For those who missed the morning and early afternoon rounds of Emporia’s sesquicentennial celebration, there’s still time to join in the fun.
School children and adults spent the morning watching quilting and butter-churning demonstrations, playing games and looking over a display of historical objects brought in by Ivan Fowler, as well as displays from the First Congregational and First United Methodist churches.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., free refreshments will be handed out, including hot dogs, chili, Coca-Cola and ice cream donated by Fanestil’s, Interstate Brands, Flint Hills Technical College, Evco and Coca-Cola.
At least 100 homemade birthday cakes, and a special cake donated by Reeble’s, will be available later in the evening. The homemade cakes will be used for a cakewalk. Music will play while participants walk around enough chairs to seat all but one participant. When the contest has been narrowed down to two participants and one chair, the winner at the end of the music will receive a cake.
The children’s games and historical displays and demonstrations will continue during the evening, and an old-time surveyor will return to plat the city.
Cardboard cutouts of Preston Plumb and Abigail Morse will be available for people who want their photos taken with a dignitary, and T-shirts and prints of historical photos will be offered for sale.
An updated history of Emporia will not be ready for the celebration but can be ordered, and should be out by the end of March. The book costs $5.50.
But the party will not end tonight. More events are planned this year by various organizations, and the city will have another big celebration — a warm-weather one — the week of July 4.