Maple Days Carnival Begins on Thursday

It's time once again for Maple Days. The annual carnival starts on Thursday and runs through Sunday night.

The parking lot will host carnival rides and booths at will feature local organizations:

• will sell bottled water and Ted Drewes
• Boy Scouts will sell brats and burgers
• will sell beer
  

Maple Days carnival was created in the early 1970s by then Maplewood mayor, Josef Hammes, as a way to raise funds to help out Maplewood's senior citizens with lawn cutting, snow removal and small home repairs.

The event has continued and grown, and is now run as a nonprofit organization, said Bob Harsh, who serves on the Maple Days committee. Hammes is president of the organization.

There are fewer seniors in the area than back then, so proceeds from the carnival have recently gone to three scholarships for seniors, the 's summer reading program, food baskets for the needy during Christmas time, and to help some Maplewood and get to summer camp.

Here's the full schedule for the weekend:

• Thursday, 5-10 p.m.
• Friday, 5-11 p.m.
• Saturday, 1-11 p.m.
• Sunday, 1-10 p.m.

Contact Josef Hammes at 314-647-6291 for more information.