Legion’s 74th Cotton Carnival starts Tuesday

SIKESTON — The cotton harvest is underway which also means it’s time for the 74th Annual Sikeston American Legion Cotton Carnival.

The Henry Meldrum Post No. 114 of the American Legion’s annual fundraiser will run Tuesday through Saturday at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds. “A Salute to American Legion Auxiliary” is this year’s theme.

Pageants begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the Little Mister and Miss Cotton Carnival contests on the Cotton Carnival stage on the midway.

The competition for Junior Miss Sikeston for Sikeston freshmen only will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday.

The Miss Cotton Carnival contest, which is open to all area females in grades 9-12 and Sikeston High School sophomores and juniors, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Miss Sikeston Pageant which features Sikeston senior females will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Food and rides are also what draw people to the carnival year after year.

The Legion’s famous fish sandwiches and hamburgers will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and about 5 p.m. to close Tuesday through Friday and from about noon until close Saturday.

During regular midway hours of 5 p.m. to close Tuesday through Friday and noon until close Saturday, the Sons of the American Legion will serve french fries, barbecue sandwiches, hot wings, chili cheese fries. The Shriners and Auxiliary also offer other tasty foods for carnival goers.

There will be a variety of rides for all ages. Parking and admission to the carnival are free.

Rides open at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at noon Saturday. All rides take one coupon which cost $1.50 each. Wristbands for the carnival rides will be offered Tuesday, Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday for $25.

The Cotton Carnival wouldn’t be complete without its parade, which remains one of the largest parades in the state.

“The parade will feature floats to be judged in adult and youth categories. Grand prize is $1,000 with a combined payout of over $3,000,” said 2018 parade chairman Shawn Goodman.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 29 at Pine Street near the Sikeston Field House. From Pine Street, the parade will travel north to Malone Avenue, then Malone Avenue west to downtown Sikeston.

“The same rules will apply as in years past. The only motorcycles that will be allowed in the parade will be our American Legion Riders and the SEMO Shriners,” Goodman said.

Other than that, parade attendees can expect a lot of candy, he said.

“We will have candy being handed out (not thrown) to the kids along the parade route,” Goodman said. “With this year being an election year we will have numerous politicians in the parade.”

Republican floats will line up on Kathleen Street off of Pine Street, and the Democrats on Matthews Street, he said.

“Once again this year we will have judged floats and high school bands. The bands will congregate at the Sikeston High School main building and will be released in the order they arrive,” Goodman said. “If you have a float that will be judged as a youth float, you can line up on Courtney Street by Matthews Elementary.”

Adult floats line up on East Gladys, he said.

“All floats will have to enter on East Gladys or Courtney, Goodman said. Greer Street will be closed off to the public and kept lear for our American Legion dignitaries. All other entries can go to the Field House parking lot or line up on Ables Road,” he said.

Parade marshals wearing neon green vests will direct floats on where to line up and when to enter the parade. All floats will have a tag to identify them to the judges. They will also have an entry form to fill out when they arrive. Floats should be at their locations and ready by 9:30 a.m.

“I want to thank everyone for making our parade the best in all of Missouri,” Goodman said.

The Legion-sponsored Cotton Carnival and parade began in 1944 as a homecoming to World War II veterans.

“So come on out and remember what a family tradition feels like or make new family traditions,” Goodman said. “Reconnect with family and friends you haven’t seen in years.”