although, it does sound like the queen contest could be somewhat "rigged" by the richest or those willing to spend the most. I would love to attend for a day or two. In my case, I would want to be back home for our own trick or treaters, but the days before would sure be fun.
ReplyDeleteMouse, I think the Queen contest voting for a penny was only back when it started in 1919. LOL. I don't know how they do it today. :) It would be an interestng festival to attend. When I first heard about it, it was from an Independence, Kansas resident and it was amazing to learn that their little town of less than 9,000 people swelling to over 75,000 during the festival each year. It is obviously a lot of fun. Must take a lot of prep work for weeks beforehand!
DeleteWonderful that this festival was revived in 1958. Sounds like a lovely fun place and way to spend the day. Food vendors, music, arts and crafts…that’s a great outing for the family.
ReplyDeleteI love events where there are a lot of vendors, both food and crafts! Neewollah sounds like a lot of fun for sure. Thanks for your visit, Barbara.
DeleteCreating a joyful, positive experience that would easily drown out any childish desire to pull nasty pranks on one’s neighbors is wonderful and ingenious. I love how this tradition has blossomed wildly and expanded to a “town takeover” of positivity and fun! Thanks so much for sharing this, Elf!
ReplyDeleteIt was great fun, and really amazing to me, that the festival has become so big. It also looks like the town of Independence, KS has a lot to offer throughout the year. Their Chamber of Commerce has done them proud! :)
DeleteSuch an awesome and amazing idea! It's a great way to turn Halloween into a more fun experience and for a lot more people! I would like to know how to pronounce Neewollah!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure myself how you pronounce NEEWOLLAH. It took me 'forever' to just learn how to spell it - hard to write/type backwards! LOL. Actually, Google says it pronounced like this: (Nee-ah-wall-ah). It's an interesting name, being Halloween spelled backyards! :)
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