This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the annual Ozarks Celebration Festival. Join us for an entertaining and educational look at the region’s culture and heritage. The annual festival started in 1998 with the goal of fostering a sense of place and understanding for both natives and visitors of the Ozarks. Since then the heritage and culture of the Ozarks has been celebrated through the annual festival. This year features more than 75 traditional artist and craftspeople and five entertainment stages featuring a wide range of entertainment. All events take place on the campus of Missouri State University from Friday, Sept. 7 to Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Outdoor festival activities
Events start Friday, Sept. 7 at the John H. Keiser Amphitheater outside Strong Hall for the annual Ice Cream Social and Concert Under the Stars. From 5:00 to 10:00 p.m., we serve free ice cream and amazing performances! The Blackberry Winter Band, whose music was featured in the 2010 film adaptation of Daniel Woodrell’s novel Winter’s Bone, performs at 5:30 p.m. Following them are The HillBenders, who take the stage at 7:00 p.m. Closing out the Concert Under the Stars at 8:15 p.m. is bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage. Vincent is a seven-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year award (2000-2006) and was named Entertainer of the Year in 2001.
The outdoor portion of the Festival is Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the grounds in front of Carrington Hall. Come out and enjoy live music, storytelling, performances, and arts and crafts on display and for sale. This year’s festival features five stages including The Max Hunter and Clear Creek performance stages. New for this year is the Seldom Heard Music stage, an open mic stage added in the expanded Fiddlers’ Green area with support from KSMU. If you would like the opportunity to perform in front of an audience, bring your instruments and be ready to play! The Storytelling stage is back this year and features stories from the rich heritage of the Ozarks all weekend. For our younger attendees, the Kids’ Area Performance Stage is also back, featuring plenty of fun activities for all ages and games and crafts throughout the day. Also on Saturday Sept. 8 will be a Young Fiddlers Concert in Ellis Recital Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Ozarks Lecture Series
Learn about the history, people, and traditions of the Ozarks from community members and Ozarks Studies scholars though The Ozarks Lecture Series. The lecture series runs Monday through Wednesday, with all lectures held in the Plaster Student Union Traywick Parliamentary Room (Room 313). The lecture series begins with Rachel Reynolds Luster presenting “Bringing It All Back Home: Holistic Approaches to Community Renewal and Cultural Sustainability in the Ozarks” at 12:55. Following that will be David L. Burton’s lecture on “Saving One-Room Schools in the Ozarks” at 2:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. Dr. Brian Campbell will be showing his film: The Natural State of America, depicting the long struggle to prevent unnecessary herbicide use in the Arkansas Ozarks. Dr. Campbell continues the lecture series Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. with a lecture on “Cutworm, Crow, Share and Grow: The Conservation of Ozark Agrobiodiversity.” Missouri State History Department’s own Dr. William G. Piston will share his expertise of the Civil War in Missouri with his presentation “Forgotten Local History: The Confederate Attack on Springfield, January 8, 1863” at 12:30. Dr. Phillip Howerton will finish with “The Ozarks Novel and the Culture of Expectation” at 2:00 p.m. The lecture series will conclude Wednesday with presentations of Ozarks Writing Project Lectures at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
In honor of the 15 year milestone
This year, there are several additional and special events scheduled to celebrate the fifteen-year milestone. The Student Exhibition Center hosts the Ozarks Celebration Festival Retrospective, “Celebrating Fifteen Years of Memories,” showcasing past festival’s photos and memorabilia as well as artist works of traditional art and craftsmanship. The exhibit will open Friday, Sept. 7 with a reception from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. as part of the First Friday Art Walk. A Meet the Artist Reception will be held Saturday, Sept. 8 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Exhibit will be open Sept. 7-Sept. 22 Tuesdays-Saturdays 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Student Exhibition Center is located at 838 E. Walnut St.
Additional events
On Sept. 9, after the Festival’s outdoor portion closes, stay on campus for the conclusion of the 2012 Jane A. Meyer Carillon Series. At 7:00 p.m., University carillonist Jeremy Chesman will entertain the crowd with “The Suite Sounds of the Bells.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7:00 p.m., the Festival will present the showing of Five-Time Academy Award Nominated Film “Winter’s Bone,” with commentary by Marideth Sisco and members of the BlackBerry Winter Band who are featured throughout the film.
And don’t miss the second annual “Black Tie and Bluegrass” Fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 14, at the Tower Club near campus. From 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., enjoy food, fun, auctions and live entertainment. Tickets are $35 per person or $500 for a table of 10. Black tie wear is optional but recommended. From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., there will be a silent auction of donated items to raise money for the Festival. A dinner buffet begins at 7:00 p.m., with a live auction of additional items at 7:45 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., The Undergrass Boys are scheduled to perform a special concert. To purchase tickets, contact Barb Jones at (417) 836-6605.
Join in on the fun and education of the Ozarks at the Ozarks Celebration Festival!
Visit ocf.missouristate.edu to get the latest Ozarks Celebration Festival schedule and additional information.