This October, Kay County will celebrate a milestone 100 years in the making.
The Kay County Courthouse Centennial Celebration will be held Wednesday, October 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the courthouse square in Newkirk. Plans have been underway for several months to make the day a celebration not only of the courthouse, but of the people and communities that have been part of Kay County over the past century.
The courthouse opened in 1926, and this year’s celebration will give residents from across Kay County an opportunity to come together and recognize its 100 years of history.
The day will begin with the Centennial Parade at 11 a.m., followed by the Centennial Ceremony at noon. Courthouse tours, entertainment and food trucks will also be part of the day’s activities.
As plans for the celebration continue, organizers are hoping to bring some of the sights of 1926 back to downtown Newkirk.
Anyone who owns a car or truck from the 1920s is encouraged to participate in the Centennial Parade. Having vehicles from the same era as the courthouse would be a great addition to the celebration and help bring a little bit of 1926 back to Main Street.
Local businesses, organizations, clubs, churches, school groups and community members are also encouraged to participate in the parade. The celebration is for all of Kay County, and organizers hope the parade will reflect the many communities, businesses and organizations that make up the county.
Those interested in entering the parade can register through the Newkirk Chamber of Commerce.
Residents can also get ready for the celebration by purchasing an official Centennial Celebration T-shirt to wear on October 28. Shirts are available to order online through Dirt Road Designs.
Limited-edition commemorative Centennial coins are also available for $10 each at the Kay County Administration Building or through Kay County elected officials, while supplies last. The coins were created especially for the courthouse’s 100th anniversary and provide a keepsake to remember this historic milestone.
With October now here, the countdown to the Centennial Celebration is officially underway.
Whether you come for the parade, the ceremony, the history, the food or simply to spend the day with your community, we hope residents from Newkirk, Ponca City, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Braman, Kaw City and throughout Kay County will make plans to join us.
One hundred years is a milestone worth celebrating, and we hope to see Kay County come together on October 28 to celebrate it.
