Benton celebrating 50th Neighbor Days Festival

BENTON, Mo. — Benton, Missouri’s annual three-day Neighbor Days Festival originally debuted in 1925 and is back this week for its official 50-year celebration.

“Actually, this thing started back in the 1920s,” said Jim Wade, president of Benton Chamber of Commerce. “But during World War II, they stopped it, then didn’t start it back up again until 1969.”

The festival began Thursday at Benton City Park near the Benton Community Building, Wade said, and has become an iconic event drawing a lot of attention.

Wade said the busiest time each day is usually around 7 p.m., “except on Saturday with the mud race.”

“That’s a busy time and draws a big crowd,” he said.

The mud race — with an expected 25 vehicles — has been a core event for 10 years Wade said.

Admission and parking for the festival is free, Wade said.

Wade said there are probably 12 “big rides,” in addition to the children’s rides. And the typical fair food would be supplemented by food stands provided by local churches, he said.

“We have a ride company, PBJ Happee Days Shows, and I’d say they are comparable to that of the SEMO District Fair, as far as the quality of rides,” he said.

Saturday’s festivities kick off with a parade at 10:30 a.m. that “fills up the town,” Wade said, with an estimated attendance of nearly 3,500.

“We have to block Route 61 and Route 77 for that,” Wade said. “The whole parade route is just arm-in-arm.”

Heartland Idol is also scheduled for Saturday, as well as a cornhole tournament and various children’s games, he said.

The Keith Morrison Band will play on Friday and Saturday.

“Benton is a small town, but we get about three times the population that weekend,” Wade said. “It’s kind of like a big reunion.”

For first timers, Wade emphasized attendance prizes people can win by signing up at the festival’s chamber of commerce booth. Winners are drawn every 10 minutes, Wade said, with prizes donated by area businesses.

Other events for the festival include Tiny Mr. and Miss Neighbor Day Pageant, Little Mr. and Miss Neighbor Day Pageant and Junior Miss Neighbor Day Pageant.

A winner would be selected for the best picture from the restarted Benton Neighbor Day in 1969, receiving a $100 cash prize, Wade said.

“It’s a community thing; just friendly people getting together,” Wade said.