Meet at Johnny Hatchet’s Axe Throwing & Coffee House at 9:15am. Clean-up from 9:30-11:30am. Bring gloves!
America 250 – West Plains on Facebook.
From organizers of the event: AmVets Post 98 is going to have all kinds of things COMPLETELY FREE for the kiddos! Snow cones, cotton candy, bounce house, face painting, tattoo station, cake walk, GIANT bubbles & Ronzo the clown will be making balloon animals. There will also be games and prizes for the kiddos as well as glow in the dark gear. We will also have a hotdog meal and FIREWORKS at dark.
The public is welcome to attend this event. Festivities start at 2pm. Food is served at 3pm and fireworks commence at dark! We hope to see everyone there!
Please verify dates and times for all races. Visit legitspeedway.com or Legit Speedway Park on Facebook for more information.
Karaoke starts at 6pm
No Artist Fee because YOU are the Artist! (So buy yourself a drink!)
$10 per car to park. Parking is limited. Gates open at 7 p.m.
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
Music at 3pm
Artist Fee $7
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
West Plains Women’s A cappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, First Church of God, 1700 Wayhaven Drive. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
This free, family-friendly event is a great opportunity for kids (and adults) to get an up-close look at the vehicles and equipment that help keep our city running. A variety of vehicles will be on display, including:
• Trash trucks
• Bucket trucks
• Dump trucks
• Police vehicles
• Fire engines
• And more
Come explore the trucks, meet the crews and enjoy an afternoon of hands-on fun. No registration is required, and all ages are welcome.
FREE POOL PASSES
All children ages 12-and-under will receive a free pass to the West Plains Aquatic Center. Passes may be used the same day or anytime during the remaining 2026 swim season. After checking out the trucks, head over to the Aquatic Center and keep the fun going with a swim!
New Location Within People’s Park
Touch the Truck is still being held at People’s Park, but the location within the park has changed this year. Due to ongoing construction near the Aquatic Center, the event will be held in the parking lot at the corner of Broadway and Halstead.
A special America 250 event!
After being ratified on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud for the first time to the public on July 8, 1776. One week from today, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the Josiah Howell Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will honor that historic moment with public readings of the Declaration right here in West Plains.
The first reading will begin at 5 p.m. at the west entrance of the Howell County Courthouse, commemorating the original public reading in Philadelphia 250 years ago.
Following the reading, the celebration moves to Zizzer Football Stadium:
📣 6:30 p.m. – Community patriotic program featuring local first responders, veterans organizations, Scouts, honor guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem.
🚁 Approximately 8 p.m. – A second public reading of the Declaration after its delivery by Air Evac helicopter (approximate arrival at 7:30 p.m.) giving those unable to attend earlier another opportunity to hear this historic document.
🌭 Food will be available for purchase, admission is free, and the evening concludes with a fireworks display at approximately 9 p.m.
Make plans to join the community as we commemorate the words that helped launch a nation 250 years ago!
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
Music at 7pm
Artist Fee $7
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
All cars and clubs welcome to join in a fun evening. Music and other activities are planned from 5 p.m. until “dark thirty.”
Music at 7pm
Artist Fee $12
From Country Express Band: Well folks we have a new schedule and another new venue to play music. We are very excited to be playing at the West Plains Civic Center in the Exhibit Hall. It is on the Northwest side of the building, we have played there before. Classic Country, Classic Rock and a lot of favorites. Two step, Line Dance, cha-cha and a waltz or two. Come and join us for a fun dance and a good time with friends, family friendly event.
* $6.00 per person to get into the dance
* 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M.
No alcohol. We will have bottled water for $1.00 a bottle
Dates scheduled:
Saturday, June 27th
Friday, July 10th
Friday, July 31st
A rip-roarin’ country comedy from the mind of Mike Horberg is coming to the West Plains Civic Center July 10 – 26! Reserve your tickets at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/37246/west-plains-civic-center-theater or call the Box Office at 417-256-8087
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
We’ve done the 80s! We’ve done the 90s! Now, it’s time to give the 2000s a whirl! We’ll be spinning some of the best music from the YEAR 2000 to 2009 and all on a convenient day too!
The event is free, but a $10 donation is encouraged. The event is also BYOB and BYOF, though there may be some refreshments available.
So don’t feel numb, this is somewhere you belong!
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.
Music at 7pm
Tickets: $12 available at the door
A rip-roarin’ country comedy from the mind of Mike Horberg is coming to the West Plains Civic Center July 10 – 26! Reserve your tickets at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/37246/west-plains-civic-center-theater or call the Box Office at 417-256-8087
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
Music at 3pm
Artist Fee $10
A rip-roarin’ country comedy from the mind of Mike Horberg is coming to the West Plains Civic Center July 10 – 26! Reserve your tickets at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/37246/west-plains-civic-center-theater or call the Box Office at 417-256-8087
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
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.
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host a presentation titled, “Half the Town Burned: The Great Wooldridge Fire of 2022” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, at OHRC, located inside MSU-WP’s Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St., in West Plains. The presentation will be given by Tim Scherrer.
Free and open to all, this event is sponsored by the OHRC and West Plains Council on the Arts and underwritten by Missouri Humanities. Refreshments will be provided.
More about the Presentation
Scherrer will give a presentation discussing the background and historic decline of Wooldridge, a village located in the northeastern part of Cooper County, Mo., and the fire that destroyed half of the town in ninety minutes. Included in the presentation are audio recordings of the participants and some illustrative videos that show the intensity of the fire.
