Since 1980, the Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the City of Gladstone, has organized Gladfest for their fall festival. Some of the earliest themes have been A Family Affair, A Fall Fantasia, and Gladfest Salutes the U.S.A. For 2026 the theme is Crank it to 11 Maximize Gladfest 47. There will be slow racing cars during the festival at Linden Square on October 2, 3 and 4.
In past years, the festival has had pumpkin decorating contests, Miss Gladfest pageant (teen pageant), a petting zoo, an apple pie contest and clowns. Gladfest still has a pageant but it’s for kids ages 3 to 8, Little Mr. and Miss Gladfest and the pumpkins that are there are just for decoration for the festival. Sadly, the apple pie contest and, maybe not so sad, clowns are no longer part of Gladfest. This year will have a Smokefest BBQ competition where anyone can compete.
Other items that you will find at Gladfest are craft and marketing booths, train show, Kids Corner with crafts for kids on Friday and Saturday. The carnival will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The parade will start on Saturday at 10 A.M. and then at noon activities will follow. There will be lots of food, music, rides and drinks at Gladfest.
Friday night, Oct. 2 entertainment will be Cherry Bomb at 7:00 p.m. at the Linden Square Stage.
Saturday night, Oct. 3 entertainment will be EZ Street at 4 pm and Arrows Myth & N-Halen at 7:00 p.m. at the Linden Square Stage.
For directions or more information, visit www.gladstonechamber.com, and also check out the Gladfest page on Facebook.
