HARTVILLE, Mo. — The Hartville Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 48th annual Hartville Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10, bringing a full day of food, entertainment, contests and family activities to the town square.
The annual festival, traditionally held on the second Saturday in October, draws more than 2,500 people each year and will feature more than 40 vendor booths, inflatables, live entertainment, contests and a parade.
Activities will begin with vendor setup at 6:30 a.m., followed by a prayer circle at 8:45 a.m. Vendor booths and inflatables will open at 9 a.m., when merchants’ drawing tickets will also go on sale at the Chamber booth.
The Lions Club Trail of Tears Car Show will also begin at 9 a.m. at Lake Casador Park.
Live entertainment on the main stage will begin at 9:45 a.m. with Landon Laird and Band.
Winners of the Best Decorated Pumpkin Contest will be announced at 10:30 a.m. Pumpkins will be displayed near the main stage. The contest is sponsored by Progressive Ozark Bank and the Hartville Art Club.
Kyle Rummens will perform at 10:45 a.m., followed by the Cutest Baby Contest at 11:30 a.m. The baby contest is sponsored by Stockmans Bank.
Landon Laird and Band will return at 11:50 a.m., followed by the Kids Costume Contest at 12:35 p.m. The costume contest is sponsored by Lila Dean’s. Rummens will return to the stage at 1 p.m.
The Fall Festival Queen Coronation will take place on the main stage at 2 p.m. Parade participants will line up at the school beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Grand prize winners in the merchants’ drawing will be announced at 3 p.m., and the Fall Festival parade will begin at 3:30 p.m.
The pumpkin decorating contest is open to students from preschool through 12th grade. Participants may carve, paint or otherwise decorate their pumpkins, and all entrants will receive a candy prize.
Cash prizes will be awarded in four age divisions: preschool through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade. First place in each division will receive $10, second place will receive $5 and third place will receive $2.
An overall grand prize winner will receive $15 and a sandwich bag of candy.
Grovespring students should bring their pumpkins to Grovespring Elementary on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Hartville elementary students should take decorated pumpkins to their classroom teachers, while Hartville high school students should bring entries to the high school art room before school Thursday, Oct. 8.
Entries will be judged before the festival and placed on display Saturday. Those wishing to keep their pumpkins may pick them up after noon on the day of the festival.
For more information about the pumpkin contest, contact Jace Keith at Hartville High School at 741-6223, ext. 229, or 464-9224.
Festival visitors can also expect a variety of food throughout the day, including kettle corn, barbecue, turkey legs, funnel cakes, cotton candy, shaved ice, old fashioned soda and fresh squeezed lemonade.
Vendors interested in participating may obtain an application through the Hartville Area Chamber of Commerce website. Completed forms and payment may be returned to Stockmens Bank in Hartville or mailed to the Hartville Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 307, Hartville, MO 65667.
