It’s about that time! Fall is coming and everyone is getting ready for their Fall festivals! Check out the list of area events below!

SOURCE: www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/fall-festivals-in-the-ozarks

Japanese Fall Festival
Sept. 6-8 at Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden (2400 S. Scenic Ave.) in Springfield
Hours: 5-10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: Starts at $9 for adults and $4 for children ages three to 12. Click here for more information.

Seymour Apple Festival
Sept. 12-14 on the Square in Seymour
Hours vary; find a full schedule of events here.
Admission: Free

62nd Annual Steam-O-Rama
Sept. 12-15 at 6065 State Hwy. O in Ash Grove

Featuring tractors, gas engines and old-fashioned steam powered engines, Steam-O-Rama is also home to several demonstrations of equipment at work. Threshing, shingle sawing, sorghum making, rock crushing and more are on display throughout the show, along with a daily parade of equipment.

The festivities also include two tractor pulls on Friday and Saturday nights, and a tractor rodeo. For more information on the schedule of events, the show location and more, visit the Steam-O-Rama Facebook page.

Billings Merchants Fall Harvest Festival
Sept. 14 along U.S. Hwy. 60 in Billings
Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: Free

63rd Annual Hootin’ ‘an Hollerin’
Sept. 19-21 on the Square in Gainesville

Gainesville’s annual Hootin’ ‘an Hollerin’ Festival is a step back in time that kicks off with the Queen Pageant the first night. Contestants dress in their best country dresses and stories about how things used to be.

The festival features bluegrass, country and gospel music, along with nightly square dancing and a slew of contests: bed races, calling contests, a quilt show, cornhole tournament and a pie contest, to name a few.

There are also demonstrations of old-time crafts and plenty of craft vendor booths. And if variety is the spice of life, there are tons of food options, too: beans and cornbread, kettle corn, burgers and hot dogs, BBQ, funnel cakes and more.

For more information about the festival schedule of events, visit the Hootin’ ‘an Hollerin’ Facebook page.

33rd Annual Fall Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival
Sept. 19-21 at 1933 Bluegrass Road in Conway

Twice a year, crowds gather for some of the best in bluegrass at Starvy Creek. Eleven bands are scheduled throughout the weekend, including Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, the David Parmley Band and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.

Admission for the festival starts at $25 and three-day passes are available for $80. Camping is also available with a ticket purchase. More information can be found on the Starvy Creek website.

Bolivar Country Days
Sept. 20 on the Square in Bolivar
Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: Free

50th Autumn Daze Arts, Crafts and Music Festival
Sept. 19-21 in downtown Branson (100 W. Atlantic St.)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: Free

Marshfield Harvest Days
Sept. 20-21 on the Square in Marshfield
Hours: 12-7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: Free

35th Annual Marionville AppleFest
Sept. 20-21 on the Square in Marionville
Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: Free

Cider Days
Sept. 21-22 in downtown Springfield (900 E. Walnut St.)
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Admission: Free

The Black Walnut Festival
Sept. 26-28 in Stockton City Park

Presented by the Stockton Lake Sertoma Club, this event features tons of live entertainment, great food, a parade and plenty of friendly competition – especially when it comes to crowning the 2024 Black Walnut Festival Queen.

Daily entertainment includes several area acts including the Corey River Band, the Eagles Tribute Band and Midwest Thick. You can also take in the youth pet parade, baby contest, a community quilt show, and even a terrapin race.

Carnival rides are also available from 6-10 p.m. daily.

Wilder Days Festival
Sept. 27-28 on downtown square in Mansfield (100 E. Park Square)
Hours vary; find event schedule here.
Admission: Some events are free, while others are ticketed. Admission at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum is $10 for adults and $3 for children ages six to 17 during the festival. Call 417-924-3626 for details.

Highlonesome Music Festival
Sept. 27-29 at Dockley Ranch (10005 County Rd. UU 545, Chadwick)
Hours: 2 p.m. – midnight on Friday, 8:15 a.m.-midnight on Saturday and 8:15 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Rockin’ Rogersville
Sept. 28 at the corner of U.S. 60 and Farm Rd. 247 in Rogersville
Hours: 4-10 p.m.
Admission: Tickets range from $10 for single admission to $100 for a VIP experience and can be purchased here.

