The 17th Annual
Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival!
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Pierson Community Center
(Pierson Park in Turner, Kansas)
1800 South 55th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66106
10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Master of Ceremonies Mr. Clarence Small
Tentative Entertainment Schedule
10:00 "Presentation of Colors" KCK Sheriff's Department
Sergeant Felicia Atkins presiding
10:10 Shawn and Gloria Derritt "Star Spangled Banner and
American the Beautiful" duet
10:25 Tez and Tam Gospel Singers - Cortez Liggins
10:50 Chilanka School of Dance (India) Prasanna V and
Shreejakrishnakuma performing, Director
Krishnapyra Pramod
11:20 El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilico - Maria Chaurand
Director with Guadalupe Campos and Leslie
Rodriquez performing
11:55 Esoke Cultural Arts Center Dancers - Yaminah
Muhammad
12:20 Driscoll Irish Dancers - Brigid Driscoll
12:45 Legends of Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Awards: Tony Hope and Linda Sutton
12:55 Nartan Dancers (India) - Ritu Daga
1:25 China Folk Dancers (Taiwan) - Hoi Kei Au
1:55 Sabor a Peru - Cecilia Mosher
2:15 Thai Chi Fan Dance - Qi Pao Dance & Chinese
Celebration Drums -Dr. Grace Gong
2:45 Sabor a Peru (change of costumes) - Cecilia Mosher
3:05 Danny Hinds Art in Motion - Caribbean Dance
and live music
3:35 Ukranian Mavka Dancers - Director Kristy Borys
4:05 SV Blautaler - German Dancers
4:35 Saint Andrew Highland Dancers (Scotland) -
Rhianna Rice
5:05 Kansas City Kansas Community Orchestra - Jeff Beck
Director with thanks to Arlo Kinsey
Culture Booths
Kids Korner games and art projects - KCKCC Professors Clint Ricketts, Dr. Hira Nair, and Imagine! Magic Production performer Gene Hernandez.
India - Kaushika Panchal henna artist
Martin Luther King Exhibit - Karen Hernandez
Artist in Residence - scratch art by Danny Hinds
Advance America - Anita Kuntz
Unified Government of WyCo - Phyllis Wallace
Visit Kansas City Kansas - Eliza Mitchell
KCK Sheriff's Department - Captain Michael Kroening
Community Housing WyCo - LaCherish Thompson
Vote! Election Office WyCo - Jordan Tanner
Wyandotte News Daily - Bob Winner
Equality Kansas - Tom Alonzo, Brian Shipley and Iridescent Riffel-Roney
Kansas City Kansas Public Library - Linda Wolford
Medulla Chiropractic One Wellness - Karen Rosenquist
Strawberry Hill Museum - JoBeth Nastav
Grinter House Museum & Quilters - Louise Crable
Wyandotte County Museum - Amanda Hamon
Historical Journal of Wyandotte County - Rebecca Meditz, Shannon Burroughs, Cathie Burroughs, and Kevin Steele editor
Wyandotte County Historical Society - Dr. Dan Desko
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Delaware Tribe - Former Chief Linda Graff, Jim Grinter and Mary Grinter
Wyandot Tribe - Chief Judith Manthei
Old Quindaro Museum - Tony, Barbara & Nakia Hope
Grace Family Acupuncture - Dr.'s Grace, Jing & Yang Gong
Lithuanian Amber - Kate Porterfield
Ukraine - Irene Thompson
Global Ties KC - Sarah Lowderman
International Relations Commission - Dan Fitzpatrick
Ethnic Enrichment Commission KCMO - James Wilson
Italy - Dr. Curtis V. & Judy Smith 3 books for sale and signing by Dr. Smith: 1) Kansas City Kansas: Cultural Rhythms in Ragtime and Jazz; 2) Three Railroads in WyCo. 1855-1874; & 3) The Ironies of Renaissance Florence, Italy
Germany - Cindy Pearson
Kansas State School for the Blind - Lydia Moreno
Mexico - Rose Marie Mendez
Panama - Yamilka Crabaugh
Hmong Culture - Amee Her
Mali and Gambia - Yaminah Muhammad
Jamaica - Kester Plowright Jr. & Kathleen Johnson
Gambia - Alphonse Mendy
Republic of China (Taiwan) - Hoi Kei Au
Midwest Genealogy Research - Kayla Hopkins
CETUSA (Council for Educational Travel) Anita Sass
Bethel 7th Day Adventist Church KCK - Charles McGill
YouNique by Design Jewelry - Darlene Reed
KCKCC Admissions - Michael Driskell
KCKCC Foundation - Mary Spangler & Carmen Liimatta​​​​​​​​
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Food Vendors
Jamaican Jerk dishes - Kester Plowright Jr.
