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Local Events - Summary
Cole Camp is a very busy and interesting place with a wide range of activities and events throughout the year. Here are the highlights of some of them in the order they are held during the year.
St. Patrick's Day Warm-up
The first Irish party for Cole Camp was held March 6, 2004 and consisted of a day full of Irish fun, including music and dancing, Irish food, a parade and display and sale of Irish memorabilia. Pictures can be seen at http://colecamparea.com/irish04. The 2005 event was Celtic Festival and was held April 2.
Maifest
The first annual Maifest was held on May 3, 2003. This is a day filled with fun and nostalgia. The day has started with a pancake breakfast and then includes events and activities for all ages - from the winding of the May Pole, street games, shopping in the craft shops and exhibits, live entertainment all day, and great eating, to old time storytellers. Don't miss this exciting event. Pictures of this event can be found at http://maifest.colecamparea.com.
City Wide Garage Sale
Another of the events early in the year is a city wide garage sale where area residents setup an all day garage sale in the city park or in front of their homes. This is held during the first part of May.
Sängerfest
Our German singing festival is held on the second Saturday of June. The festival is hosted by the local Plattdütscher Vereen von Cole Camp (the Low German Club of Cole Camp). This annual event is performed by our own ladies choir (Damenchor), men’s choir (Männerchor) and children’s choir (Kinderchor). In addition, we invite choirs from cities such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Concordia, Tulsa and Omaha. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the beauty of a summer evening, the public is treated to an evening of great German music. The performance area is decorated with German banners and the park is infused with a festive air. Following the concert, there is always an impromptu "Gemütlichkeit" party, with music provided by visiting accordionists. Pictures of past festivals can be found at http://sangerfest.colecamparea.com.
Each year there is a three day event sponsored by the Cole Camp Antique Steam and Tractor Club. This event is designed to demonstrate and preserve the farming heritage of the community with antique farm equipment shown and demonstrated, along with ancient crafts and farm skills. Pictures of some of their events can be found on their web site at http://tractorclub.artheimsoth.com. Antique Working Farm Equipment Show
Cole Camp Fair
The biggest event of the year is the Cole Camp Fair held the first week end after Labor Day, beginning on Thursday and running through Saturday. It is one of the oldest fairs in the state dating from 1916 and it is also one of the most unique.
As with most small town fairs, the Cole Camp fair has traditionally featured the agriculture of the area with livestock shows and exhibits of local produce. The main event of the fair, which makes it truly unique, is its parade with large, elaborate floats made by local churches and organizations. Many hours are spent in constructing these floats and several thousand visitors attend the fair to view this unique parade of floats. There are craft, art and hobby shows, and a midway with many rides and attractions. There are evening dances in the Jaycee Gardens and on Saturday afternoon there is a German dance with a live German band. There is also a horse show and a coon hound show in conjunction with the Fair.
Pictures of past fairs can be found at http://fair.colecamparea.com.
Plattdütscher Theoter
Our Low German theater, has been held in the past in October and is a celebration of our North German heritage. This has been hosted by the local Plattdütscher Vereen von Cole Camp. For one-hundred and sixty odd years, we have kept alive the language of our forefathers and with the Theoter we present two hours of great entertainment in the form of music and humorous, locally written skits, performed in the Low German language. Visitors have come from surrounding states and occasionally from Germany. Pictures of past events can be found at http://theater.colecamparea.com. Altho the Theoter has not been held in the past couple of years, it is hoped it can be revived in the future.
Ice Cream Socials
In the fall, there are several ice cream socials that the churches in the area host. It consists of an evening of eating home made pie and ice cream along with live entertainment by the hosting church members.
Oktoberfest
In the fall, the Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Oktoberfest, with a day of German food, musical entertainment, crafters, artists, antique vendors, demonstrations of old time crafts, a classic and antique bicycle show, and more. Pictures of this event may be found at http://colecamparea.com/octfest.
Cemetery Walk
Held in early October, the Museum offers a historic cemetery walk through one of the oldest and most historic cemeteries in the area. Here actors portray interesting or important people who are buried there. While dressed in period costumes they tell about their lives.
Christbaumfest Craft Show
Toward the end of November, the Chamber of Commerce hosts a Christbaumfest (Christmas tree festival) which consists of many crafters and businesses offering their Christmas crafts for sale during the all day affair. If you are looking for that special unusual something, this is the place to visit and the time to shop.
An Evening of German Christmas Music
There is an evening of German Christmas Music held in December, which is sponsored by the Plattdütscher Vereen von Cole Camp and performed by the Cole Camp Damenchor, Männerchor and Kinderchor. It is held each year just before Christmas. For more information, you may call 660-668-3157.
Living Nativity
Every odd year, the Mt. Hulda Lutheran Church South of town, presents a living story of the Nativity. This event draws visitors from a wide area when it is held just before Christmas.
Gun and Knife Shows
The Jaycees also sponsor at least two gun and knife shows during the year. One of them is held in the early part of the year, while the second is usually the same day as the Oktoberfest festival.
Fund Raisers
During the year, several of the organizations raise funds for their operation by holding a breakfast, dinner, or supper. These are a variety of meals, including wild game, whole hog, BBQ dinners and always include a wide variety of home made pies and cakes.
If you are interested in any of these events, please be sure to check out the Community Calendar and plan your visit to the historic town of Cole Camp during the event of your choice. If you enjoy antiques or crafts, then be sure to visit the shops in town while you are here. You can check out the business pages to get more information on the shops in the community. In addition, there is an active museum with displays of artifacts and replicas of life the way it was in the community during different periods. You will want to spend a couple of hours enjoying the displays. The museum is housed just South of the 4-way signal in the center of town.
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