Bluegrass on the Square
Sept. 28 on the square in Greenfield
Hours: event starts at 5 p.m.
Admission: Free

AutumnFest of the Ozarks
Sept. 28 at the Newton County Fairgrounds (700 Field Ave., Neosho)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: Parking is $10 and all proceeds benefit Neosho Christian School

47th Annual Fair Grove Heritage Reunion
Sept. 28-29 in Fair Grove

Held every year on the last full weekend of September, the Fair Grove Heritage Reunion has hundreds of booths with everything from funnel cakes and fried Oreos to kettle corn and BBQ.

The great food serves as shop-til-you-drop fuel, so you can get some of your Christmas gift shopping done. There are tons of original and homemade crafts to see, and you might even be able to find a great gift for even that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.

In addition to the live entertainment and kids activities at the festival, you can also take in a rodeo that weekend. Hosted by the Fair Grove Saddle Club, the event starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday, and includes everything from bull and bronc riding to team roping.

7th Annual Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks
Oct. 4-5 at Fox Trotters Showgrounds in Ava

Admission is free at this festival that celebrates and works to preserve traditional Ozarks culture, skills and more.

Festival organizers invite makers to demonstrate their skills, such as spinning and weaving, leather work, pottery and more, at the event.

The Pioneer Heritage Festival also hosts a youth talent show and a costume contest for all ages. Festival-goers are invited to dress in clothes from the 19th to early 20th centuries, and costumes can be anything from work clothes to special occasion fancy.

33rd Annual Republic Pumpkin Daze
Oct. 4-5 at J.R. Martin Park (300 E. Hines St.) in Republic
Hours: 12-6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: Free

Harvest Homecoming Fest
Oct. 4-5 in Lockwood
Hours vary; find a full schedule of events here.
Admission: Some events require a fee or pre-registration. More information is available at harvesthomecomingfest.com.

50th Annual Ozark Craft Fair
Oct. 4-6 at Finley River Park (600 N. 3rd St.) in Ozark
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: Free

Hollister Grape and Fall Festival
Oct. 12 on Historic Downing Street in Hollister

The Color Me Grape 5K officially kicks off Hollister’s annual autumn shindig. The family friendly event starts at Hollister City Hall and ends on Downing Street as the Grape and Fall Festival begins. Hurts Donut is also offering a special treat to runners after they cross the finish line.

Crafters and vendors are a fixture of this festival, along with live entertainment and contests. This year, pets will show off their looks and their talents for the Dogs Gone Grape Dog Pageant (a fundraiser for the Branson Humane Society).

You’ll also want to plan to take in the Grape Stomp competition, where teams of four will dance and stomp real grapes while being evaluated for creativity, fun, crowd participation and originality.

The 58th Annual Apple Butter Makin’ Days
Oct. 11-13 in Mt. Vernon

Voted Best Festival by Rural Missouri two years in a row, the main attraction at this event is (you guessed it) apple butter. Cooked in copper kettles over open fires using 100+ year old methods, the sweet spread is made each day of the festival on the Lawrence County Courthouse lawn.

Hundreds of vendors set up shop in Mt. Vernon’s historic town square, featuring everything from crafts to food. Come hungry, because the food options are endless. You can find almost anything, from apple dumplings and cider to bratwurst, turkey drumsticks and steak sandwiches.

Other things you won’t want to miss during your visit include wiener dog races and a pet parade, plus a bubble-gum blowing contest and apple pie eating contest.

Art in the Park
Oct. 12-13 in Sequiota Park (3500 Lone Pine, Springfield)
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Admission: Free

58th Annual Maple Leaf Festival
Oct. 11-19 on the Square in Carthage
Hours vary; find an event schedule here.
Admission: Free

Sparta Persimmon Days
Oct. 18-19 in Roller Park (837 Division St., Sparta)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: Free

Pets and Pumpkins
Oct. 19 on the downtown square in Springfield
Hours: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: $2 per person or pet. Attendees can participate in all activities with paid admission, including costume contest and parade.

Cassville Chili Cook-off Festival
Oct. 26 on the square in Cassville
Hours: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Admission: Free

Springfield Sertoma Wingapalooza
Nov. 2 at the Springfield Expo Center (635 E. St. Louis St.)
Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: $20 per person. Buy tickets at wingapalooza.com.

A Holiday Marketplace
Nov. 8-9 at the Northwest Arkansas District Fairgrounds (1400 Fairgrounds Rd., Harrison, Arkansas)
Hours: 12 – 6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: Free

Frisco Trail Craft Show
Nov. 23 at Willard High School (515 E. Jackson St.)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Admission: Free

SOURCE: www.ozarksfirst.com/top-stories/fall-festivals-in-the-ozarks