CARTHAGE, Mo. — While summer has just started, the Carthage Chamber of Commerce and the Maple Leaf Festival® volunteers are busy planning one of the most significant events in the Southwest Missouri region, the Maple Leaf Festival. This year will mark the 57th annual event and will be one of the biggest yet, with activities each day from October 13th – 21st. One of the most significant events is on the third Saturday in October, the Maple Leaf Festival parade.
“This year, we received calls in January asking if a theme had been chosen,” said Julie Reams, President of the Carthage Chamber, “we were just getting back in the office from Christmas break and had already started the planning for what fall would look like and the festival” added Reams.
The 57th Annual Maple Leaf Festival Parade theme is “There’s No Place Like Home.”
“We are excited about the theme and the look of the parade t-shirts,” said Reams. Athena Marketing, located in Joplin, provided all the design work for the T-shirt. “We are delighted to have collaborated with Athena Marketing on the logo design. I think our businesses will pull out all the stops, and we will see some amazing floats this year,” Reams added. “Merging an iconic phrase and all about Carthage, we hope that those creative minds building the traditional floats for the parade will bring to life our theme ‘There’s No Place Like Home.’” The Chamber will begin taking parade applications starting July 10th.
Another new look that is also being launched regarding the Maple Leaf Festival is the new logo. Items like sweatshirts, T-shirts, magnets, cups, and more will be branded with this new look. The marketing team of H.E. Williams worked with the Carthage Chamber to bring a new fresh look to the festival. Merchandise will be available for purchase in the coming months and will be available at the Chamber office. Pre-orders for specific items will be available soon through the new online store that the Chamber is currently developing on its website at: www.carthagechamber.com.
A full schedule of this 9-day event will be out later in the summer highlighting new and traditional events. Sponsorships are available, and volunteers are needed; contact the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 417-358-2373 for questions or more information.
