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Summer Events

Summertime,

when the livin’ is easy

Howdy Neighbor Days kicks off the August entertainment season, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 10 and continuing through Saturday, Aug. 13. Each weekend in August is filled with a variety of events and activities for area residents to enjoy. There’s nothing like a small town festival to celebrate summer in style, and the annual Howdy Neighbor Days celebration kicks off a series of August events sure to fill each weekend’s schedule.

This year, the four-day event kicks off at 6 p.m. nightly between Wednesday, Aug. 10 and Friday, Aug. 12, with games of chance, live musical performances, food trucks and carnival rides from Fun Time Shows.

Armbands will be $30 each at the ticket booth. Advance armbands will be $20 each, can be reserved by calling Ben Slagle at 417-489-1462.

Thursday’s entertainment lineup includes Wilkie Jay Music from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; Dallas Stump Music from 7:30 to 9 p.m.; and Ashlynne Grey Music from 9 to 11 p.m.

The Knights of Columbus Beer Garden will be open.

Friday has been designated as “Bikers, CVMA and Veterans Night.”

The entertainment lineup is Second Generation Band from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and the Vic Vaughn Band from 8 p.m. to closing.

Saturday, Aug. 13, starts early with Senior Citizens Center on Locust Street in Pierce City serving breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. The festival schedule picks back up at 2 p.m., with the Ag display, all booths and vendors opening, along with any special activities to be announced or posted during festival. Carnival and Knights of Columbus Beer Garden open at 4 p.m.

The annual Duck Race will run in the creek at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, with the winner taking home a $500 prize. Pre-sale ducks will be two for $5 until Aug. 7. Ducks will be available at a cost of $3 each from Aug. 8 until race time.

Entertainment includes the Flyin’ Buzzards Bluegrass Band from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the Eddie Valen Band from 9 until closing.

Awards and announcements will be made at 8 p.m.

Ozark Mountain Revival performed gospel and country songs at the 2019 Kings Prairie concert. From left are, Rick Harris, Levi Roden, Shirley Fletcher and Andy Harris.

HogEye Holler consisting of Darrell Burns, Jon Bearden, Jeremy Krause, and Chris Hodge will be performing at the 64th annual Wheaton BBQ, Aug. 27 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

“We strive to provide the best festival possible through community support with donations, sponsorships and volunteer help,” said Slagle. “Small town festivals are dwindling each year, so for our festival to survive, it takes people who care. We are always looking for ideas and people who can help any way they can.”

The music will start early on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the annual Kings Prairie Community Center Benefit Concert, located at the historic Kings Prairie school building southeast of Monett.

The free concert, which raises funds to maintain the 1940s school building as an activities center for the rural community, will begin at 5 p.m. In addition, raffle prizes, games for kids and other family-friendly activities will be available. The schoolhouse is located west of Highway Z on Farm Road 2015.

The event began as a salute to “oldtime” music and the performers who played live on local radio stations from the 1940s through the 1960s, the concert now focuses on the staples of area acoustic music. Musicians dish up a hearty serving of bluegrass, gospel and “good times” songs from the 1950s and 1960s that speak to small town life and a simpler time.

Concessions will be available.

Donations are accepted to help the ongoing effort of developing and preserving the facility as a center for activities for the community.

Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Handicapped parking will be available.

For more information visit Kings Prairie Schoolhouse on Facebook, or email kpschoolhouse@gmail.com.

The 48th annual Ernte Fest celebration gets underway at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, on the Ernte-Fest grounds on the north edge of Freistatt on Highway H.

Concessions, including traditional bratwurst, sauerkraut and German potato salad will be available from the Snack Shack.

A German Polka band will perform from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and country/rock band Travis Scott and the Play Boyz will take the stage from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Parking is offered on the grounds north of the festival.

Proceeds help support a wide range of charities including Leader Dogs for the Blind and World Service for the Blind.

The annual Wheaton BBQ, hosted by the Wheaton Volunteer Fire Department, is slated to take place on Saturday, Aug. 27, starting at 10 a.m. when the craft booths open for business.

The event also features Wheaton Street Machines Show and Shine Car Event and the Spud McCracken Memorial Horseshoe Tournament.

Food service begins at 11:30 a.m. with the fire department’s traditional barbecue chicken half, baked potato, baked beans, bread and a beverage.

Free children’s carnival rides, made possible through various business sponsorships, begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m.

The “Chicken Dance” is one of the fan favorites at the annual Ernte Fest celebration in Freistatt.

Musical entertainment begins at noon with the Prairie Roads Band, followed by the Sugar Mountain Band at 2 p.m. Next up, the HogEye Holler Band will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Marshall Miller Band at 4:45. The 211 Band takes the stage at 6:15 p.m.

The duck race, which caps off the evening’s activities at 8 p.m., will offer a total of $1,000 in prizes this year.

Two Dog Karaoke will finish out the evening’s musical venue, starting at 8:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will help offset upkeep and maintenance of equipment, firefighter gear and other incidentals.

Also on tap for the weekend is the annual Repurposed Faire, a twoday event sponsored by Monett Main Street.

Events get underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, with vendors offering a variety of repurposed, vintage, salvaged or antique finds, jewelry, clothing, home decor and more. Live music performances have been scheduled throughout the day, along with a special guest appearance by Jeremy Rabe. The first day closes out at 5 p.m.

Sunday’s events, which include a pet parade, kick off at 11 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m.

Admission is free. Food concessions will be available both days.

Vendors will set up under the Jerry D. Hall Memorial Pavillion between Fourth and Fifth Streets on Front. Others will also set up on the lawn in the Glen and Sharon Garrett Park, and in the parking lot on the west side of Fourth Street.

In Arkansas, guests are invited to a free night of music at Basin Spring Park in Eureka Springs. The Balm of Life series begins at 5 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the Copenhagen Angel at the park.

It will be bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles from 12:30 to 3 p.m.on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Eureka Springs, when DJ Testtube, the “mad scientist of music,” fill Basin Park with thousands of bubbles and classic diversity and disco cuts for guests to appreciate and enjoy. The free event is family-friendly.

DJ Testtube makes a return to Basin Spring Park from noon to 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 with Dancing in the Park with Melonlight, another Balm of Life series event.

Enjoy Cocktails for a Cause to benefit Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 18, at Missy’s White Rabbit, located at 19 1/2 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. There is a $10 donation at the door. Raffle tickets will be available. All funds raised are split evenly between the two 501c3 nonprofits: the Cause and Main Street Eureka Springs.

The 30th annual Eureka Springs Ark. VW Festival, swap meet and parade will be held Aug. 26-28. The VW Show is to gather all VW lovers in one town, consisting of two great shows by two different clubs. All profits benefiting the Good Shepherd Animal Shelter in Eureka Springs. The event will be located at 207 W. Van Buren Ave. For more show information call 479-6855185. Best Western is already taking reservations. n

Special guest Jeremy Rabe will be at the annual Repurposed Faire, on Saturday, Aug. 27, on Front Street and Fifth in Monett.