The City of Kissimmee celebrated its 136th birthday today, March 30, 2019, at the 2019 Kowtown Festival, which took place at the Kissimmee Lakefront Park. The community-wide celebration brought community leaders, organizations, and citizens together to celebrate the City of Kissimmee. In 1883, thirty-three of 36 registered voters voted to incorporate Allendale as Kissimmee City and from there the city has grown into what it is today.
This free family-friendly event featured vendors from local community businesses and organizations providing information and giveaways to guests that stopped by their booths. The smell of BBQ filled the air with all of the food vendors at the festival including Big John’s Rockin BBQ and Uncle Eddie’s BBQ. Kissimmee Utility Authority sponsored the Kids Zone which was jam-packed with children bouncing in bounce houses, riding the mechanical bull, and sliding down the giant inflatable slide. Musical guests Thomas Wynn & The Believers along with UNiTY performed throughout the event.
Osceola Reads provided the Osceola Reads Reading Round-Up tent where kids had the opportunity to participate in fun reading activities for a chance to win an Amazon Fire Tablet every hour that the festival was taking place – that’s a total of 5 tablets!
What’s a birthday party without CAKE? City of Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez accompanied by City of Kissimmee Mayor Pro-Tem Angela Eady, Commissioner Olga Gonzalez, and Vice Mayor Jim Fisher lead the crowd singing a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” honoring the City of Kissimmee before cutting the cake. Cake and cupcakes were passed out while everyone enjoyed the warm Florida sunshine. Not in the mood for cake, free snow cones were available as well.
Happy 136th Birthday City of Kissimmee! Thank you for continuing the wonderful traditions that residents and visitors love and for hosting the 2019 Kowtown Festival.
