Paul Richardson: One thing leads to another- Neosho Fall Festival has arrived

By the time that anyone can read this, we will be standing on the threshold of the 55th Annual Fall Festival in Neosho. After all the preparation, planning, writing a Health & Safety Plan, making all the necessary changes needed to just make this happen in 2020, within a few hours it will all be over with.

When the good wife and I were farming, our main product and source of income was the production of hen turkeys. Every few weeks we would start a new flock of 10,000 plus birds. These birds would come at one day of age and we would begin the brooding process. 

There was a lot of preparation for the arrival of the poults, but for years immediately before the morning we would receive the flock I would get absolutely ill. It was a harsh attack that would be gone as soon as the poults were on the floor of the brooder house, safely in their pens. 

It is a remarkably similar experience with each and every event that I plan and present. But, as soon as the event opens, well, everything will be alright. This year will hold some additional apprehension, but at this time all appearances indicate that this is going to be a remarkable Festival, even with the adaptations that have been made.

It will be the Neosho Fall Festival that you have always know, only a little different. There will be the Lion’s Club Breakfast, craft vendors, direct sales vendors, lots of food vendors, a mixture of Folk, Rock and Country music on the main stage, fine art on North Wood Street, and a Jazz Stage at the end of the 100 block of North Wood. The Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show will be on the Historic Downtown Square and in the Historic District, there will be the Soap Box Derby, also known as (AKA) Coaster Car Races and show on South Washington, Laser Tag in the green space on the north side of East Spring, (just to the square side of the old location of Frye & Gray), open play Corn Hole boards setup on East Spring Street, a Model Train Display and swap meet in the Civic, and things to keep you occupied all day long.

Picnic tables will be randomly placed throughout the festival for places to sit and eat. Portable facilities will be located on each side of the square in the alleyways with hand wash stations nearby.

One can start the day at the ribbon cutting for the new bike trail and facilities in Morse Park at 9:00 am and still make the opening of the Festival at 10:00 am just in time for the National Anthem.

I hear that there is a boutique hop, whatever that is, going on in town during the duration of the day. So, as you can see, one thing just leads to another and there is plenty to do in Neosho on Saturday, October 3rd.

Stop by and see me if you have the chance. I will be wearing my coronavirus mask!