From Legacy to Celebration: Sikeston Return to Sunset

From Legacy to Celebration: Sikeston Return to Sunset

By lwilliams@semourbanvoices.com - August 28, 2025

Every summer in Sikeston, Missouri, a powerful tradition brings people home. The Return to Sunset Celebration, held annually over Labor Day weekend, honors the history, resilience, and joy of the Sunset Addition—Sikeston’s historically Black neighborhood. This vibrant two-day event draws former residents, families, and community members together in a spirit of pride, remembrance, and renewal.

The roots of Return to Sunset stretch back to 2001, when organizers first launched what was then called Return to Sunset Day. It began as a community reunion—a way for residents past and present to reconnect with their neighborhood and restore pride in a part of Sikeston that had long been overlooked or misrepresented. Led by local advocates like Harry Howard, the original event featured music, food, storytelling, and historical displays in Roberta Rowe Park.

It was more than a social gathering; it was an act of reclaiming identity and heritage in the face of disinvestment and negative stereotypes. The Sunset neighborhood, a cornerstone of Black life in Sikeston, became the heart of a growing annual tradition rooted in culture, community, and self-determination.

Over the years, the event evolved—weathering changes, growing support, and community interest. In 2020, amid national conversations about racial justice, the event took on a new layer of meaning. That year’s celebration became a Parade for Peace, featuring calls for healing, solidarity, and kindness. It reminded everyone that Sunset’s legacy wasn’t just about struggle—but also about strength, unity, and joy.

Return to Sunset Today: A Multi-Day Celebration. Now known as the Return to Sunset Celebration, the event has grown into a weekend-long tradition that attracts visitors from across Missouri and beyond. This year’s event will be held August 29–30, 2025, at Lincoln Park, and promises to continue building on its legacy with a full slate of activities for all ages.

Friday, August 29 kicks off with a Mix & Mingle at the Clinton Building at 6 p.m.—a lively evening of socializing, music, and reconnection.
On Saturday, August 30, the celebration goes into full swing, starting with a parade at 11 a.m. that marches through the heart of the community. Afterward, the park comes alive with activities.

The celebration is free and open to the public, proceeds from ticketed events help fund future community programs.

The Return to Sunset Celebration is more than a festival—it’s a declaration that the stories, traditions, and people of Sunset still matter. It honors a past shaped by perseverance, and invests in a future grounded in community pride.
Whether you’re a former resident returning home or a first-time visitor, the Return to Sunset invites you to witness a living history—a neighborhood that continues to celebrate itself, by itself, for everyone.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Friday night Mix & Mingle, visit the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce website. Tickets are available for $15 in advance and $20 at the door.