Benton Neighbor Days becomes the town's big annual reunion

BENTON, Mo. — Whether for the music, food or carnival rides, hundreds found a reason to attend Benton’s annual Neighbor Days festival.

The celebration, which dates to the mid-1920s, began Friday evening and ran most of the day Saturday, beginning with a parade around the Benton City Park.

One of the parade’s yearly fixtures are the antique cars driven by members of the Capaha Antique Car Club.

Club member Melvin Uelsmann drove his red 1965 Ford Mustang convertible as part of the parade.

“We’ve been driving in the Neighbor Days parade for 20-something years,” he said.

Uelsmann has been a member of the club for nearly all that time. A half-dozen antique cars participated in this year’s parade, but the reason the club looks forward to Neighbor Days celebration, Uelsmann said, was to be a part of the community.

“It gives us a chance to come and sit and talk,” he said. “Plus, the weather’s so nice today, it’s a good time to get out and enjoy it outside.”

And, he said, it’s nice to have a guaranteed parking space close to the carnival grounds.

The festival hosted other activities such as mud racing and “Mutton Bustin’,” a sheep-riding contest.

Other attendees such as Paul and Jenny Crowe said the festival is a chance for them to have some fun as a family.

“The best part about [the celebration] is getting to spend time with the family, I think,” he said.

His daughters Nora and Maggie said the carnival rides were the best attraction.

“My favorite part of the day is the Scrambler,” Nora said, shaking her head around as if it were scrambled.

Cornhole and horseshoe throwers held tournaments in one area of the park, while a costume contest was taking place at the other end.

Another attendee, Carlee Hill, said she was most looking forward to the sheep-riding contest.

“I’ve heard about them doing it in other places, but I’ve never seen it happen before,” she said. “It just looks so cute.”

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

300 Chester St., Benton, Mo.