Events and Entertainment
February
Fat Tuesday Celebration
Held early February
Location: downtown Springfield
417-869-8558
Call for exact date and location
The fun includes street entertainment and the
street team distributing tens of thousands of beads and trinkets.
Lawn and Garden Show
Held late February
Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
417-833-2660
Call for details
Admission Charged
Celebrate spring from the heated comfort of more
than 80,000-square-feet of exhibit space. Enjoy seminars and see equipment,
supplies and plants for all your lawn and garden needs.
Cheerleaders of America Branson-Ozark Open
National Championship
Held late February
Location: Shrine Mosque Arena
800-252-4337
Call for details
Admission Charged
Cheerleaders of America present the Branson-Ozark
Open National Championship for cheerleaders and dancers from Missouri and
surrounding states. More than 1300 competitors annually attend this event with
more than 78 teams competing for the title of "Open National Champion" and cash
prizes.
March
Horse Fest
Held mid March
Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
417-833-2660
Call for details
Admission Charged
This showcases several breeds of horses, equine
equipment and features seminars and clinics.
Missouri Dump Truckers Association Annual
Convention and Tradeshow
Held early March
Location: Springfield Expo Center
573-636-2515
Call for details
Admission Free
This is a great opportunity for children to climb
into the big rigs. Various companies in the dump truck industry from all over
Missouri and contiguous states will exhibit and give demonstrations.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Pub Crawl
Held on St. Patrick’s Day (mid March)
Location: Downtown Springfield
417-869-8558
Call for details
April
Discovery Center of Springfield Annual Family Fun
Run/Walk
Held early April
Location: Discovery Center of Springfield
Admission Charged
417-862-9910
Call for details
May
Artsfest on Walnut Street
Held early May
Location: Walnut Street, from National
Avenue to west of John Q. Hammons Parkway
417-869-8558
Call for information
Admission Charged
More than 140 artists from 18 different states
will display, sell and compete for cash awards. Mediums featured include: wood,
glass, clay, printmaking, paper, jewelry, photography, metal, painting, drawing,
fiber, and mixed medium. Typically 30,000-35,000 attend the outdoor festival
each year.
July
Ozark Empire Fair
Held late July – early August
Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
417-833-2660
Call for details
Admission Charged
Don't miss this large annual event in the Ozarks
and one of the top 150 fairs in the U.S. Complete with carnival, entertainment,
games, livestock, exhibits, shopping, food, daily parade and tons of family fun!
Enjoy the fair's free concert series.
September
Cider Days
Held mid September
Location: Walnut Street, from National Avenue to
John Q. Hammons Parkway
417-831-6200
Call for details
Admission Charged
Approximately 75 artisans from across the region
will be displaying, demonstrating and selling their juried arts and crafts on
historic Walnut Street. Mediums include clay, fabric, fiber, glass, jewelry,
leather, metal, mixed medium, painting, paper, photography, printmaking and
wood.
Cider Days also features a wealth of other activities--Scarecrow Village, a free
hands-on children’s area, pedal tractor pull, a bed race, artist demonstrations,
two performance stages, vintage cars, food and more.
Greater Ozarks Blues Festival
Held mid September
Location: Downtown Springfield
417-864-6683
Call for details
Loft Walk & Art Event
Held mid September
Location: Downtown Springfield
417-864-7015
Call for details
Admission Charged
Uptown lofts feature urban lifestyle at its best.
Enjoy the history district as you tour half-a-dozen "lofty abodes," historic to
contemporary.
October
Ozark Fall Farmfest
Held early October
Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
417-833-2660
Call for details
Admission Free
The show features livestock, equipment and rural
living exhibits to meet farm and ranch needs.
Neewollah
Held October 31
417-869-8558
Call for exact date and location
Imagine the streets of downtown packed with
vampires, witches, monsters and the like. You are at Neewollah - pronounced
“knee-a-wall-a”, Halloween spelled backwards. But there is nothing backwards
about this Springfield, Missouri event. Neewollah is straight-ahead fun and this
downtown party will not only be a feast for the eyes, but also one of the
largest costume contests in Missouri.
November
Festival of Trees Celebration at the Discovery
Center of Springfield
Held late November
Location: Discovery Center
417-862-9910
Call for details
Admission Charged
Food, drinks and music during the silent auction from 6:30 - 7:45pm. The live
auction begins at 8pm with professionally decorated Christmas trees and fun and
unique items.
WinterFest 2004
Held late November
Location: Southwest Missouri State
University campus
417-836-SMSU or 1-888-4-SMS-TIX
Admission Free to arts festival, Admission
charged for evening theatre performances
This acclaimed visual and performing arts
festival has become a holiday tradition with its unique shopping opportunities
and wonderful music by local performers spreading the seasonal spirit throughout
the beautiful lobbies of Hammons Hall on the campus of Southwest Missouri State
University.
December
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
417-869-8558
Call for exact date and location
Fare Charged for ride
Carriages run on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. The
Springfield Christmas Parade will take place in downtown on December 11.
Carriage rides that night will begin immediately after the parade.
