& ???– friends by below (most important)
Winners will be announced on our Facebook page the day of the event.*Activities including Virtual Reality, Face Painting and Souvenirs available at an additional charge.
West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, West Plains Boys and Girls Club. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686
$5-10 Donation at the Door
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host a presentation titled, “Celebrating 250 years of America in the Ozarks” on Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m. at the Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St., in West Plains. The event is free and open to the public.
To hear more about this event, residents can tune into local radio station KUKU 100.3 FM on Wednesday, April 8, from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. during the show, “High Noon in American History with Cowboy Rick.”
More about the Conversation Series
Introduction to “Celebrating 250 years of America in the Ozarks” will be facilitated by Dr. Jason McCollom, associate professor of history at MSU-WP. This event will be the introduction to a series of conversations scheduled from April to August which will focus on different eras of history and how they transformed America.
The conversations in this series will feature different eras of history that transformed America, and they will be facilitated by OHRC supporters and board members. Attendees will be invited to share stories and thoughts about how the Ozarks are part of the American tapestry. Tools and resources of the OHRC will be highlighted as components to preserve the cultural distinctions of the Ozarks.
The series and eras will be as follows:
- April – Introduction to the series with Dr. Jason McCollom
- May – Immigration with Dr. Brooks Blevins
- June – Civil War with Vincent Anderson
- July – World Wars with Dr. Jason McCollom
- August – Modern Times with Carol Silvey
This series is made possible with funding from Missouri Humanities. The event is sponsored by the OHRC. It is also sponsored by West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA), which receives funding from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about the event, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
Visit WP.MissouriState.edu/Ozarks for more information about the Ozarks Heritage Research Center.
All cars and clubs welcome to join in a fun evening. Music and other activities are planned from 5 p.m. until “dark thirty.”
A new festival for the community is being planned for April 10-11, 2026. “Party with a Purpose,” is a two-day celebration which will feature live music across several genres, food and drink, a variety of activities, contests, and more. That’s the party. The purpose is to raise funds for the operational needs of Christos House.
The festival will be held in and around the West Plains Civic Center and admission is free to listen to the music, though food, beverages, and other activities will be available for purchase. It kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Friday with live music and a taco cook-off. A cash bar, snack bar, and raffles will be available both days.
Saturday’s activities are set to start at 10:30 a.m. when vendors will be in place and live music gets underway. There will be a baked potato and slider bar, a ‘drink and dice’ stroll, costume and beard contests, trivia rounds, and a jigsaw puzzle competition.
Free activities on Saturday include a huge display of Preacher Roe memorabilia (author David Jerome, who has written a Preacher Roe biography, will be there selling books), storytelling by Danette House, telescope viewing with Howell County Stargazers, and a Quilt Show in the Magnolia Room.
7:30-9:30 p.m. ~ Tom Bryant Band (Main Stage)
7:30-9:30 p.m. ~ Shoot to Thrill – AC/DC Tribute Band (Main Stage)
We’re confident everyone will find something to enjoy, and we’re leaning into the fun of the unusual mix of activities by calling it the most random festival ever!
To find out more about participating in the event as a vendor or if your business or organization would like to participate in the taco cook off, contact Melissa Wharton at melissa.wharton@westplains.gov or 417-256-8835. Food truck applications are not being accepted for this event.
The Missouri State–West Plains Jazz Ensemble will present Jazz Gala: In a Sentimental Blue. This special event will feature many of your favorite big band classics. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. For more information, email RockyLong@MissouriState.edu or call 417-255-2791.
Open every Saturday 9 a.m. t0 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays, seasonally. GO FARM Farmers Market of West Plains on Facebook for more information.
Free activities on Saturday include a huge display of Preacher Roe memorabilia (author David Jerome, who has written a Preacher Roe biography, will be there selling books), storytelling by Danette House, telescope viewing with Howell County Stargazers, and a Quilt Show in the Magnolia Room.
