Cotton Carnival celebrates 80 years with ’24 festivities

SIKESTON — This year, the Sikeston American Legion Cotton Carnival and Parade turns 80.

Memory after memory has been passed down generations. And, if not for a group of veterans spearheading the event eight decades ago, the annual event never would have materialized.

“A lot has changed, and a lot hasn’t changed; that is the best part about it,” said Sikeston American Legion Post 114 Commander Frankie Adams.

After returning from World War II, there weren’t any parades.

So, once more, local veterans heeded their call to action.

“There wasn’t anything for them,” said Adams. “There weren’t any parades; there wasn’t anything in Southeast Missouri. So, they got together with the American Legion, just so they could have a carnival. It started with the local veterans who wanted to have a parade to march in, just like the big parades in New York and other places, for all of the veterans coming back. That is how it began 80 years ago.”

The event, set for Tuesday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds, has epitomized consistency, as not one year has passed without the communal camaraderie and celebrations.

Cotton Carnival gates open at 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon Saturday, Sept. 28. Wristbands will be $30 and available Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. All rides are coupons only on Thursday.

The Little Mr. and Miss Cotton Carnival Contest is at 7 p.m. Wednesday followed by Junior Miss Sikeston at 8 p.m. Thursday and Miss Cotton Carnival at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 and Miss Sikeston at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. The inaugural Lambert’s Throwed Rolls Eating Contest will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.

Culminating the event will be one of the state’s largest parades, the Cotton Carnival Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. This year’s theme is “Eight Decades of Success.” Assembly for parade floats begins at 9:15 a.m. followed by the parade at 10 a.m. The parade route will begin at Pine Street and then north to Malone Avenue, west to Scott Street and then disperse in vacant parking lots west of Scott Street.

“It is pretty impressive that it has carried on, and it is run by the American Legion,” said Adams. “It (the parade) used to run right down the middle of town, and this year, we are lucky enough that we are going to have nine local bands from area schools participate (in the parade) this year.”

James Kellogg, the National First Vice from the American Legion, will serve as the parade grand marshal.

“We were fortunate enough to get him,” Adams said of Kellogg. “We also will have our state officers here.”

Like many walks of life, growth has been integral to the parade’s collective success.

“Every year, this parade just gets bigger, more participants, “ Adams said. “And this year is going to be … it is an election year. We have to put Democrats on Matthews (Avenue) and Republicans on Kathleen. We have people who know each other, like each other, and run against each other in Southeast Missouri. We are very fortunate not to have the big city issues.”

The Girl Scouts of America will carry the colors during the parade.

“They go all out for us, put up barricades and cover all of the intersections for us,” said Adams. “It is a really long parade. We have 16,000 people in Sikeston, and there are more people — they must be coming from out of town.”

One change is candy distribution, which commenced approximately 10 years ago.

“You have to pass out the candy. You cannot throw it because we don’t want anyone getting hurt. We don’t want a kid to run out to get a piece and get hit by somebody,” said Adams. “That is a safety measure. We have to be cautious because there are more cars, more everything in the parade.”