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The original item was published from 8/5/2021 3:35:22 PM to 8/24/2021 4:46:02 PM.

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Posted on: August 5, 2021

[ARCHIVED] Kenosha County to celebrate centennial of women’s suffrage Aug. 24 at Anderson Arts Center

suffrage 100 logo FB LINK

Kenosha County invites the public to celebrate 101 years of the women’s right to vote at a special event on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the Anderson Arts Center.

Blues and Twilight Jazz: The Kenosha County Women’s Suffrage Celebration, will feature live music, a suffrage parade, informational booths and a fireworks show at dusk. 

The festivities will be held on the grounds of the Anderson Arts Center, 6603 Third Ave., Kenosha. Admission is free.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic canceled many of the events that were scheduled in 2020, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the women’s right to vote,” said Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser. “But that’s not stopping us from celebrating this summer, 101 years after this great milestone for our country.”

The night’s entertainment will include performances by local blues artist and rising star Ivy Ford and acclaimed Chicago jazz singer Elaine Dame.

Grounds will open at 4 p.m., followed by Ford’s performance at 5 p.m., Dame’s show at 7:30 and fireworks at 9. The “March to Vote” parade will be held at 7 p.m.

Seating is first-come, first-served. People are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs.

Food and drink concessions will be available for purchase. No carry-ins of alcohol are allowed.

The celebration is an outgrowth of the Kenosha County Suffrage 100 Committee that Kreuser formed in 2019, to organize and promote events honoring the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in August 2020.

Recently retired Kenosha County Circuit Judge Mary K. Wagner, co-chair of the Suffrage 100 Committee along with retired Judge Barbara Kluka, will offer some brief remarks during the Aug. 24 program.

“The enactment of the women’s right to vote and the movement that lead up to it was such a pivotal point in our history, and one that deserves celebrating 100 — or 101 — years after the fact,” Wagner said. “This event at the Anderson Arts Center will be a time to do that, and a time to learn a little about some of the Kenosha County women who were part of the battle a century ago.”

Those interested in participating in the suffrage parade may contact Jennie Tunkieicz at 262-653-2831 or Jennie.Tunkieicz@kenoshacounty.org. Organizations that serve women and children and are interested in hosting a booth may contact Nancy Retana at 262-857-1949 or Nancy.Retana@kenoshacounty.org.

For more information about the Kenosha County Suffrage 100 Committee, including biographies of Kenosha County women who were involved in the suffrage movement, visit https://www.kenoshacounty.org/suffrage.

T-shirts and other merchandise displaying the Kenosha County Suffrage 100 logo are available for purchase, with proceeds benefitting the Susan B. Anthony-Women of Influence Awards scholarship fund and grants programs. Orders may be placed at https://kenoshaspiritwear.com/collections/kenosha-county-suffrage.

The Aug. 24 celebration is a part of the Anderson Arts Center’s annual Twilight Jazz Summer Concert Series. Other upcoming performances this season include The John Crawford Jazz Band on Aug. 10 and Janet Planet on Aug. 31. More information about the series and other programming at Kemper Center and the Anderson Arts Center is available at https://kempercenter.com.

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