Tickets• $35 at the door (cash only)
11:00–11:15 — Historic Preservation talk by Toney Aid + light appetizer
11:15–2:00 — Guided Loft Tour (Enjoy a cocktail along the route)
From organizers: “Come out and get your face melted by the heavy sound of local metal and Grunge band Chard. Known for heavy riffs and that keeps heads banging. Don’t miss this opportunity to see their debut at the Yellow House, rocking some original songs and covering the likes of Metallica and Alice in Chains. With a album in the works, your support will help make this possible.”
Check the Country Express Band Facebook page for cost and other details, including potential cancellations due to weather, holidays or other unforeseen circumstances.
From Country Express: Two step, Cha Cha, Waltz, Electric Slide, Charleston, Foot Boogie, River Waltz, Sweetheart, Around the Room, Tennessee Waltz, Neon Moon Cha Cha, and many more. Or just come listen to some good ole country music. Old country, new country, southern rock music. No alcohol allowed. Family fun for all ages.
80’s Rock and Classic Hard Rock and Roll
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Pitch your business idea at OzSBI
Do you have a business idea that you would like to pitch to the community? Are you looking for quality feedback? Startup capital to launch?
A business pitch is a brief presentation of an idea for a business opportunity – think “Shark Tank” without the celebs. At OzSBI’s PitchFest, participants are invited to create, refine and perfect their pitches with the guidance of seasoned business leaders.
Registration Closes: April 13, 2026
How it works:
Everyone with a business idea in our 7-county region (Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas and Wright Counties) is invited to pitch. Participants will be given clear guidance about pitch expectations and will have 6 minutes to pitch their idea to a panel of judges for feedback.
- Round 1: April 16 Contestants will have six minutes to pitch an idea to a panel of judges. Six finalists will be chosen for Round Two.
- Round 2: April 23 Top six pitches from Round 1 will compete. Four contestants will be selected as finalists for PitchFest and will proceed to the competition. Finalists will have the opportunity to refine their presentations and will compete for cash and prizes at the EPIC Pitch Competition.
- EPIC Pitch Competition: May 7 The final four finalists will pitch their ideas to the community at EPIC, our National Small Business Week Celebration, to win cash and prizes (listed below).
If desired, participants will be guided through the process of creating and refining their pitches by experienced business mentors. Each pitch will be restricted by time and judged by experienced business leaders/founders.
Participating in PitchFest will give you the unique opportunity to validate your business idea with a wide variety of business and community leaders, potential investors, future customers, and like-minded entrepreneurs. Even if you are eliminated in one of the first two rounds, you will come away with a clear, well-crafted business pitch and valuable feedback from the judges.
Finalists Prizes:
First Prize: $1000 Cash + complimentary Website Development Digital Impact Scholarship + 1 year access to OzSBI Coworking Space + one-on-one business mentoring for a year (Total value: $3,140)
Second Prize: $500 Cash + complimentary Website Development Digital Impact Scholarship + 6 months access to OzSBI Coworking Space + one-on-one business mentoring for a year (Total value: $2,070)
Third Prize: $250 Cash + 3 months access to OzSBI Coworking Space + one-on-one business mentoring for a year (Total value: $535)
Fourth Prize: $125 Cash + 1 month access to OzSBI Coworking Space + one-on-one business mentoring for a year (Total value: $220)
The West Plains Photography Club currently has 34 members and meetings are at 6:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the Missouri State University-West Plains Creative Discovery Center, 411 West Main Street, Suite 1. Everyone regardless of age or ability is invited to join the club which has no membership dues.
The purpose of the club is to share and support everyone’s passion for photography arts whether they are a beginner or have been engaged in photography for many years. Present members include some who do not even own a camera to professionals who make a living by selling their art. For more information on the club feel free to call Bob Cunningham at 417-257-8206 or Dennis Crider at 417-274-7101.
Seeing and Building Community Through Tradition: Even in our fast-paced world, tried and true traditions still connect us to where we are. Ozarks Alive’s Kaitlyn McConnell sees this in her travels throughout the region: From quilting to music and food, in this talk she will share long-held examples of our regional culture that endure. As part of these observations, she will also share about the Ozarks Pie Project, an effort she began in 2024 to bake and share pies from vintage Ozarks cookbooks. The effort resulted in the publication of “The Ozarks Pie Project Diary,” a cookbook filled with recipes and stories from across the region.
