Music, parades and more at Leadwood Fall Festival

LEADWOOD — This year’s Fall Festival in Leadwood City Park will be sponsored by the Leadwood Community Betterment Association instead of the city, but the format will remain similar.

The three-day festival will continue to be free and will include concerts and the parade through time.

Events begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 with a concert by Buddy D and the Cruisers. The group plays music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and includes an Elvis impersonator. Some crafts vendors and food booths will be open.

Hay rides will be offered all three days.

Saturday’s activities begin with the traditional parade through town. It starts at 10 a.m. in front of West County Middle School and ends at the park. Following the parade, at approximately 11 a.m., the Boy Scouts will conduct a flag ceremony with flags provided by State Rep. Linda Black, D-Bonne Terre. Vendors and food booths will be open throughout the day and the Masonic Lodge will offer barbecue meals. There are still openings for vendors. To sign up, call city hall at 573-562-7125.

Activities during the day include pony rides, a petting zoo, games, giveaways, inflatable bouncy house and slide. The association is considering whether to build a straw maze.

The Leadwood K-9 unit plans a demonstration in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Leadwood will be honored in ceremony around 3 p.m.

Roy Whaley and Ambush will perform from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by Broken from 4 to 6 p.m.

Broken is one of two bands new to the festival. They play “upbeat country” and some soft rock, said Larry Hackworth of the association.

Headliners, Route 67, with special appearances throughout their performance by Grand Ole Opry performer and Missouri native Norville Dollar, will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Dollar, born in Hematite and raised in Festus, has performed with stars including Loretta Lynn and George Jones. He hosted the weekly Norville Dollar Show on KPLR-TV, Channel 11, in St. Louis, during the 1960s and again in the mid-1970s. Dollar retired from the music business until his wife died in 2006.

Sunday’s events begin at 10 a.m. with a community church service under the tent. All are welcome. Craft and food booths will be open and games will be offered following the church service. At 1 p.m., the contemporary Christian music group, Acts 5:20 will perform, followed by Missing Peace Worship Band at 3 p.m. The festival ends at 5 p.m.

For more information, call Hackman at 573-366-1036.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.