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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QP2KXqvD7IAgLgDV/aoJNxwsgBYBMZxTQbIMtwwuwk1uPrc9oK7L/X1sjQEWceoq
 C7F8zcIPWv+MD8QJU4Mu5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895447-08-000056.txt : 20081215
<SEC-HEADER>0000895447-08-000056.hdr.sgml : 20081215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081215163638
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895447-08-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHOE CARNIVAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895447
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-SHOE STORES [5661]
		IRS NUMBER:				351736614
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0202

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7500 EAST COLUMBIA STREET
		CITY:			EVANSVILLE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47715
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8128676471

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7500 EAST COLUMBIA STREET
		CITY:			EVANSVILLE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47715

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIFFORD CLIFTON E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215346

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21360
		FILM NUMBER:		081250160

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8233 BAUMGART ROAD
		CITY:			EVANSVILLE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47725
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8128674573
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895447</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHOE CARNIVAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCVL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215346</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIFFORD CLIFTON E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7500 E. COLUMBIA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EVANSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>47715</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP - GENERAL MERCHANDISE MGR</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53501</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Award. Restrictions will lapse in thirds, commencing one year after 1/1/2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: W. Kerry Jackson  For: Clifton E. Sifford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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