CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Chamber of Commerce has released the official schedule for the 60th annual Maple Leaf Festival, which will include more than a week of community events. The long-running festival is set to begin on Friday, October 9, and conclude on Saturday, October 17.
The milestone celebration will kick off on Friday, October 9, at the Carthage Saddle Club Arena with the Maple Leaf Festival Rodeo, starting at 6 p.m. A second night of rodeo action is scheduled for Saturday, October 10.
The opening weekend will draw heavy foot traffic to Central Park. Saturday, October 10, will feature the Baby and Toddler Show at 10 a.m. and the BBQ Cook-Off at 11:30 a.m. On Sunday, October 11, Central Park will host the annual Chili Cook-off at noon, followed by the Chicken Pageant at 1 p.m., and the popular Dog Show and Dachshund Races at 2 p.m. Over at the Carthage R-9 Auditorium, the Maple Leaf Festival Pageants are slated to get underway Sunday at 4 p.m.
Midweek programming will move between the historic Carthage Square and local parks. Monday, October 12, will feature Touch-A-Truck from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Historic Square, including a sensory-friendly quiet hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday also marks the kickoff for the weeklong Quilt Crawl. On Tuesday, October 13, Taco Tuesday will take over Central Park starting at 5 p.m. The annual Night of Praise is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Park Pavilion; attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Local performers will take the stage on Thursday, October 15, for the Maple Leaf Live! talent contest. This event is set for 7 p.m. inside the Carthage R-9 Auditorium.
The final festival weekend will open on Friday, October 16, with Carthage Rotary serving "Brats on the Square" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday evening will feature live music on the downtown stage, starting with Chad Jesee at 6 p.m., followed by the 80s tribute act Members Only at 8 p.m. Cherry’s will operate an on-site beverage bar beginning at 6 p.m.
The festival will reach its peak on Saturday, October 17. Runners can start early with the Maple Leaf 5K, with check-in at 7 a.m. at Carthage Junior High. The headline 60th Annual Maple Leaf Festival Parade will step off around the Historic Square at 9 a.m., accompanied by street vendors open throughout the day. Additional events on Saturday include the Car Show at CRM, located at 1900 S. Grand Ave., starting at 8 a.m., and MapleCon (ToyCon) at the YMCA Youth Activity Center at 10 a.m. The Marching Band Field Competition will begin at 11 a.m. at David Haffner Stadium. Following the parade, an Encore! Concert will offer a free live performance on the Historic Square.
For complete schedules, vendor registration, or additional event details, the Carthage Chamber of Commerce can be contacted at 417-358-2373 or through its website.