By Emily Younker
eyounker@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — James Estes can’t remember exactly how long he has been coming to the Maple Leaf parade.
“Well, I’m 27, so I guess 27 years,” he said Saturday morning as he, his wife and three sons waited for the parade. “The whole Maple Leaf thing, it’s a tradition. It has been here for a long time, and it’ll be here a long time after we’re gone.”
The 43rd Maple Leaf Festival, which ended Saturday, drew tens of thousands of people with its parade, the highlight event. The parade hosted more than 200 entries, including marching bands from junior high schools, high schools and Missouri Southern State University; floats by local businesses and churches; and the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Wendy Estes said her family comes to the parade each year primarily for the Clydesdales, the bands and the Shriners.
“Our main reason now is the kids, and of course the kids come for the concession stand,” Estes said as her two older sons, aged 2 and 7, munched doughnuts and sipped hot chocolate. “The candy is the biggest thing for them. They start throwing candy (during the parade) and they go nuts.”
Marla Tournear, Webb City, remembers marching in six Maple Leaf parades as a trumpet player for the Carthage junior high school and high school bands.
“We had to practice a lot beforehand because it’s so long,” she said.
She now finds the parade to be nostalgic.
“While I’m watching everyone else in it, I see all my old friends who are also watching,” she said.
Pat Lawhorn, Tournear’s mother, said she has been coming to the parade for about 40 years. Marching band is in her blood, too: She played the trombone when she was a high school student in Carterville.
“Carterville used to have a high school band, and I used to march in it. We marched around the square,” though it wasn’t part of the Maple Leaf parade, Lawhorn said.
Saturday marked the first Maple Leaf parade for Jim Brigman, of Purdy. The Clydesdales and the bands were among his favorite entries, particularly because his son was marching with the Purdy High School band.
“I’ve always wanted to come, so I got up early, and so did (my son),” Brigman said. “It’s unbelievable, all the people who come out.”
Carolyn Townsend, Neosho, has attended the parade for about 20 years with her husband and often with her grandchildren.
“We make it a tradition to come up here every year,” Townsend said. “It’s always good every year. ... It’s always a well-run parade.”
Townsend said she enjoys the parade for the foliage along Grand Avenue, though few trees were changing color.
“I think it’s a little early (for fall colors); I think they’re a little slower this year,” she said. “You never can predict it, but I think next weekend they’ll be in more full color.”
Theresa Nixon, Carthage, attended the parade after stopping by the pancake feed, which was hosted by the Carthage Fire Department, where her husband, Tom, is a battalion chief.
“It was wonderful,” she said of the breakfast. “The firemen do it every year for Maple Leaf and feed quite a few people.”
Nixon said the Clydesdales were her favorite entry.
“I love animals, and I go see them all the time,” she said. “My favorite is named Bud. He’s the biggest one.”
Mike Godfrey, Carthage, said the highlight for him was one of his three daughters, who rode the parade on a fire truck with her softball team. Godfrey and his family are recent transplants from Arkansas. This is their second Maple Leaf parade.
“Everybody turns out for it, and you can tell it’s entrenched in the Carthage tradition,” he said. “Everybody in town plans around it, and everybody’s aware of it and seems to have something to do with it in some form or fashion. It’s a big deal in Carthage, a big tradition.”
