Mark your calendars for the 14th Annual Ozarks Celebration Festival on the Missouri State University campus September 9-14, 2011!

The festival kicks off on Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. at the John H. Keiser Amphitheater (located on the east lawn of Strong Hall) with the annual Concert Under the Stars and Ice Cream Social. This year's concert features three southwest Missouri favorites: The Blackberry Winter Band performs from 5:30-7 p.m., Beyond Reach featuring original Ozark Mountain Daredevils Larry Lee and Randle Chowning performs from 7-8 p.m. followed by Big Smith, from 8-10 p.m. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and get there early for the best possible seating!

The craft and music portion of the festival is located on the grounds in front of Carrington Hall on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highlights of this year's festival include the annual Young Fiddlers Concert on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Ellis Recital Hall; to honor those who were lost on Sept. 11, 2001, "Taps" will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday on the steps of Carrington Hall. A special Carillon concert "Remembering 9/11" will be held at 7 p.m. that evening on the grounds of Meyer Library.

The Festival's Lecture Series is scheduled in Plaster Student Union, Room 313, Sept. 12-14 and features a variety of authors, storytellers, musicians, and historians presenting their unique perspective of Ozark history and culture.

We hope you will join us as we build on our future while learning from our past.

- Barb Jones
OCF Director