“This was the largest fire that some of the most seasoned first responders in the state ever saw,” Scherrer said. “They navigated these challenges of unprecedented situations never seen before in the Midwest.”
Scherrer’s presentation will also include the stories of the dozen residents, some of which escaped minutes before fire took their homes. Additionally, the presentation will feature what happened to the residents of Wooldridge after the fire, up to the one-year anniversary of the event. The village has rebuilt some structures in the community, but most struggle after losing everything. Scherrer’s presentation highlights the issue of micro-disasters in the state.
More about Scherrer
Scherrer, a native of Quincy, Illinois, is a retired Lt. Col., who served 28 years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Military Intelligence Officer. He received the Knowlton Award from the Military Intelligence Corps Association in 2015 and was inducted into the Army ROTC Hall of Fame at Truman State University (TSU).
He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in History from TSU, where he was also a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC program. He also continued further study at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Scherrer has worked in a variety of educational and leadership roles, including teaching Military Science at TSU, Military History at the University of Missouri-Columbia, serving as Director of College Placement/Counseling and Instructor of American and Military History at Missouri Military Academy. Currently, Scherrer serves as the Dean of Academics at Father Tolton Catholic High School in Columbia, Mo. He currently resides in Columbia.
Contact Information
For more information about this event, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
Visit WP.MissouriState.edu/Ozarks for additional information and upcoming events hosted by OHRC.
A rip-roarin’ country comedy from the mind of Mike Horberg is coming to the West Plains Civic Center July 10 – 26! Reserve your tickets at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/37246/west-plains-civic-center-theater or call the Box Office at 417-256-8087
West Plains Women’s A cappella Community Chorus Rehearsals, Every Tuesday, 7pm to 9pm, First Church of God, 1700 Wayhaven Drive. Women singers always welcome. Get more information at 661-303-8686
Art is on display daily from June 8-July 17 on the mezzanine of the Civic Center during regular hours of operation of the facility. The Civic Center will be closed July 3 and 4 for the holiday.
If you are 50+ join hosts and local artists to create your own art while enjoying refreshments. Free to attend.
More dates will be added as the flowers continue to bloom.
Hours: 6pm – After Sunset
Admission: $5 per person (cash and card)
You won’t want to miss the sunset at the flower field this year!
Grab your friend and camera and head to the McWilliams Pumpkin Patch in West Plains MO and snap a beautiful evening photo! We love to see your photos so tag us on facebook and instagram!
For those wondering about the zinnias… let’s just say it wasn’t their year 😞 The sunflowers have stolen the show. The zinnia field won’t be open for photos this year.
Country Gospel Music has it’s biggest event of the year July 16th, 17th & 18th as singers and musicians from all across America gather in West Plains, for the International Country Gospel Music Association’s 70th Annual Convention and Award Show. For three days and nights, Country Gospel Music artists will be performing their special brand of music to appreciative audiences at The Bridge Church, West Plains. This annual music convention brings together many of the genre’ s top artists for the occasion, with over 100 singers expected to perform.
The three day celebration begins Thursday July 16th, with daytime showcases beginning at 10:00 am, and continuing until 4:30 pm each day. The evening shows begin at 6:00 pm. The beautiful Gold Cross Awards Show is the highlight of the event. It is held on Saturday evening. I.C.G.M.A. Honors excellence in music in 26 categories, including the induction of artists into their prestigious Hall Of Fame.
The shows feature Country Gospel, Bluegrass Gospel, and Southern Gospel music each evening. The talent lineup reads like a Who’s Who in Country Gospel. Performing this year will be Internationally known artists Barbara Fairchild and Roy Morris, the legendary group White River, Chris Golden, James Payne, Jim Sheldon, host of the Music City Show, The Waymasters, Chuck Hancock, Joy Roberts, Wings of Love, Dan Duncan, Heather Van Deren, The Tiptons, Molly Corman, Chuck Hancock, Ava Kasich, Light of Grace,
Bill Baker, Victoria Steelman, Chuck Day, Melissa Evans, Terry and Debra Luna, and many many more. A number of new artists will be appearing, including artists from the rosters of two record companies from Nashville.
According to I.C.G.M.A. President Dan Duncan, the talent is terrific, and the entire event is free to the public. Those who attend will have opportunities to meet and visit with the artists at their individual booths.
The Bridge Church is located at 10105 south 63 highway, West Plains; just four miles south of Dairy Queen. For additional information you may contact I.C.G.M.A. president Dan Duncan at 417-372-1129.
The Downtown House Band will open for Kayla Ray. Free and open to all. Bring chairs for seating.
More dates will be added as the flowers continue to bloom.
Hours: 6pm – After Sunset
Admission: $5 per person (cash and card)
You won’t want to miss the sunset at the flower field this year!
Grab your friend and camera and head to the McWilliams Pumpkin Patch in West Plains MO and snap a beautiful evening photo! We love to see your photos so tag us on facebook and instagram!
For those wondering about the zinnias… let’s just say it wasn’t their year 😞 The sunflowers have stolen the show. The zinnia field won’t be open for photos this year.
Music at 7pm
Artist Fee $7
A rip-roarin’ country comedy from the mind of Mike Horberg is coming to the West Plains Civic Center July 10 – 26! Reserve your tickets at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/37246/west-plains-civic-center-theater or call the Box Office at 417-256-8087