by Mary Rupert
What might be the largest parade in Kansas City, Kan., the Leavenworth Road Parade, is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18.
Lou Braswell, executive director of the Leavenworth Road Association, is hoping for good weather.
“We’ve put in our request for cool temperatures,” Braswell said. “We would like a repeat of last Saturday’s weather.”
So far, the LRA may be in luck, as the long-range forecast for Sunday is sunny with a high near 77.
Braswell estimates from 900 to 1,000 will be in the parade, walking, marching or in vehicles, she said. Probably 2,000 spectators may turn out.
The parade will begin at 2 p.m. at Washington High School, 73rd and Leavenworth Road, and continue to Welborn Elementary School at 52nd and Leavenworth Road, where there will be a judges’ stand, Braswell said. The lineup will start at Washington at 1 p.m. Walkers may join the parade at 64th Street.
As of Tuesday morning, there were 61 entries in the parade, including three high school bands (Washington, Wyandotte and Schlagle), as well as the Washington ROTC program, drill teams from all over the metropolitan area, the Kansas City Kansas Community College men’s basketball team, the Washington High School girls basketball team, many antique car entries, and three to four horse groups, Braswell said. The Historic Northeast neighborhood group is planning to participate with a float this year, she said.
Pete Franklin plans to drive the parade marshals through the route in a Corvette, she said. The parade marshals will be Rick and Stacey Sheahan, owners of the Animal Crackers feed store at 81st and Leavenworth Road.
Several groups are busy working on floats, and some are rather secretive about them, according to Braswell, waiting to unveil them at the parade.
For those who want to eat, Schlagle High School’s band will be the recipient of funds raised by selling hot dogs at Buzz’s Muffler, she said. The funds go toward a band trip to a competitive event.
Little Joe’s Pawnshop at 51st and Leavenworth Road will be giving away hot dogs, she said, and a church group will sell hot dogs at the shopping center parking lot at 60th and Leavenworth Road.
Also, in conjunction with the parade, she said a breakfast will be held at Davern Hall at Christ the King Catholic Church, 53rd and Leavenworth Road. The Knights of Columbus will serve the breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 18, and it will include choices of eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee, for $5.
Program tonight from public school district
The Leavenworth Road Association program tonight will be a guest speaker from the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools, Karlean Kramer, speaking about school district programs. The meeting is at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Eisenhower Recreation Center, 2901 N. 72nd St., Kansas City, Kan. It starts with a social time and potluck dinner at 6 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m.
Candidate forum
The LRA also is helping with a candidate forum from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 17 at West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd, Kansas City, Kan., Braswell said.
The public will be able to ask questions of the candidates in attendance. So far, candidates who plan to be at the forum include state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, R-5th Dist., state Rep. Kathy Wolfe-Moore, D-36th Dist., William Hutton, Democratic nominee for the state Senate, 5th District; and Kevin Braun, Republican candidate running for the 36th District. Nathan Barnes, former Unified Government commission, will be the moderator.
For more information, call the Leavenworth Road Association office at 913-788-3988 or email [email protected].