Carthage, MO 55th Annual
Calendar of Events
Downloads
Chili Cook-off Participant Form
2021 Baby Pageant Form
2021 Toddler Pageant Form
2021 Little Miss & Mister Pageant Form
2021 Prince & Princess Pageant Form
2021 Maple Leaf Festival Queen Pageant Form
2021 Dog Show Registration Form
2021 Dachshund Dash Registration Form
2021 Grand Marshal Nomination Form
Applications
2021 Arts & Crafts Vendor Application
2021 Commercial Vendor Application
2021 Concession Vendor Application
2021 Non-Profit Vendor Application
2021 Parade Application
2021 Lip Sync Competition
Parade
The 2021 Maple Leaf Festival Parade will take place on October 16th, beginning at 9 a.m.!! In an effort to make the Festival bigger and better than ever after 2020, the parade will NOT go around the entire square as normal. The parade will go along the South side on the square on 4th Street, down to Grant. It will then follow Grant down to Grand, Grand to Centennial and over to River as normal. We encourage visitors, both local and traveling, to line the parade route and join in the spirit of Maple Leaf as festive floats travel down the 1.7 mile route.
Festival History
Beginning in 1966 as a marching band competition, the annual Maple Leaf Festival took its name from Mother Nature’s array of glorious fall colors. Every year, the city of Carthage proudly welcomes 80,000+ visitors to this wonderful fall celebration.
Every year, on the 3rd Saturday of October, the biggest day of the festival begins with the largest parade in Southwest Missouri. This keystone event begins at 9 a.m. and ends around noon. The parade begins on the Historic Square and ends at the Carthage Jr. High.
Events are scheduled throughout the day including the band festival, art & crafts vendors, car and tractor shows, wine tasting, quilt show, food vendors, and live entertainment.
The month of October is filled with activities including art and museum exhibits, lobster boil, bike tour, carnival, evening 5K, beauty pageants, dog show, chicken pageant, gospel sing, cruise-in, costume ball, and a lip-sync competition. Celebrating its 53rd year in 2019, the Maple Leaf Festival welcomes you.
Event Sponsors
Gallery
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Parade
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Cruise Night
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Maple Leaf Princess and Prince
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Maple Leaf Princess and Prince
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Maple Leaf Princess and Prince
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Maple Leaf Bike Race
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Parade 2017 – Equine Best in Show
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Parade 2017 – Veterans
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Parade 2017 – Carthage Athletes
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Parade 2017 – Carthage High School
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Parade 2017 – Carthage High School
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Parade 2017 – Grand Marshal
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Parade 2017 – Police Color Guard
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Cruise Night 2017
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Pride Amusements Carnival 2017
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Pride Amusements Carnival 2017
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Pride Amusements Carnival 2017
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Brats on the Square 2017
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Plein Air 2017
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Plein Air 2017
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Plein Air 2017
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Worship Night 2017
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Dog Show 2017 – Best in Show
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Pageants 2017 – Queen Contestants
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Pageants 2017 – Prince & Princess
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Pageants 2017 – Little Miss & Little Mister
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Pageants 2017 – Toddler Winners
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Pageants 2017 – Baby Winners
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Pageants 2017 – Baby & Toddler Pageants
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Maple Leaf Festival Grand Marshal 2017 – Bill Haughawout
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Maple Leaf Shirts 2017
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Parade 2016 – Joplin High School Marching Band
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Parade 2016 – Webb City High School Marching Band
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Parade 2016 – Horses
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Parade 2016 – Grand Marshal Betty Bell
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Parade 2016 – Carthage High School Marching Band
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Fireworks 2016
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Parade 2016 – Carthage Police Color Guard
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Parade 2016 – Royalty
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Parade 2016 – Zerbini Circus Elephants