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2026 GORDON PARKS CELEBRATION

Schedule of Events

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Thursday, October 1st

 

PHOTO EXHIBITS will be on display in the Gordon Parks Museum and the Lunt Lobby of the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center

 

PHOTO CONTEST/EXHIBIT — Sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography and Don Thompson Images, will be on display with the theme of “Giving a Voice to the Voiceless”. Winners will be announced at the Chamber Coffee, Thursday, Oct.1, 2026

 

POETRY CONTEST/EXHIBIT — Sponsored by Helen Townsend, Poet and Trabar and Associates, will be displayed with the theme of “Giving a Voice to the Voiceless”. Winners will be announced at the Chamber Coffee, Thursday, Oct.1, 2026, but presented at the Open Mic event on Saturday, Oct 3, 2026.

 

SIGN DISPLAY & MURAL DISPLAY — Visit the Lowell Milken Center Unsung Heroes Park, 1 S. Main St. where Gordon Parks is featured on one of the signs. View also the mural of Gordon Parks at Riverfront Park, 400 N. National. Visit the Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park at 301 S. Lowman St.

 

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. — Showing of the Criterion Collection film The Learning Tree

Directed by Gordon Parks. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

 

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Registration open outside of the Museum.

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11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — (Lunch and Learn) Clemmie Parks: Soldier, Leader, and Brother 

This presentation honors the life of a remarkable man whose service, talent, and dedication left a lasting mark in Fort Scott and beyond. Clemmie Parks, the older brother to Gordon Parks, was a decorated World War I First Lieutenant. He embodied leadership and resilience in a time of profound challenge and inequality. Presented by Arnold Schofield, local Historian, Retired National Historic Site Interpreter and Administrator and 2024 Learning Tree Award recipient. The Lunch and Learn is free to attend, though pre-purchased sandwich wrap lunches are available for $12 each and must be ordered by Wednesday, Sept 30. Lunches can be purchased online at gordonparkscenter.org/events, by phone, or by mail. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunch and join us. Complimentary desserts and drinks will be provided. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE to attend (except for lunch).

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12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Showing of the film Moments Without Proper Names

Directed by Gordon Parks. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

 

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations  Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $10. https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events or by phone or mail.

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3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — The Sounds of Leadbelly                                                                                  Enjoy a blues speaker presentation and music performance in tribute to Leadbelly, featuring the music of blues guitarist, Lem Sheppard.  Lem will discuss and perform the music of Huddie Ledbetter, better known by his nicknamed “Leadbelly.” Leadbelly was a folks and blues singer that played the twelve-string guitar. He is the original source of many popular songs, sung by other artist in American music. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE

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Friday, October 2nd

 

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  — Registration open outside of the Museum.

 

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. — Showing of the film David Parks-GI Diary-Vietnam                                        Join David Parks, Vietnam War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and acclaimed multimedia artist, and son of Gordon Parks, for a special film showing of the Kansas Public Telecommunications Service film, David Parks GI Diary Vietnam. The film shares powerful gritty details of David Parks’ experience on the frontlines of the Vietnam War in this KPTS documentary. Following the screening, David Parks will participate in a short question-and-answer session with the audience. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

 

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. — A Conversation with 2026 Choice of Weapon Honorees, Victor Goines and Maryemma Graham.  FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

 

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. — (Lunch and Learn) Leadbelly and Irene: Heartbeat of the Musical Frontier Megan Felt, Program Director at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, created and produced this short documentary on Huddie Ledbetter while she was a student at Uniontown High School. Through her research on the life of the pioneering blues singer, she discovered the profound impact African American music has had on the musical landscape and its lasting influence on American culture. The Lunch and Learn is free to attend, though pre-purchased sandwich wrap lunches are available for $12 each and must be ordered by Thursday, Oct 1. Lunches can be purchased online at gordonparkscenter.org/events, by phone, or by mail. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunch and join us. Complimentary desserts and drinks will be provided. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE to attend (except for lunch).

