All Schools Day is and always was a highlight of my school year. Although primarily just because it meant getting out of school for a day, and eating funnel cakes. Although recently I’ve realized there is more to the day than that. For others and I who have lived in McPherson our whole lives, we’re accustomed to the annual ritual of watching the parade in the morning, and possibly visiting the carnival in the afternoon. The McPherson County All Schools day that we know today was quite different in 1914 when the tradition first started. Although initially, the festival was created to celebrate the graduating eighth graders, All Schools Day today is known as a celebration for all education.

During the first All Schools Day the creator, I.C Meyer, County Superintendent of Public Schools spread the news of the upcoming celebration by promoting the event days prior by a parade of automobiles. Driving from one town to the other a band would play a few songs followed by an announcement of a festival.

Just like today, the first All Schools Day held a parade and many of the same May Fete traditions.The parade consisted of floats pulled by horses down a eight block dirt road. Students enrolled in McPherson County schools marched the street as a band played. During the evening there was the winding of the maypole; which still continues today. As the years went on more traditions were added to All Schools Day.

In 1914 there was recorded to be around 3,000 people who attended. A competition was held to see what town could bring the most people. Today, over 10,000 people come to downtown McPherson during the special day. May Fete activities held at Lakeside Park, and the carnival are also new additions that were added in 1948 and 1934.

The mid May celebration has always been held on time regardless of the weather. In exception for the 1919 date in which the day was postponed until June when veterans were to return home from World War 1. Although I can remember some chilly parade days, they weren’t quite as cold as the coldest All Schools Day in history in 1931 which was recorded to be less than 30 degrees.

All Schools has had it’s fair share of moments to remember, including a visit from the world tallest man (8’9) in 1940 and a record breaking attendance of over 20,000 people in 1926. Even though these times were sure to stick in the minds of the locals living in McPherson County, it’s the smaller moments that I’m sure had the greatest impact. Just as in 1914, a sense of community, and care towards Kansas’ youth can still be felt through the celebration of All Schools Day. Although skipping school, and eating funnel cakes can be very exciting it’s important to remember what brought those traditions to McPherson, Kansas in the first place.