Kelly Festival set today for downtown Houston; lots of activities

Clown lovers will flock to Houston today (Saturday, April 27) to celebrate the life of Emmett Kelly Sr., who became the world’s most-famous circus entertainer who went on to film and television renown. Kelly, who would have celebrated his 126th birthday this year, had his first professional act at Houston’s Old Settlers Reunion. 

Kelly performed for the first time with a chalk talk during the 1920 edition of the Reunion. He departed for Kansas City to master his skills as a cartoonist. 

It was the 15th annual Old Settlers Reunion, sponsored by the Houston Commercial Club and a forerunner of the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, that brought Kelly before an audience in August. The hometown paper wrote, “Mr. Emmett Kelly, cartoonist and comedy specialist, is a Texas County boy who has studied for a successful career as an entertainer, and is returning home with things that will tickle you ‘most to death.’ Texas County boys always succeed in what they undertake, and Kelly will be no exception.” 

By the time a Houston park was dedicated in his honor in 1956, he was famous. The Kelly family, including daughter Stasia, visited that year for the ceremony. She’ll attend this week’s activities. In the 1970s, today’s Emmett Kelly Park was created along U.S. 63 with Coyle Creek and two pavilions scattered on the property. 

Activities kicked off Friday evening with a crowd pleaser and Houston School District tradition – the annual kindergarten circus at Hiett Gymnasium on Pine Street. This is the 41st year kindergarteners have performed. The STARS Foundation presented a variety show and a movie Friday night about the beginning of Weary Willie, the original Hobo American clown. The movie was “Clown” starring Ronald Reagan and Henry Fonda. The event was at the Melba Performing Arts Center in downtown Houston.

SATURDAY’S EVENTS

On Saturday, lots of activities will be staged in the downtown business district. Events range from a 5k run/walk to a car show at Grand Avenue and Main Street. Grandstand entertainment occurs at Pine Street and Grand Avenue throughout the day. An 11 a.m. parade featuring clowns occurs on Grand Avenue. 

Other activities include: 

• A recognition of art students and 5k winners by Kelly’s daughter Stasia at 9:45 a.m.
• Food trucks and vendors throughout the event. 
• A special presentation of painted murals of Kelly as Weary Willie by Stasia Kelly and professional clowns at 3 p.m. The project was spearheaded by Barbara White, and they are displayed on a building at Grand Avenue and Mill Street. 
• A movie presentation of the Dupont Show of the Week, 1962, Circus, narrated by Emmett Kelly with famous circus stars like the Wallendas performing and live animal acts for free at 3:30 p.m. at the Melba. 
• Special posters will be for sale from the Emmett Kelly Circus collection. Proceeds will go toward creating a bronze sculpture of Kelly’s character, Weary Willie. A local group is working with an artist, James Hall III,  from the Springfield area. It shows Kelly sitting on a park bench. 
• T-shirts designed by Shelby Kelley, of Indianapolis, Ind., will be for sale. 
• The announcement of the winner of the annual window contest. 

The City of Houston is the organizer of the event with Brenda Senter as the chief volunteer for the project.