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MOKANE, Mo. — Friday night’s demolition derby was just the beginning for folks spending their Labor Day weekend in Mokane.
The 74th annual Mokane World’s Fair continued Saturday, with its parade, performance by South Callaway High School marching band, bingo and a Missouri Farm Pullers tractor pull in the midway. An antique truck and tractor pull is scheduled for 7 p.m. today.
The fair is the only fundraiser for the Mokane Lions Club, according to Terry Howard, the club president. The club uses the money it raises to help put on the next year’s fair, but also for fire victims and for eye care.
Howard said that even after helping at the fair for 25 years, he doesn’t have everything about it figured out. Huge crowds — approaching last year’s 7,000 visitors — returned to the fair for opening night.
“We sold over 1,200 hamburgers,” he said. “We ran out.”
Volunteers scrambled Saturday morning to replace the burgers and buns, and to prepare for another massive crowd, he said.
“It doesn’t happen every year, but we’re getting bigger and bigger,” Howard said. “It was a big crowd last night.”
Based on how much change he had to make Friday night, Bryan Rogers, the club’s treasurer, said the crowd was bigger. He explained he knew about how many $1 bills he had to have on hand for making change, compared to 2022. And he said he ran out and had to send a runner to gather more bills from a local business to get more.
“(Part is the) weather,” Howard said. “There are no other carnivals around. And this has been going on for years and years.”
Barbara Williams, whose late husband was from Mokane, said she now has a lot of extended family in Mokane.
“We come up every year,” Williams said. “There are lots of people and food. And this is like a big family reunion.”
As she waited for the parade Saturday, Williams said her family attended the demolition derby the night before. It was loud, she said, but she didn’t mind.
At least it was dry, so the participants didn’t get stuck. Other members of her family said they preferred the mud, because some of the drivers appeared to intentionally sling mud at spectators.
The event has something for everyone, Williams said. Children can ride the rides, adults can watch the tractor pulls, and the older ladies can play Bingo.
Libby Cox, 10, of Fulton, brought an ice cream bucket to the parade. She said she does it every year. The candy is her favorite part, she said.
Six-year-old Jordan Adams doesn’t know about that. But he does know he likes candy. Last year, at 5, he filled up a plastic grocery bag with candy from parade floats and participants.
He was ready again this year.
“I like when they come by and throw candy,” Jordan said. “I try to catch it. I try to catch it every year. Last year, I got like a bag — bag and a half.”
See also:
Mokane World’s Fair schedule on Facebook
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: Gavin Vaughn throws candy from a car passing through Mokane during the annual Mokane World’s Fair Saturday morning.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune Custom and vintage cars, trucks and tractors are among the favorite sites of the Mokane World’s Fair parade Saturday morning.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: Five-year-old Connor Arney, of Steedman, winds up to throw candy to the back rows of watchers standing alongside the parade Saturday morning.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: Max Bevell, with his daughter Marleigh, 16 months, of Holts Summit, watch as the Mokane World’s Fair parade passes through Mokane Saturday morning.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: Custom and vintage cars, trucks and tractors are among the favorite sites of the Mokane World’s Fair parade Saturday morning.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: 6-year-old Jordan Adams said his favorite part of the Mokane World’s Fair is when people come by and throw candy. He said he tries to catch the candy. Jordan carried a plastic grocery bag to hold what he caught.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: Callaway County Sheriff’s deputy Logan Brewer tosses bubble gum to waiting throngs as he participates in the Mokane World’s Fair parade late Saturday morning.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: The South Callaway High School marching band continues the tradition of the band leading the Mokane World’s Fair parade Saturday morning. The band led a group of nearly 100 vehicles and floats down the street.[ad_2]
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