by William Crum
Once a year Kansas City, Kan., celebrates its cultural heritage with a couple of parades downtown on the first Saturday in May.
On May 3 there are two parades scheduled in Kansas City, Kan. One of them is Polski Days, which celebrates Polish, Croatian and other eastern European heritage, and the other is Cinco de Mayo, which celebrates Hispanic heritage. There is something for everyone at both parades.
The Polski Days parade goes from 12th to 8th Street along Central Avenue at 11:30 a.m. and ends at All Saints parish, 811 Vermont Ave., in Kansas City, Kan. This is where the festivities truly begin. They have live music, dancing, food, and games for the kids. The festival is something the whole family can enjoy.
The Cinco de Mayo parade starts at 6th and Minnesota and ends at 12th and Minnesota. It starts at 10 a.m. Saturday. This is its seventh year of the parade. After the parade, a festival is held near 12th and Minnesota. They have live music, games for the kids, good ethnic food, plus dancing as well.
“This is the way we celebrate our melting pot heritage,” said Bridget Jobe, executive director of the Kansas City, Kan., Convention and Tourism Bureau. “We are truly proud of our heritage particularly in Wyandotte County and this is one way we honor it. Particularly in the downtown area, this is where it all began.”
To learn more about what is going on, visit the CVB website at www.visitkansascityks.com.