 

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. — Reflections on filming Leadbelly : Celebrating over 50 Years                              Join us for this great conversation with cast members and crew from the film Leadbelly, including 2019 and 2024 “Choice of Weapons Award” honorees, Karole Graham and Kokayi Ampah, along with David Parks, author and son of Gordon Parks. This special conversation will lead up to the showing of film Leadbelly. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

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1:45 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.  — Showing of the film, Leadbelly                                                                      Introduction by 2024 Choice of Weapons Honoree, Kokayi Ampah. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Theater. FREE.

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8:00 p.m. — Celebration Dance Party                                                                                                        With “Power Unlimited” Ft. Keith Marlo. Celebrate the night away to some of the best mixes of R&B and Soul from of the region’s best multitalented musicians and performers from Wichita, KS. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Band starts at 8:00pm. Cash bar available. Join us at River Room. 3 W. Oak, all seats reserved. Fee: $25 each or $30 at the door. Tickets available either online https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events, by phone or by mail. Supported in part by The Bourbon County Arts Council, in Fort Scott, KS.

     

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Saturday, October 3rd

 

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — Registration open outside of the Museum.

 

​10:00 a.m.  –  11:15 a.m. — Open Mic Poetry                                                                                          This open mic is for any poets, rappers, musicians, or artists of all ages to read their work. Bring your friends, your poetry, your beats, your inspirations, your creativity, and your talent! No sign-up necessary, just hop on the mic when you’re ready! Hosted by poet, Barbara L. Eikner. FSCC Fine Arts Center. FREE.

 

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — (BBQ Lunch and Learn Event) The Legacy of the 1927 Plaza School Yearbook Join us for a special Lunch & Learn event as we explore the historic significance of the 1927 Plaza School Yearbook, called the Plazean, from the segregated Plaza School in Fort Scott. The yearbook served not only the junior high students at Plaza School, but also the segregated African American students who attended high school during that time. Gordon Parks attended Plaza School and is featured in the yearbook as a member of the eighth-grade graduating class of 1927.Come enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch while learning more about the legacy and history of Plaza School and its lasting impact on the students and community it served. The Lunch and Learn is free to attend, though pre-purchased BBQ lunches including drinks and desserts are available for $8 each and must be ordered by Friday, Oct 2. Lunches can be purchased online at gordonparkscenter.org/events, by phone, or by mail. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunch and join us. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE to attend (except for lunch).

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11:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Encore film Presentation of Fort Scott Stories                                                        Join us for a special encore presentation of Fort Scott Stories, the theatrical version. This documentary film is a compelling visual narrative inspired by Gordon Parks’ unpublished 1950 LIFE magazine assignment in his boyhood home of Fort Scott. This powerful documentary films follows a past, present, and future lens, layered in rich storytelling, history, social documentary, and photojournalism. Film introduction by filmmaker and 2025 Choice of Weapons Honoree, Michael Cheers. Produced and directed by Michael Cheers. Associate Professor, Photojournalism, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, San Jose State University. Pre-registration is required at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events Seating is limited. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.

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3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. — Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations.   Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history.  Fee: $10. Sign up and pay either online at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events or by phone or mail.

 

7:00 p.m. – Celebration Tribute Dinner                                                                                                      (Social Hour starts at 6:00 p.m.) Join us for an evening of celebration including dinner, music, photo auction and tribute to past honorees and to Gordon Parks. The evening will be highlighted by the presentation of the 2026 “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” to Victor Goines and Maryemma Graham. There will also be a presentation of the 2026 “Gordon Parks Learning Tree Award” to Marion Stepps. This event will be held at the Liberty Theater 113 S. Main St. All seats reserved. Fee: $35.00. Tickets available online at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events, or by phone or mail. (Reserve by Wed, Sept. 30).

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Sunday, October 5th

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9:00 a.m. – Breakfast at Crooner’s Lounge.                                                                                                Enjoy a breakfast buffet at one of Fort Scott’s finest! Located at 117 S. Main Street, Downtown Fort Scott.  You’re sure to find something on the buffet to please.  Check it out at: fscrooners.com. (No ticket required-everyone pays for their own).

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