SPARTA, Mo. — Sparta Persimmon Days will return Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17, with two days of live music, vendors, food and family activities at Roller Park.
The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days and will feature crafters and other vendors offering candles, crafts, home décor and other items. Food vendors are expected to offer a variety of selections, including barbecue, pizza, kettle corn and fried pies.
Live music is also planned both days.
Saturday’s activities will include the Persimmon Days Parade at 10 a.m. The parade will follow the traditional route, beginning on Division Street before traveling south on Oak Avenue, west on Highway 14 and north on Highway 125.
First Baptist Sparta will sponsor a Trunk or Treat from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, giving children an additional family friendly activity during the festival.
The annual event celebrates the persimmon, an orange fruit that is edible when fully ripe but is known for its strong astringent taste when unripe. Persimmons are also connected to a long standing bit of folklore that claims the shape found inside the seed can be used to predict the coming winter.
Festival organizers are also accepting vendors interested in selling crafts, merchandise or services during the event.
Sparta Persimmon Days will be held at Roller Park in Sparta. Additional information and vendor details are available at spartapersimmondays.com, and festival updates are available through the Sparta Persimmon Days Facebook page.
