Wichita postponing major city celebration due to coronavirus COVID-19 threat
The coronavirus threat has derailed what was supposed to be a communitywide celebration of the state of the city, Mayor Brandon Whipple announce Monday.
The event was to have been held March 26 at the Century II Convention and Performing Arts Center and was designed to highlight the diversity of Wichita with a food truck rally, performances by the Newman University Choir, a high school drum line and a Mexican folklorico dance troupe from a local school.
The State of the City was traditionally a large, live gathering for an annual speech by the mayor highlighting city accomplishments and looking ahead to city goals of the next year.
It was largely downplayed in recent years by former Mayor Jeff Longwell, who recorded the speech and released it online.
Whipple had planned to bring it back and expand the event. In addition to the school performances, this year’s event was planned to feature videos highlighting new development, including the new baseball stadium and the renovation of Naftzger Park; public-safety improvements in the Police and Fire departments, and the city’s designation as an All-America City.
“My job was to go out and project a vision” for the coming year, Whipple said.
Whipple said the event may be rolled in with the summerlong celebrations planned for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Wichita.
