Festival History

Maple Leaf Calendar of Events and Vendor Registration
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 57th year in 2023, the Maple Leaf Festival welcomes you.