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 2018 the theme is Travel Through Space and Time at Gladfest 39. There will be astronauts, aliens and time travelers roaming the festival at Linden Square and Central Park on October 5, 6 and 7.
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 petting zoo, apple pie contest and, maybe not so sad, clowns are no longer part of Gladfest.
What 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 off on Saturday at 10 A.M. and then at noon activities like Knockerball and DOGFEST will be available. There will be lots of food, music, rides and drinks at Gladfest.
The parade route is different this year to accommodate a longer parade. It will start at Shady Lane and North Oak Trafficway. It will continue north to NE 72nd Street and go east to N. Holmes. Then it will travel south on N. Holmes past City Hall and through the festival and head west on 70th Street past Linden Square to end at the Security Bank parking lot at 70th and N. Oak.
Friday night, Oct 5 entertainment will be The Stolen Winnebagos at 7:30 P.M. at the Linden Square Stage.
Saturday night, Oct. 6 entertainment will be Fast Times – KC at 7:30 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.