The Nutcracker
Held mid December
Location: Springfield Ballet, 400 South
Ave
417-862-1343
Call for performance schedule
Admission Charged
The ballet begins with a tree that magically
grows to majestic heights, as soldiers, mice & the Prince battle. After the
Prince's triumph, he takes Clara on a journey through a winter forest to the
Kingdom of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy entertains.
First Night Springfield
Held December 31
Location: Jordan Valley Park
417-831-6200
Call for details
Admission Charged
A community-wide, alcohol-free New Year's Eve
family celebration featuring music, theater, storytelling, dancing, magic,
comedy and much more. Evening activities run from 7-11:30pm, followed by a
fireworks grand finale at midnight. The Creamery Arts Center opens early at
5:30pm, featuring make-and-take hands-on art activities--New Year's Eve hats,
noisemakers, masks and calendars. Shuttles are provided free of charge to First
Night attendees.
Performing Arts
Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
525 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy.
Springfield, MO
417-836-6776 or 800-4-SMS-TIX
Call for performance schedule
Springfield Ballet
400 South Ave
Springfield, MO 65806
417-862-1343
Call for performance schedule
Springfield Little Theatre
Historic Landers Theatre
311 E. Walnut St.
Springfield, MO 65806
417-869-3869
Call for performance schedule
Season runs
Jan. - Jun., Sept. - Dec.
Springfield Regional Opera
400 South Ave
Springfield, MO 65806
417-863-1960
Call for performance schedule
A professional opera company which performs two
productions each season.
Springfield Symphony
1536 East Division St
Springfield, MO 65803
417-864-6683
Call for performance schedule
Vandivort Center Theatre
305 E. Walnut St
Springfield, MO 65806
417-831-8001 or 888-452-0930
Call for performance schedule
Vandivort Center Theatre
is an intimate theatre with flexible seating offering a wide variety of
performances including children’s theatre, puppet performances, contemporary
and new plays, classical drama, musical comedy, cabaret singers, bluegrass and
blues.
Nearby Area Theaters
Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Stampede &
Show
1525 W. 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
417-336-3000 or 800-520-5544
Call for performance schedule
Admission Charged
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner &
Show is “Branson’s Most Fun Place to Eat.” Featuring “Stampede of Buffalos,” 32
magnificent horses, ostrich races, and trick all set in a friendly North/South
rivalry and served with a fabulous four-course feast.
Jim Stafford Theatre
3440 W. Highway 76
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-8080
Call for details
Admission Charged
Voted Branson’s Best Entertainer and Best Comedy
Show! Comic-genius, Jim Stafford delivers a mind-boggling, jaw-dropping,
belly-laughing, knee-slapping, foot-stomping show full of sensational special
effects (including a real 3-D Virtual Thrill Ride), spectacular music, and
hilarious surprises.
Shoji Tabuchi Theatre
3260 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway
Branson, MO 65616 (about 40 miles south of Springfield)
417-334-7469
Call for performance schedule
Dedicated to excellence in family entertainment,
the Shoji Tabuchi family gives it all. Shoji is acclaimed one of the greatest
entertainers in the world. Electrifying production numbers, created by his wife
Dorothy, both show producer and director, are truly unforgettable. Daughter
Christina, already a veteran show-stopper, is adored by fans of all ages.
Sports
Cardinal's Double A Minor League Baseball
Games played at Hammons Field
417-863-2143
Call for game schedule and additional
information
Season runs April - September
Admission Charged
The Springfield Cardinals are the class Double-A
baseball team for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Drury University Lady Panthers Basketball
Games played at Weiser Gym
417-873-7265
Call for game schedule and additional
information
Admission Charged
Drury University Men’s Panthers Basketball
Games played at Weiser Gym
417-873-7265
Season runs
November - March
Call for game schedule and additional information
Admission Charged
Lasers World Team Tennis (WTT)
Matches are played in July
417-837-5800
Call for additional information
The Springfield Lasers team is a franchise of the
World Team Tennis (WTT) Professional League.
Missouri Avengers (WPFL)
Games played at Kennedy Stadium
Season runs August - October
417-890-5452
Call for additional information
Missouri-based Women's Professional Football
League
SMSU Bears Basketball
Games played at the Hammons Student Center
417-836-7678
Season runs year-round
Call for game schedule and additional
information
Admission Charged
SMSU Hockey Bears
Games played at Jordan Valley Ice Park
Season runs September - March
417-836-7678
Call for game schedule and additional
information
Division II level American Collegiate
Hockey
SMSU Lady Bears Basketball
Games played at the Hammons Student Center
Season runs November - March
417-836-7678
Call for game schedule and additional
information
Admission Charged
Spirit Junior A Amateur Hockey (NAHL)
Jordan Valley Ice Park
Season runs January - March
417-866-7444
Call for additional information
Admission Charged
NAHL hockey provides fast and exciting family
entertainment.
Springfield Rifles (NAFL)
Games played at Kennedy Stadium
Season runs June – August
417-831-6822
Call for game schedule and additional
information
Admission Charged