German Cuisine - Cindy Pearson
Kenyan Cuisine - Andrea Smith & Wasim Kahn
Hmong Cuisine - Amee Her
Gambian Cuisine - Haddy Sallah
Carolyn Marks Organic foods (RJ Foundation)
Garden of Vegan - Yaminah Muhammad​
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Coffee and bottled teas for sale by Enactus Program at KCKCC - Professor Allen Lenoir
Lemonade Llamas - Rebecca Baker-Givens
Free bottled water delivered by Advance America
No alcohol allowed.
Mission and Purpose
The Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival is a non-profit 501C3 that serves the public by hosting an annual celebration, or "human family reunion." Our mission is to educate our community about the diverse cultures that live, work, attend school or have ties to Wyandotte County (KCK). This event celebrates the strengths of diversity, and the natural cultural differences within our common humanity.
Our purpose is to strive for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of a "Beloved Community."
Everyone is invited to take this trip around the world without leaving KCK and enjoy wonderful ethnic foods, dance, music, clothing, educational culture booths, and visiting with committed community organizations.
Only in America!
Many Countries + Many Cultures = One Human Family
WyCo Ethnic Festival 501C3 Trustees
Clarence Small - President and Master of Ceremonies
Karen Hernadez - Vice-President, co-founder of the festival, marketing and local advising
Dr. Curtis V. Smith, coordinator and treasurer
Dr. Hira Nair - marketing and global advising
Dr. Ewa Unoke - marketing and global advising
Lydia Knopp - marketing & local advising
Shai Perry - marketing & local advising
Free parking, free admission, free bottle of water, and a free program honoring the "old-time" idea of having a one-day diversity, equity and inclusivity extravaganza! Rock the ages and come join us in this special celebration of simply being human
regardless of your
ethnicity, skin color, or creed.
Welcome one and all!!
2025 Silver Sponsors
Unified Government of WyCo - Human Relations Commission - Phyllis Wallace
Visit Kansas City Kansas - Rebekah Bryer
Advance America - Anita Kuntz
The Board of the WyCo Ethnic Festival
Partner Sponsors
Midwest Regional Credit Union - Teresa Spears
Strawberry Hill Museum - Jo Beth Nastav
Kansas State School for the Blind - Lydia Moreno
KKFI 90.1 FM - Tom Crane "World Sound" Sunday 1-3 p.m.
and Bob and Diana Suckiel "Folk Waves" 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
KCMO Ethnic Enrichment Commission - Andrea Smith
Siew Lau and James Wilson
Legends of Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Awards
2025 Tony Hope and Linda Sutton
2024 Bonnie Clark and Irene Thompson
2023 Rose Marie Mendez and Brian Patrick
no festival was held in 2020, 2021, & 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Gordon Criswell and Dr. Hira Nair
2018 Dr. Ewa Unoke and Ed Chasteen
2017 Barbara Clark-Evans and Eyyup Esen
2016 Irene Caudillo and Alvin Sykes
2015 Janith English and Kamiesha Tyner
2014 Karen Hernandez and Melanie Scott
2013 Helen Folsom and Carol Levers
2012 Ed Grisnik and Chester Owens
2011 Pat Adams and Loren Taylor
Each year we recognize some who have passed that were integral to the festival. Sadly, this year it is our first- and second-year L.O.D.E. & I. recipients, Loren Taylor and Chester Owens,
and legendary folk guitarist Danny Cox.
We miss you deeply.
Special Thanks!!
Kansas City Kansas Community College for providing a rich environment for the festival from 2005-2023
Professor Melanie Scott (retired) Co-Founder of the Festival, co-founder and Director of the KCKCC Intercultural Center
Karen Hernandez - former Trustee at KCKCC, and Co-Founder of the Festival
Gene Hernandez - community advocate, logistics, marketing and performer with Imagine! Magic Productions
Barbara Clark-Evans - Director of the KCKCC Intercultural Center 2008-2020
Charlie Wright - fabulous job of setting up tables and chairs, Building & Grounds at Pierson Community Center
Sound Engineer - Christian Negoth, Bethel 7th Day Adventist Church in KCK with assist from Clarence Small
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Donations Appreciated
Contact Us
Curtis V. Smith, Ph.D. Treasurer WyCo Ethnic Festival 501C3
913.549.0107
Festival Activities
Workshops
Engaging and Interesting
Children’s Corner
New Experiences
Talks and Performances
No Registration Required