Carthage, Missouri - The Maple Leaf City

10/16/2026

https://www.carthagemo.gov/o/carthage/page/agendas-minutes

10/16/2026

🌳 A proud moment for Carthage! 🌳

Congratulations to the City of Carthage on being recognized with a 2026 Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence! At the heart of this recognition is the work of the Carthage Tree Board, whose members have helped bring together the planning, partnerships and efforts behind Carthage’s continued investment in its community trees. Working alongside the City of Carthage Parks & Recreation Department and conservation partners, the Tree Board continues to advocate for the care and future of Carthage’s tree canopy.

A big thank you to the Missouri Department of Conservation for this recognition and for highlighting the work being done right here in Carthage! 🌲💚

Congratulations to Bekki Galloway of Fayette, City of Carthage, Brown Bear Tree Care of Springfield, and the Benton Park Neighborhood Association as winners of the 2026 Missouri Arbor Awards of Excellence! More in the comments.

10/16/2026

A great spotlight on Ward 1 Council Member Juan Topete and his heart for serving Carthage! 🍁👏 A big thank you to KSN 16 Dustin Lattimer and FourStatesHomepage.com for sharing his story and highlighting his commitment to giving back to the community he calls home.

He may not be a Carthage native, but his love for the “Maple Leaf City” and his family is what drove Juan Topete to not only run for city council, but win.

10/16/2026

🚧 DOWNTOWN CLOSURE: The corner of 3rd & Main is now closed. The entire Square will close at 5:00 PM today and reopen at 7:00 PM Saturday, October 17 for the Maple Leaf festivities.

🎶 Tonight on the Square:
Chad Jesse | 6:00–7:30 PM
Members Only Band | 8:00–10:30 PM

A huge thank you to the Carthage Missouri Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the Maple Leaf Festival, and the many volunteers and community partners who put so much time and effort into making this longtime Carthage tradition possible. We truly appreciate all they do to bring our community together! 🍁❤️

Please plan accordingly when traveling downtown and enjoy the festivities!

Join us tomorrow evening on the Historic Downtown Carthage Square for an unforgettable night of live music under the lights of the beautiful Jasper County Courthouse! 🍁🎶

🎸 Chad Jesee takes the stage at 6:00 PM and performs until 7:30 PM.

🎤 Then at 8:00 PM, Members Only takes over and rocks the square until 10:30 PM!

Bring your lawn chairs, family, and friends and enjoy a fantastic evening of FREE entertainment. Be sure to stop by Cherry's Beverage Bar for a refreshment, and support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jasper & Newton Counties by purchasing a soda or water from their booth. Proceeds directly benefit their organization and the important work they do in our community. 🤩✨

10/15/2026

🍁 Maple Leaf Parade Info from Carthage PD 🍁

The Maple Leaf Parade kicks off this Saturday, October 17th, at 9:00 AM! Expect road closures and delays around the Square and along the parade route throughout the morning.

🚧 Carthage Square Closure: The Square will close tomorrow, Friday, October 16th, at 5:00 PM. The Square must be completely vacated at that time and will reopen on Saturday, October 17th, at 7:00 PM.

🚗 Handicapped parking will be available on the northeast side of the Carthage 6th Grade Center (6th & Grant). The lot closes Friday at 4:00 PM and reopens after the parade. A valid placard or plate is required — violators will be towed.

🚔 Vehicles parked along the parade route or in staging areas must be moved by 6:00 AM Saturday to avoid being towed.

Thanks for helping us keep the Maple Leaf Parade safe and fun for everyone! 🍁

10/15/2026

Unfortunately, scams like these target community events far too often. The City of Carthage encourages everyone to be cautious, avoid engaging with fraudulent accounts, and verify information directly with event organizers. Please help us spread the word and protect our local vendors and events!

We have noticed that there are individuals claiming to be organizers of the Maple Leaf Festival Vendor Market. We are NO longer accepting any applications. Do not contact anyone outside of the Carthage Chamber office regarding vendor applications. 🚨 🍁

Thank you!

10/14/2026

City of Carthage Honors Local Educators During Alpha Delta Kappa Month

The City of Carthage is proud to recognize October as Alpha Delta Kappa Month and celebrate the ded...

10/14/2026

The Carthage Parks and Recreation Department is seeking qualified contractors to construct a pole barn. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit competitive bids from qualified vendors to meet the needs of a new pole barn.

In order to be considered, two copies of the proposal must be received at Carthage City Hall at 326 Grant Street Carthage, MO 64836, on or before November 12th, 2026 by 11:00 a.m. CST. All proposals shall be in a sealed package marked: BID / POLE BARN.
View the full RFP here: https://aptg.co/y61vpr

10/13/2026

Night of Praise Moved to Memorial Hall Due to Weather

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce has announced that this year's Night of Praise, a longtime Maple Leaf Festival® tradition, has been moved indoors due to forecasted rain.

The event will now be held on Wednesday, October 14, at 5:30 p.m. at Carthage Memorial Hall.

Attendees can look forward to an uplifting evening of worship, music, and fellowship as the community comes together to celebrate one of the most cherished events of the Maple Leaf Festival®. Worship will be offered in both English and Spanish, and admission is free for all. Chairs will be provided, so there is no need to bring lawn chairs.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, October 14
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Carthage Memorial Hall
Admission: Free
Worship: English and Spanish
Seating: Chairs provided

The City of Carthage is pleased to share this important update from the Carthage Chamber of Commerce and encourages residents and visitors to help spread the word about the location change.

Special thanks to Precious Moments Chapel and Gift Shoppe and the Carthage Christian Ministerial Alliance for their sponsorship and support of this meaningful community event.

Make plans to join friends, neighbors, and visitors for an evening of worship, fellowship, and community as part of the 60th Annual Maple Leaf Festival®. We look forward to seeing you at Carthage Memorial Hall.