Can you believe it’s already September? This year has flown by so far.  Pretty soon, the weather will start to cool off and the leaves will begin to change color. It’s one of the most beautiful seasons in the Ozarks for sure, but it’s also a season for festivals! Plan your schedule early for this fall’s festivals and celebrations with this handy list from KY3 and our list below!
Mo Food Truck Fest 2017
When: Saturday, September 16th, at 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Where: 735 E. St. Louis Street, Springfield Mo
If you love trying new food and pigging out on some of your old favorites, this is the festival for you! There are 26 different food trucks scheduled to appear from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday with everything from gourmet hot dogs to gourmet coffee and wood-fired pizza to authentic English pasties.  The foodies of Springfield will be out in full force.  Don’t miss it this FREE event!
56th Annual Steam-O-Rama
When: Thursday, September 14th at 7:00 AM to September 17th at 4:00 PM
Where:Â 7175 W Farm Road 170, Republic, Missouri
This is the 56th year of the Ozark Steam Engine Association‘s Steam-O-Rama in Republic.  It’s a three day festival celebrating everything steam engine.  There’s tons to do for kids and adults alike.  Some super-cool steam powered engines and other machines. Just a few of the things you can expect to see at Steam-O-Rama: Good old fashioned country music, tractor basketball, a steam powered bubble machine, vintage trucks and tractors, and of course, plenty of amazing steam engines!
CIDER DAYS
When: September 16 & 17
Where: Â Historic Walnut Street, Springfield, Missouri
Arts and crafts, hands on activities for kids, stage performances and real apple cider–this is a famous fall Springfield event! The 19th Annual Cider Days on Historic Walnut Street will be held on September 17th and 18th from 10am-5pm on both days. Admission is $4 and kids under 10 are free. Historic Walnut Street is lined with artists and creators from all over the Ozarks selling works including jewelry, pottery, glass, wood-work, furniture and much more!
Iron Chef 2017 at Farmer’s Park
Saturday, September 23 at 9 AM – 1 PM
57th Annual Black Walnut Festival
When: Sep 27 at 6 PM to Sep 30 at 11:55 PM
This longstanding festival in Stockton, Missouri is not one to overlook. It’s got live music, featuring performances from two local stars Laura Ashley and Ryan Collins. It’s got a cutest baby competition. It’s got a carnival. It’s got a parade. It’s got everything! Also, check out the competition between culinary students at OTC and MSU squaring off in a black walnut-themed, Chopped-style bake off.
Springfield Jazz Festival
When: Saturday, September 30, 2017
Where:Â Downtown Springfield, Park Central Square, Gillioz Theater
Downtown Springfield will host the 8th annual Jazz Festival this September! It’s a free event, celebrating the beauty of jazz. Â More than a dozen performers will grace the stages in Park Central, culminating with performances by Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at the Gillioz!
Sertoma OKTOBERFEST
When: September 30th, October 1st
Where: Springfield Expo Center, Â 635 E St Louis St, Springfield, MO
Where else can you find German style brats & pretzels, hear live music and sample tons of different beers, all in downtown SGF? None other than Oktoberfest! On October 1st, gates open at 11am on Park Central Square for beer sampling and live music throughout the day in celebration of the 7th Annual Oktoberfest Village. Grab a couple friends and head out for this awesome event to kick off the fall season.
Smokin’ the Ozarks EGGfest 2017
When: Saturday , September 30, 2017 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where:Â 882 W Tracker Road, Nixa, MO 65714
An entire festival held in honor of the Big Green Egg? Count us in. You can pretty much put anything on a Big Green Egg and it’ll turn out delicious. Â This festival also benefits the Abou Ben Adhem Shriners and their Keystone Kops Unit in Springfield. This group of shriners provides transportation and lodging to families during their care at Shriner hospitals.
44th Annual Ozark Arts & Crafts Show
When: October 6th, 7th & 8th, 2017
Where:Â Finley River Park, 600 N 3rd St, Finley, Missouri
Every year since 1974, the GFWC Utopia Club of Ozark puts on its Arts & Crafts show. It features as many as 350 different vendors showing off their wares and sees thousands of visitors. The items for sale vary widely from western decor to pottery and plenty more!
