The Festival organization was formed in 1963 with the purpose of sponsoring and conducting an annual festival to provide the community with recreation and provide a means for citizens to express their interest in the community’s history, customs and traditions and was named after General Sterling Price, a general during the Civil War who resided in Chariton County. Click here for more information on General Sterling Price.

The General Sterling Price Days Festival is the second weekend in September. 

The Festival begins on Friday evening with a community Dinner Theater which includes a meal and a play.  Saturday morning is kicked off with a 5K Road Run / Walk followed by various contests, craft shows and historic tours.  This is followed by a parade through the streets of Keytesville followed by entertainment on the main stage in the afternoon and a street dance in the evening.  Sunday morning is kicked off with a car & truck show.  This followed with a community worship service at one of the community churches.  Then there is a pony pull in the afternoon.

However, the life of the festival is found in the streets of Keytesville with over 80 booths of select arts & crafts and food vendors.  They will be selling everything you can imagine, with somehting for everybody.  You will find handmade crafts of every description.  And of course, the most tempting thing of all is the FOOD!  There will be many food booths selling everything from bar-b-que to hamburgers to hot dogs to kennel corn to funnel cakes, plus much, much more!

The Festival itself only lasts for three days, but it is a year around event.  Planning for the next year starts in January.  The committee goes over every detail of the festival to try and improve it for the next year.  Each festival has been a learning experience, and has brought new ideas, new events, and many improvements.

The Festival organization is a non-profit corporation and the festival is put on completely by volunteers.  It has given new people and natives a chance to get to know each other, to work together towards the same goals, and to become friends.  This more than anything else helps keep the wonderful small town spirit of Keytesville alive.