Schell City Fall Festival – celebrating 145 years

Schell City is getting ready to celebrate the145th anniversary of the town with the upcoming Schell City Fall Festival slated for Sept. 9 and 10.

“Autumn in Schell City” will kick off at 8:00 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, when bidding begins at the silent auction in the Community Building. This year’s auction boasts a building full of donated items by area businesses and residents. Commemorative plates of Schell City, Harwood and Vernon county will be up for bid along with a handmade cedar chest and bench made from a vintage tailgate with other items too numerous to mention – just come and see. Bidding concludes at 8 p.m.

The weekend officially kicks off at 6 p.m. with a welcome by Mayor Tom Haddix followed by the introduction of this year’s Grand Marshals, John R. and Lucille Hoagland. The remainder the of evening will include the Royalty Coronation, music by Blue Mound Sound and the Elephant March. It will be capped off with a street dance by DJ Jared Jeffries.

Saturday morning starts early with breakfast served by the Schell City 4-H Club while the rest of the booths begin opening and preparation begins for the Kids and Adult Pedal Pull on Main Street. There’s plenty going on for everyone involved including a 4-on-4 Volleyball Tourney, Quilt and Afghan Show, Kid’s games, Horseshoe Tournament, the Car, Tractor & Motorcycle Show, and the Baby and ‘Lil Cutie Contest. You are welcome to participate or just watch from the comfort of a lawn chair.

At 1 p.m. the MO-KAN Squares will entertain and engage the crowd, followed by music by John Caudle at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m. its parade time with one of the largest small town parades in southwest Missouri. There is no charge to enter and prizes are awarded for the best and most unique entries. You’re sure to see something or someone you don’t normally just run across on a daily basis.

More musical entertainment is scheduled along with a “Fun Fashion Show” that everyone is invited to participate in if you “have just the right outfit.”

The Schell City Fire Department smorgasbord begins at 5 p.m. which is the major fundraiser for the department annually. Fried fish, turkey, chicken and pulled pork along with all the trimmings will be included. It’s all you can eat for as long as the food lasts.

The evening events include the Golf Ball Challenge, Talent Show, Hairy Leg contest, raffle drawings and the street dance featuring Distant Kin who always draw a crowd with connections to our local area. At 10 p.m. will be the fireworks show put on annually by Wilbur’s Fireworks which is a crowd favorite as well as the announcement of the larger cash raffle prizes.

Of note is the fact that the annual celebration is sponsored by Schell City Community Betterment and that festival proceeds are not only used to continue the yearly event but are also utilized for many community projects throughout the year including donations to NEVC schools, both the Schell City Rural Volunteer Fire Department and the Walker Fire Department, community facilities in Schell City, and also sponsorship for Santa Claus Coming to Town and the Easter Egg Hunt, to name a few.

So please join us in Schell City on the weekend of Sept. 9 and 10 for some relaxation and fun, food and entertainment that your whole family will enjoy. We’ll see you there.