Green Castle Plans Labor Day Celebration
For over 78 years, the town of Green Castle, Missouri has held a Labor Day celebration; including rodeos, horse and pony pulls, music, food, truck and tractor pulls, marching bands and a parade. This year is no different but with a few changes to mark the occasion. As families come together to celebrate the end of summer, the beginning of school, and have time to remember past celebrations to the town of 275 people.
This year the celebration will run from August 30th thru September 2nd, at the Green Castle Lions Opera House and the city park. Friday night, August 30th, a group of fearless young riders will perform for our community in the Riders of the Sky Wild West Show. This Wild West Show group has been working rodeos around the tri-state area. The show will include trick riders, mounted shooting, stick horse races, bull whip cracking, trick roping, duck cutting and will feature Moo, the riding steer. Show starts at 7:30 pm. Gate is $5.00 with kids 10 and under are free. Don’t worry about cooking dinner that evening! The Lions Club food stand will be open and serving cheeseburgers, nacho pies, slices of pie, and much more.
Who doesn’t enjoy a classic car or pickup, restored and polished up ready to welcome a trophy? On Saturday, August 31st, in front of the Lions Opera will be our 28th Annular Car Show. Registration is at 10:00 am to 11:30 am, cost is $20, and you receive a dash plaque. Trophy for the “Best of Show” and top 15 plaques to be awarded at 1:30 pm. A 50/50 drawing will be held with games throughout the car show. If you are interested in pre-registering, it must be completed by August 25th, cost is $18 and includes a t-shirt. Contact Veronica Snyder for more information, 660-341-3940. Brek and Veronica Snyder do a wonderful job with the car show as they honor memories of Vance Wernert, Christ Hatcher, Joel McCarty, Rick Steel, Joe Conway, and Travis Clapp.
Rain or shine, area vendors are welcome to set up in the park Saturday and/ or Sunday before 11:00 am. (The Lions Opera House will be made available in case of severe weather.) Pass the word to local vendors with crafts or products to sell. No fee will be charged! The food stand will be open by noon for vendors and customers.
At the park, Saturday night, will be the first performance of the High Stakes Rodeo Company as once again we host the Carroll “Bud” Snyder Memorial Rodeo. Grand entry begins at 7:30 pm and the rodeo will begin at 8:00 pm. For kids, there will be the calf scramble and junior steer riding. Also performing Saturday evening, will be the Riders in the Sky trick riders. Adults at the game will be $10, with kids 6 to 12, $5, and kids 5 and under are free.
Looking for those cute babies for our annual Baby Show at 1:00 pm, on Sunday at the park. From birth to 36 months will be honored for their cuteness, personality, and whatever shines through. Following will be the kid’s games and pedal pull for ages 3 to 10 years old. Come on out and bring your lawn chairs to enjoy all the action. Stick around and check out vendors, have some food and get ready for the High Stakes Rodeo’s 2nd performance. Grand entry will begin at 7:30 pm and the rodeo will begin at 8:00 pm. Add some more calf scrambling and junior steer riding for the kids to make a great second night out. Ticket prices same as Saturday. Come and see rodeo contestants from all over Missouri, Iowa and URA!
Everyone loves a parade and this year is the 78th annual Labor Day parade. Line-up begins at 11:00 am Monday, September 2nd. Someone will be around to get your information to be announced at the city hall. A blast from a fire truck siren will let you know the parade has started. The parade will have area fire trucks, DAV, American Legion, Green City Marching Band, local business floats, bicycles, ATV’s, cars, trucks, politicians, wagon teams, horse riders and who ever brings up the end will. The parade will go from one end of Green Castle to the other end. One of the most important elements to the parade, besides candy, is the Ramah Darr Memorial Clown Act award. No matter how old you are, be a clown!
During the parade a drawing will be held to announce the winners of the two bicycles and two quilts. Tickets will be available at the park the entire weekend and before the parade.
If you have not had enough cheeseburgers, hot dogs, nacho pies, soda and pies, the Green Castle Lions Club will be hosting lunch following the parade at the Lions Club Opera House. Pulled pork, sides and desserts will be served for a free will donation.
Closing the Green Castle Celebration will be a special Labor Day BINGO at the Lions Club. Doors will open at 3:00 pm, with Early Bird at 4:00 pm. Regular Bingo will follow. More money – regular price for cards!
The Green Castle Lions Club sponsors this weekend with a lot of help from community members and surrounding communities. THANK YOU for your continued support of our fun weekend with a little something for everyone! If you have questions or need more information please contact Kathy Clawson 660-216-4717, Carol Garrity 660-342-9096, or any Lions member or the Green Castle City Hall 660-874-4717. See you all in the Castle August 30th, 31st, September 1st and 2nd!