Kaitlyn McConnell is the founder of Ozarks Alive, a cultural preservation project that documents people, places and history throughout the region. Since the project’s inception in 2015, she has published hundreds of articles reflecting the region’s present for its future.
This event is also sponsored by West Plains Council on the Arts.
West Plains Women’s Acappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, West Plains Boys and Girls Club. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686
Citywide Yard Sale
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
No permit fees are required. Set up, sell what you no longer need, and hunt for some great finds around town.
Also: Spring Cleanup Week
Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24
Extra items will be collected on your normal trash day at no additional cost. Please sort items by type before placing them at the curb:
• Regular trash – extra bagged or boxed items
• Large items – furniture and mattresses (mattresses must be wrapped)
• Metals & appliances – washers, dryers and stoves
Refrigerators and freezers must have a certified Freon removal sticker
• Yard waste – bagged leaves and grass
No curbside brush pickup. Brush may be taken to the Transfer Station at 1851 Old Airport Road (fees waived this week only)
• Recyclables – place in or near your red recycle bin
Bonus: Earth Day is April 22. A perfect reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle while you’re cleaning up.
Tire pickup is available by appointment
Call 255-2330 to schedule
Fees apply: $6.43 per passenger tire, $10.71 per tire on a rim
Please note:
Hazardous waste, major renovation debris and piles on trailers or trucks will not be collected.
Broken glass must be boxed and labeled for crew safety.
Questions? City of West Plains Sanitation can help at 255-2330.
Citywide Yard Sale
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
No permit fees are required. Set up, sell what you no longer need, and hunt for some great finds around town.
Also: Spring Cleanup Week
Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24
Extra items will be collected on your normal trash day at no additional cost. Please sort items by type before placing them at the curb:
• Regular trash – extra bagged or boxed items
• Large items – furniture and mattresses (mattresses must be wrapped)
• Metals & appliances – washers, dryers and stoves
Refrigerators and freezers must have a certified Freon removal sticker
• Yard waste – bagged leaves and grass
No curbside brush pickup. Brush may be taken to the Transfer Station at 1851 Old Airport Road (fees waived this week only)
• Recyclables – place in or near your red recycle bin
Bonus: Earth Day is April 22. A perfect reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle while you’re cleaning up.
Tire pickup is available by appointment
Call 255-2330 to schedule
Fees apply: $6.43 per passenger tire, $10.71 per tire on a rim
Please note:
Hazardous waste, major renovation debris and piles on trailers or trucks will not be collected.
Broken glass must be boxed and labeled for crew safety.
Questions? City of West Plains Sanitation can help at 255-2330.
Professional Bull Riding – Amped Up TourPresented by HB Boot Corral
Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, 7 p.m. nightly.
See Amped Up Tour — Professional Bull Riding presented by HB Boot Corral Facebook event for additional details.
$5-10 donation at the door
Citywide Yard Sale
Thursday, April 16
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
No permit fees are required. Set up, sell what you no longer need, and hunt for some great finds around town.
Also: Spring Cleanup Week
Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24
Extra items will be collected on your normal trash day at no additional cost. Please sort items by type before placing them at the curb:
• Regular trash – extra bagged or boxed items
• Large items – furniture and mattresses (mattresses must be wrapped)
• Metals & appliances – washers, dryers and stoves
Refrigerators and freezers must have a certified Freon removal sticker
• Yard waste – bagged leaves and grass
No curbside brush pickup. Brush may be taken to the Transfer Station at 1851 Old Airport Road (fees waived this week only)
• Recyclables – place in or near your red recycle bin
Bonus: Earth Day is April 22. A perfect reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle while you’re cleaning up.
Tire pickup is available by appointment
Call 255-2330 to schedule
Fees apply: $6.43 per passenger tire, $10.71 per tire on a rim
Please note:
Hazardous waste, major renovation debris and piles on trailers or trucks will not be collected.
Broken glass must be boxed and labeled for crew safety.
Questions? City of West Plains Sanitation can help at 255-2330.
The American Legion hosts a breakfast on the third Saturday of every month as a fundraiser. All you can eat and lots of options at a bargain price!
