2026 Friendship Festival Schedule
THURSDAY, MAY 28th
6:00 – 10:00 FOOD & VENDORS OPEN
6:30 OPENING CEREMONIES
Kyle Beane, Festival Emcee
Sponsored by Liberty Hospital and Douglas Wyckoff DDS
6:45 KING & QUEEN OF THE RING
AKA “Senior Adult King & Queen Contest”. Nominate your favorite senior 65+ at participating businesses or click here to make a nomination.
Sponsored by Lathrop Assembly of God
7:00 AWARDS CEREMONY
Rotary Citizen of the Year
Friendship Festival Grand Marshal
Veteran of the Year
Sponsored by Lathrop Accounting Associates
7:15 HEADS OR TAILS
7:30 LATHROP SAYS*
Sponsored by Next Chapter Real Estate and Clinton County Senate Bill 40
8:15 ROTARY RINGSIDE 50/50 RAFFLE
8:30 BOUND & DETERMINED – A little rock & roll and country for a mix of hits from the 1970s to current.
Sponsored by Mitchell Tree Company
FRIDAY, MAY 29th
6:00 – 10:00 FOOD & VENDORS OPEN
6:30 PIE-LE DRIVER EATING CONTEST*
Sponsored by Gagnon Law Firm and Professional Ag Services
7:00 – 8:30 WORLD LEAGUE WRESTLING
Location: East Street next to Oak Street Tattoo
7:00 FESTIVAL BINGOMANIA
Betty Brazelton Center
Sponsored by Porters Ace Hardware
6:50 HEADS OR TAILS
7:15 DRESS LIKE YOUR FAVORITE WRESTLER CONTEST*
Sponsored by Oak Street Tattoo and Hildebrand Estivo Dental
7:30 MIC DROP MAYHEM*
AKA: “Lip Sync Battle”.
Sponsored by TLR Excavating and Retro Metro
8:00 MIGHTY MIDWAY PLINKO*
Sponsored by Lathrop Dental Care and Mid America Contractors
8:15 ROTARY RINGSIDE 50/50 RAFFLE
8:30 ONE NIGHT STAND – Kansas City’s premier classic rock band combines tight vocals with kickin’ instrumentation to produce pure fun.
Sponsored by Timberline Trading
SATURDAY, May 30th
MORNING
7:00 – 10:00 MORNING SMACKSTACK
AKA: “Pancake Breakfast”. First Baptist Church serving pancakes, sausage – free will donation.
Sponsored by Lathrop First Baptist Church
8:00 MULEMANIA RUMBLE RUN 5K
AKA 5K Run/Walk. Entry Fee: $20. Complete Google Form to sign up.
Sponsored by Lathrop After Prom
9:00 FOOD & VENDORS OPEN
9:00 – 4:00 LATHROP QUILT SHOW
Lathrop Community Center at 406 Elm Street
Cost $2 to view quilts. Forms at City Hall.
Sponsored by The Lathrop Sew-N-Sews
9:00 – 11:00 GREAT BACON BASH
AKA: Greased Pig Contest. Age Groups: 5 & under; 6 – 10; 11 – 15; and 16+ at the Lathrop City Park. Register at the City Park before contest. $5 entry fee.
Sponsored by Lathrop FFA
9:00 BABY SHOW: DIAPER DIVISION
AKA ”Baby Show” Under age of 2. No fee to enter. Advanced registration required. Click here to register.
Sponsored by Lathrop Parents as Teachers
9:30 TINY TAKEDOWN CONTEST
AKA: “Little Mister Universe & Miss Bathing Beauty”. 2&3 year old’s. No fee to enter. Advanced registration required. Click here to register.
Sponsored by Stith Funeral Home
9:45 LITTLE LEGENDS CONTEST
AKA “Mister & Miss Lathrop”. 4&5 year olds or enrolled in Kindergarten 2026-2027 Lathrop School District school year. No fee to enter. Advanced registration required. Click here to register.
Sponsored by Scotty’s Tow and GT Tow
10:00 RISING RUMBLERS CONTEST
1st & 2nd graders enrolled in the Lathrop School District for the 2026-2027 school year. No fee to enter. Advanced registration required. Click here to register.
Sponsored by Summers Crop Services
11:00 RIBBIT ROYALE*
AKA “Frog Races”. Ages 5-12 Bring your own frog! Registration begins at 10:45.
Sponsored by Lathrop R-II School District
11:30 PINT-SIZED POWER PULL*
AKA: “Pedal Tractor Pull”.
Sponsored by Dixon Concrete Solutions
12:00 CONFECTIONARY CAGE MATCH
AKA “Cake Walk”. Free to play.
Sponsored by Lathrop First Baptist Church
AFTERNOON
11:00 – 2:00 LOADED SPUD MANIA – AKA: “Baked Potato & Salad Bar”. Lathrop Methodist Church Basement, free will donation.
1:00 PARADE OF CHAMPIONS
Click here to register for the parade. Check in between 11:30am and 12:30pm in the Lathrop Middle School parking lot. Judging will begin at 12:15pm.
Sponsored by Goppert Financial Bank
2:00 – 4:00 HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, CAKE & PIE SOCIAL
Masonic Lodge – Downtown Lathrop
2:00 – 4:00 MAKE & TAKE CRAFT
Lathrop First Christian Church
2:00 FESTIVAL BINGOMANIA CLEANUP
Betty Brazelton Center
3:00 ULTIMATE SOAK & ROLL MATCH*
AKA “Bathtub Races”
Sponsored by Go Hard Hauling and Lathrop Fire Protection District
3:00 – 6:00 CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
NEW LOCATION – street between Gambino’s and First Baptist Church. Register before tournament.
Sponsored by Lathrop First Baptist Church
EVENING
6:00 SPOTLIGHT TALENT TUSSLE
AKA “Talent Show”. Click here to register for the Talent Show.
Sponsored by The Hamilton Bank
7:00 – 8:30 WORLD LEAGUE WRESTLING
Location: East Street next to Oak Street Tattoo
7:00 MULEMANIA HEROES TRIBUTE
AKA: “Military Tribute”.
Sponsored by Northland MO Realty
7:15 DEAL OR NO DEAL: MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH*
Sponsored by Cooters Plumbing
7:50 HEADS OR TAILS
8:00 DRESS AS AN 80S ROCKER*
Dress as your favorite or most memorable 90s rocker. Stay for “Villains Dance” at 8:30!
Sponsored by Murphy Tractor & Equipment and The Groh Family
8:15 ROTARY RINGSIDE 50/50 RAFFLE
8:30 VILLAINS DANCE – The Ultimate 80s Arena Rock experience. Come dressed as an 80s rocker!
Sponsored by Crooked River Enterprises
*Denotes registration at Festival Booth
