Culture and Heritage

The Ozarks Celebration Festival is an entertaining and educational look at the region's culture and heritage. The University launched the festival in 1998 with the hope that it will foster a sense of place and understanding of place for both natives of the Ozarks and visitors as well. This year's festival will feature more than 75 traditional artists and craftspeople with three entertainment stages featuring music (which will include traditional, bluegrass, and gospel music), storytelling, traditional dance (including square, jig, contra and clogging), films, historical characters, exhibits, and much more. Many of the finest artists and craftspeople in the region will be on hand to demonstrate and display their creations, offering a number of items for sale.

 

Welcome to the 13^th Annual Ozarks Celebration Festival!

It is both my honor and my pleasure to welcome you to the Annual Ozarks Celebration Festival, held on Missouri State University’s Springfield Campus!

For thirteen years, the Ozarks Celebration Festival has brought together people from all generations and backgrounds to celebrate the rich heritage and culture that is uniquely “Ozarks.” Over the years the festival has earned a reputation for bringing together artists and craftsmen of exemplary quality along with the finest storytellers, dancers, fiddlers, pickers, and singers the Ozarks has to offer. And this year is no exception!

As you peruse the list of performers, artists, craftsmen, and exhibitors, you will see that many of your favorites are back with us again this year. But, you will also see that we are welcoming several new artists that we hope will become a permanent part of our “Festival Family.”

As with every year, there are “Festival Highlights” that you won’t want to miss!

• The Annual Concert Under the Stars & Ice-Cream Social will be held on Friday, September 10^th from 6-10:30 p.m., and will feature three incredible bands:
  • 6:00 p.m.: The HillBenders
  • 7:00 p.m.: The Chapmans
  • 8:00 p.m.: Dan Tyminski & Ronnie Bowman!

We are so excited to have Dan Tyminski back with us! In his third year at the festival, he has become a treasured part of the Ozarks Celebration Festival Family! Also back with us is Richard’s Hawg Wild BBQ, which will be on sale throughout the night! We will begin serving delicious Hiland vanilla ice-cream at 6:00 p.m. and will serve it throughout the night until we run out!

• The Kids’ Area has become a family favorite and I am happy to tell you that we have added both vendors and events to this area that are uniquely designed for children of all ages! Shirley Johnson will be back to give dulcimer lessons; Deb Burnett will be available to teach the spoons; and EznDil will be busy looking for volunteers to join their Kitchen Band!
• One of my favorite events of the festival, the ever popular Young Fiddlers Concert, featuring fiddlers from 7-17, will be held on Saturday, September 11^th at 1:00 p.m. in Ellis Recital Hall. These young performers are so amazing and so talented; it is an absolute pleasure to watch them perform!
• The Festival Lecture Series featuring authors, storytellers, and historians from the Ozarks will be held during the week of September 13-16. Check out the Lecture Series Schedule for more information!
• Saturday, September 11^thmarks the anniversary of the attack on our country. At 12 noon “Taps” will be played on the east steps of Carrington Hall as we will pay tribute to those many lives who were lost on that horrible day when the World Trade Center was bombed.

So, on behalf of everyone at Missouri State University and the Ozarks Celebration Festival family, I hope you will join us September 10-16, 2010, for our week-long celebration of Ozarks history and culture!

Barb Jones
Festival Director