By SALINA POST
On Saturday, July 6, dozens of visitors attended the second year of the reestablished Daddy Bud Day at Pacific Park. Volunteers handed out free hotdogs and hamburgers and helped children and adults through various yard games and activities.
Daddy Bud Day was a yearly event started by the late John Curtis Sr., more commonly referred to as "Bud." The event was started in 1967 and originally served as a program that sponsored activities for youth and adults in the community.
Over the years, the event morphed into a community-wide activity during the Fourth of July weekend for African-Americans in Salina. The event contained free swimming at the former Carver Center pool, free food and drinks, paid for out of Bud's own pocket, vendors and an evening dance.
Bud's son, Salina pastor and musician John Curtis, Jr. took part in the events as the DJ. Part of Daddy Bud Day was eventually sponsored by his job, the former manufacturing plant, Wyatt Manufacturing.
After Curtis Sr.'s death in 1971, the tradition continued for a few more years, ultimately ending in 1974.
"Being able to bring it back in his memory and his honor is a really cool thing," said James Curtis, also known as Cash Hollistah, the grandson of John Curtis Sr. "In honoring him also, we're at Pacific Park, and we're leading efforts to actually rename that park, Curtis Park."
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At the time of the final Bud Day celebration, over 400 people were in attendance. In 2014, he was posthumously awarded a Juneteenth Award by the Salina Juneteenth Committee.
Daddy Bud Day was revived in 2023 by his grandson, James Curtis, also known as Cash Hollistah.
This year, the event hosted its usual attractions alongside a basketball game that concluded the event at 2 p.m.
Click the arrows on the left and right of the window above to see photos from the 2024 Daddy Bud Day