Murphy Maize Days festival moves to early October
MURPHY (August 14, 2023) Murphy Maize Days, the area’s highly-anticipated salute to fall, is fast approaching, this year moving to the first Saturday in October at Murphy Central Park, 550 North Murphy Road. The 2023 version of the festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 starting at noon with a new and exciting competitive event, live music, food, carnival games, vendors, and kid activities. It will conclude with the traditional fireworks display ending at 9:45 p.m.
As usual, the event is free to attend and ample parking is available at Tom Kimbrough stadium, a half-block north of the venue. Free shuttling to and from the parking area will be provided throughout the day and evening.
Fans and players of the popular Corn Hole tossing game can enter a two-person team in the inaugural Maize Days Corn Hole Tournament. Sponsored by Farmers Electric, teams will play to win valuable prizes. Champions will share a $300 gift card, while the second place team will walk away with a $100 gift card. Registration is now open at https://secure.rec1.com/catalog under the Special Events tab. Entry fee is $30 per team, and registration is required. Walk-ups will not be accepted. Each of the two team members must be at least 18 years of age. Check in at the tournament site is noon, with play beginning at 1 p.m. Standard tournament rules and brackets will apply with officials making all final decisions.
Budding artists and those with a penchant for art are invited to contribute their talents to the new Community Mural, sponsored by the Creative Arts Guild of Wylie. A $15 fee allows individuals to paint a square-foot size panel on the mural. All paints and materials will be provided. While the mural is designed for teens and above, a free craft for younger kids, sponsored by Primrose School of Breckinridge Park and Creative Arts Guild of Wylie, will be available.
And what’s fall without pumpkins? Pumpkin games will return this year. In addition to Punkin’ Chunkin’, which benefits the Murphy Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, players can try their hand at Pumpkin Bowling.
New carnival games have been added to the Kids Midway and a new Sports Zone is being debuted, encouraging community members to RECreate at the event with different sports activities and free play. A new hay track tricycle race for toddlers, sponsored by Oak Brook School, will be located near the touch-a-truck section, and a larger pool of corn awaits the corn-wading crowd. Also new is a 360 video booth, sponsored by Primrose School.
Early holiday shoppers will be delighted with the relocation of the Maize Market to the more expansive and spacious parking lot. Many of the attendees’ favorite vendors are returning along with some new ones. The new location will provide a shopper-friendly layout and a more intimate vendor experience.
Because food is such an important part of the day’s event, a varied lineup of food vendors and food trucks will once again provide a wide array of delicious snacks and meals.
Entertainment on the Main Stage, sponsored by Methodist Hospital Richardson, will include the All Funk Radio Show at 6:30 p.m. as the opening act. The evening’s headliner is Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, taking the stage at 8 p.m. For a list of events, activities, food vendors, performing acts, and other details, follow Murphy Maize Days on Facebook or visit www.maizedays.com.