Join us for the first-ever Gallop at Galloway, hosted by West Plains Parks and Recreation at beautiful Galloway Nature Park! This exciting community 5K is open to both adults and kids of all ages and ability levels.
Whether you’re a competitive runner chasing a personal best, a casual jogger enjoying the outdoors, or a family looking for a fun and active way to start the weekend, the Gallop at Galloway offers something for everyone. Participants will enjoy a scenic course featuring paved trails winding through the woods, peaceful creek crossings, and the natural beauty that makes Galloway Nature Park a local favorite.
This event marks the beginning of a new Parks and Recreation tradition designed to promote health, wellness, and community connection. Gather your friends, bring the family, and be part of history as we kick off our inaugural 5K in a setting that highlights the best of our community’s outdoor spaces.
To register follow the link below and sign-up!
Registration Link: https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/WestPlains/GallowayGallup
Open every Saturday 9 a.m. t0 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays, seasonally. GO FARM Farmers Market of West Plains on Facebook for more information.
Call 417-372-2732 for information.
Full information here.
Professional Bull Riding – Amped Up TourPresented by HB Boot Corral
Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, 7 p.m. nightly.
See Amped Up Tour — Professional Bull Riding presented by HB Boot Corral Facebook event for additional details.
Check the Country Express Band Facebook page for cost and other details, including potential cancellations due to weather, holidays or other unforeseen circumstances.
From Country Express: Two step, Cha Cha, Waltz, Electric Slide, Charleston, Foot Boogie, River Waltz, Sweetheart, Around the Room, Tennessee Waltz, Neon Moon Cha Cha, and many more. Or just come listen to some good ole country music. Old country, new country, southern rock music. No alcohol allowed. Family fun for all ages.
Spring Cleanup Week
Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24
Extra items will be collected on your normal trash day at no additional cost. Please sort items by type before placing them at the curb:
• Regular trash – extra bagged or boxed items
• Large items – furniture and mattresses (mattresses must be wrapped)
• Metals & appliances – washers, dryers and stoves
Refrigerators and freezers must have a certified Freon removal sticker
• Yard waste – bagged leaves and grass
No curbside brush pickup. Brush may be taken to the Transfer Station at 1851 Old Airport Road (fees waived this week only)
• Recyclables – place in or near your red recycle bin
Bonus: Earth Day is April 22. A perfect reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle while you’re cleaning up.
Tire pickup is available by appointment
Call 255-2330 to schedule
Fees apply: $6.43 per passenger tire, $10.71 per tire on a rim
Please note:
Hazardous waste, major renovation debris and piles on trailers or trucks will not be collected.
Broken glass must be boxed and labeled for crew safety.
Questions? City of West Plains Sanitation can help at 255-2330.
(Cleanup Week follows Citywide Yard Sale April 16-18.)
Spring Cleanup Week
Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24
Extra items will be collected on your normal trash day at no additional cost. Please sort items by type before placing them at the curb:
• Regular trash – extra bagged or boxed items
• Large items – furniture and mattresses (mattresses must be wrapped)
• Metals & appliances – washers, dryers and stoves
Refrigerators and freezers must have a certified Freon removal sticker
• Yard waste – bagged leaves and grass
No curbside brush pickup. Brush may be taken to the Transfer Station at 1851 Old Airport Road (fees waived this week only)
• Recyclables – place in or near your red recycle bin
Bonus: Earth Day is April 22. A perfect reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle while you’re cleaning up.
Tire pickup is available by appointment
Call 255-2330 to schedule
Fees apply: $6.43 per passenger tire, $10.71 per tire on a rim
Please note:
Hazardous waste, major renovation debris and piles on trailers or trucks will not be collected.
Broken glass must be boxed and labeled for crew safety.
Questions? City of West Plains Sanitation can help at 255-2330.
(Cleanup Week follows Citywide Yard Sale April 16-18.)
A spring native plant sale is coming to West Plains, offering residents a chance to support local ecosystems and add native species to their landscaping. The event, hosted by the Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership, will feature a wide selection of plants from the Missouri Wildflower Nursery. Organizers say visitors can purchase milkweed to help Monarch butterflies or choose from a variety of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.
Pre‑orders are available through the nursery’s website and can be picked up during the event.
