MORAN — Saturday’s Moran Day celebration will remind festival-goers that “there’s no place like home.”
The 2023 fall festival will sport the “Wizard of Oz” theme through several of its activities, which begin at 8 a.m. with the annual rummage sale at Moran Methodist Church.
The parade begins at 11, but not before competitors line up for the traditional chariot race, which commences at 10:45.
From there, the setting shifts to the Moran City Park, with vendors and food trucks, games and a merchant drawing.
A corn hole tournament begins at 1 p.m.
The afternoon wraps up with a free bean feed at 4 o’clock.
A pony pull begins the evening festivities west of the softball fields.
Kaleb McIntire, singer-songwriter who grew up near Joplin, will provide live music at the park beginning at 7. Those wishing to imbibe may do so in the concert’s beer garden.
MCINTIRE’S story originated in Diamond, Mo., a stone’s throw from Jplin, where he grew up playing gospel. He began playing the piano at 6, then moved onto drums and eventually the guitar.
After high school, his jobs included working on a drill rig and later a security expert for rock music legend Ted Nugent.
McIntire’s first public performance was as an Elvis Presley impersonator in Branson. He released his first album, “Scars,” in 2012 before embarking on a European tour.
A devastating car crash later that year slowed, but didn’t stop his musical pursuit, even though McIntire underwent five surgeries as he recovered from a broken back, cracked ribs and a nearly severed arm.
McIntire moved to Texas in 2015, after steadily building on his musical repertoire, his 2019 album “Still Kinda Crazy” was chosen as the Country Album of the Year in the Texas Country Music Awards.
McIntire lives in Texas with his family.
