Fall 2015: “Welcome to Neewollah” sneak peek!
Welcome to Neewollah
Annual celebration back in a big way this Halloween
Reverse the word “Halloween”; what do you get?
Much more than a jumble of letters, as Independence natives well know.
In fact, Neewollah is a 100-year-old nine-day festival in Independence, billed as the state’s largest annual celebration. And it’s back in a big way for 2015.
“I’m always a fan of everything at Neewollah, but this year, the Oak Ridge Boys performing and Jim Halsey being my honorary generalissimo – those are the big things I’m really looking forward to,” says John Hamlin, Neewollah’s 2015 generalissimo, who heads up the event. “I always knew that if I ever became generalissimo for Neewollah that I’d want to have the Oak Ridge Boys and Jim involved.”
That’s because both have deep roots in Independence and Neewollah. In fact, Halsey – an Independence native who’s gone on to become a well-known music agent and artist manager – was one of a handful of men who revived Neewollah back in 1958 after it fell off the map in the 1930s. The celebration has occurred annually ever since…
Want to keep reading about Neewollah? Check out the fall issue of Southeast Kansas Living, out now! It includes this story in its entirety, plus so much more. Subscribe now, or contact us to find a newsstand near you.