2017 Ozark Fall Farmfest
When: October 6th, 7th & 8th, 2017
Where:Â Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
The 38th annual Fall Farmfest will be held at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in October and it will huge! Word on the street is that there will be 800 booths and more than 500 head of cattle on the grounds! According to Brittany Gillig, Ozark Empire Fair agricultural director, there will be all sorts of vendors, including home décor, lawn furniture, cosmetics, clothing and apparel.
Republic Pumpkin Daze
When: Saturday, October 7
Where: North & Main, Republic, Missouri
It all started with a 400-lb pumpkin.  A Canadian man submitted a giant pumpkin to the world fair in 1900 and the nation was amazed. Ninety-two years later Republic, Missouri became the home of the World Pumpkin Federation Weigh-Off in which growers from all over would compete for the title of largest pumpkin.  Pumpkin Daze still honors the legacy of giant pumpkin growing, but it has also become a much-loved local event.  People from all over the Ozarks get together for hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and of course, to check out some huge pumpkins!
Baconfest
When: Saturday, October 14 at 11 AM – 3 PM
Where: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
Join us for the 5th Annual Ozarks Bacon Fest – A salute to Bacon, Beer & Bourbon!
It’s a 4 HOUR bacon-infused wonderland where attendees samples amazing creative bacon inspired appetizers (some folks just hand out stips of bacon!) from the Ozark’s best restautants and enjoy craft and micro beers, and spirits to wash it all down, along with live music and vendors on hand offering cool items for sale make this an awesome day celebrating all things BACON!
23rd Annual Art in the Park
When: October 14, 15
Where: Sequiota Park, Springfield, Missouri
This free-to-the-public event is put on by the Springfield Park Board and has been a big hit in the area for more than two decades. Contemporary arts and crafts will be on display at Sequiota Park the second weekend of October this year. You’ll see all sorts of different works including painting, drawing, and printmaking, fine jewelry, woodworking, pottery and ceramics, fiber and textiles, sculpture, and glass.  If you love art, this is a great one to attend!
Willard’s Our Town Fall Festival & Country Show
When: Saturday, October 21, 2017
Where:Â Willard Intermediate Schoolgrounds
Willard is an awesome town, located just north of Springfield. The people there have great pride in their community and this festival is a celebration of their town. This year marks the fourth time they’ve held the festival and this year, they’ll have a special addition, a vintage camper expo! You’ll also find all sorts of shopping and even a stage for entertainment!
PETS & PUMPKINS FESTIVAL & PARADE
When: October 21
Dogs and little kids in costumes?! What gets better than that? On October 21 of this year is Springfield’s pet-themed extravaganza! Two blocks of Historic Commercial Street (between Robberson and Campbell) will be sectioned off for the event which includes trick or treating for both kids and pups, marshmallow roasting, inflatables, games, food, music and more. Bring your chairs and enjoy the day!
Nixa Chili Cook-Off & Fall Fest
When: October 21st | 12:00 PM – 9PM
Where: 1528 N Main Street Nixa MO
This all day event figures to be a big draw in Nixa this October. First things first, it’s a chili cookoff, so you’ll want to come with an empty stomach.  It’s also a seven hour long chili cook off, so you’ll have lots of chances to try different varieties. There’s also a craft festival on the premises and live music by Splinter Middleton. Adults can also enjoy a beer and wine garden after a few bowls of chili! All the proceeds raised from the Nixa American Legion.
Wingapalooza 17
photo by Guillermo Hernandez-Martinez for the Springfield News-Leader
When: Saturday, November 4 at 11 AM – 5 Pm
Where:Â Springfield Expo Center, Â 635 E St Louis St, Springfield, MO 65806
America’s oldest wing festival returns to Springfield this Saturday for it’s 17th year!  Springfield Sertoma and Youngblood Auto are proud to present one of the biggest food festivals in the area.  An estimated 100,000 wings will be given out at the Springfield Expo Center from more than 30 local bars and restaurants.  This is not something you’ll want to miss!
Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk
When: Thursday Nov. 23 at 8 a.m.
Where:Â Springfield Expo Center 635 E St. Louis Street
Every year thousands of people get together for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It’s one of the largest 5Ks in the state!  Last year, more than 7,000 people participated. Proceeds from the event benefit the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Scholarship Fund and the Developmental Center of the Ozarks. The event also provides food to people in need via Ozarks Food Harvest.  It’s an all around great way to help out on a day that is dedicated to giving thanks for what we have.
Source: New feed
