Chamois Day to celebrate 20 years of citywide festival

Chamois is celebrating its own as the town marks its 20th annual citywide festival.

The town on the Missouri River in northern Osage County will gather Sept. 21 for this year’s Chamois Day with a theme of “The People & Places That Make It Home.”

The day will start at 10 a.m. with the national anthem performed by the Osage County R-1 Pirate Pride Band. Then the PTO parade, with a “Chamois History” theme, will be led by the Linn VFW Color Guard.

The Jefferson City-based Jessy Johnsen Band and performer Sheena Halmich will alternate providing entertainment on the main stage.

“It’s the first time that we’ve actually gone and brought somebody in for entertainment on our main stage,” festival co-chair Jessica Hackmann said.

Chamois Day will also feature a pie-eating contest, washers tournament, baby contest, free throw contest and basketball station contest.

Children’s activities in the City Park will include a corn play box, little riding tractors and train rides, and inflatables.

Hackmann said to expect some new and some returning vendors set up along Main Street and in St. Mary’s Hall — “crafts, woodworking, anything and everything in between.”

And don’t forget the festival-favorite foods — fried fish, pork burgers, walking tacos, pulled pork, brats and chili, as well as vendors Simply Scrumptious Cakes and Catering, Rusty’s Kettle Corn and RJ’s Real Italian Ice.

The festival, organized by the Chamois Lions Club, is free to attend and typically wraps up around 5 p.m., with raffle drawings toward the end of the day, Hackmann said.

Hackmann said this year’s “home” theme is what Chamois Day is all about.

“It’s a time for people to catch up and visit. It brings in a lot of alumni,” she said.

“If you like the country life and the simple life, that’s kind of what this is. It’s everybody just coming out and having a good time.”

For more information, visit visitchamoismorrisonmo.com/chamois-day.