As the leaves begin to change in the Ozarks, there’s no better time to explore the region’s rich festival scene. The 2024 Ozarks Fall Festival Guide, brought to you by Educators Realty Group, is your ultimate resource for discovering the best events this season. From the cultural depth of the Japanese Fall Festival in Springfield to the age-old traditions of Apple Butter Makin’ Days in Mt. Vernon, this guide showcases a variety of events that celebrate the beauty, history, and community spirit of southwest Missouri.
Whether you’re eager to check out all of the local crafts, enjoy live music at a local Oktoberfest, or marvel at the spectacle of a giant pumpkin contest, this guide has all the details you need. Mark your calendars and prepare to make the most of the fall season with Educators Realty Group as your trusted guide!
September Events
Japanese Fall Festival - Springfield, MO
September 6-8, 2024
2400 S. Scenic Ave
Admission: $9/$14 for adult; $4 kids ages 3-12
The Japanese Fall Festival is a celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting Springfield’s sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan (formed in 1986). Each year, a delegation of Isesaki citizens travels to Springfield to contribute to the festival through demonstrations and interactions with attendees. Guests can explore numerous vendor and artisan booths, eat at the food court, enjoy traditional Japanese games and crafts, participate in the candlelight walk, and so much more!
2nd Annual Rosebud’s Cottage Fall Festival - Nixa, MO
September 7, 2024
205 N Main Street
Admission: Free
Visit the 2nd Annual Rosebud’s Cottage Fall Festival, featuring 80+ local vendors, food trucks, and a kid’s zone with free activities. Enjoy in-store excitement, delicious eats, and family-friendly fun while supporting local artisans—admission is free!
Seymour Apple Festival - Seymour, MO
September 12-14, 2024
123 West Market St.
Admission: Free
Celebrate the heritage of Seymour with their annual Apple Festival! Come and commemorate the apple orchards that helped Seymour grow their town to what they are today. Enjoy free live music, food and crafts from dozens of vendors, and events and contests open for all ages!
Chief Sarcoxie Days - Sarcoxie, MO
September 12-14, 2024
Sarcoxie square
Admission: Free
Chief Sarcoxie Days is an annual festival in Sarcoxie, Missouri, celebrating the town’s rich history and community spirit with live entertainment, a parade, food vendors, and family-friendly activities.
3rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Party - Springfield, MO
September 13, 2024
Keller Williams Parking Lot - 1615 E Independence
Admission: Free
This is a free community event celebrating the start of National Hispanic American Heritage Month! Enjoy delicious Hispanic cuisine, lively music, dance performances, and fun activities for all ages. The event is from 5:00pm-9:00pm.
Shakin’ in the Shell Fest - Shell Knob, MO
September 13-14, 2024
Chamber Park - 21098 Needles Eye Road
Admission: Free
Join the fun at Shakin’ in the Shell Fest, an exciting two-day event in Shell Knob’s Chamber Park. Enjoy a lively lineup including a free concert by Morgan Squared, a dazzling car show, dinosaur encounters, thrilling kids’ activities, craft vendors, a dog show and more!
10th Annual Food Truck Festival - Springfield, MO
September 14, 2024
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds - 3001 N. Grant
Admission: Free
The Missouri Food Truck Festival is a one day event featuring the best Food Trucks from around the State of Missouri and beyond. This is a well established great family fun event with free admission and free parking along with live music and non-food vendors for those that attend to enjoy.
Sertoma Oktoberfest - Ozark, MO
September 14, 2024
Downtown Ozark - 100 W Church Street
Admission: Free
Enjoy live bands, specialty beer tastings, delicious food, craft vendors, and a cornhole tournament. There will also be family games, a pie-eating contest, a hotdog-eating contest, and much more autumn fun!
Mead Fest - Walnut Grove, MO
September 15, 2024
7C’s Winery - 502 E 560th Road
Admission: Free
Enjoy live music by Rowan’s Crossing, a bird of prey demo from Dickerson Park Zoo, period vendors and performers are welcome. Bring the family and enjoy the fun. Free wine and mead tasting. Souvenir Mead tasting glasses are $5.00.
Autumn Daze Festival - Branson, MO
September 19-21, 2024
Downtown Branson on Commercial and Atlantic Streets
Admission: Free
The 51st Annual Autumn Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival in Downtown Branson offers a vibrant celebration featuring over 100 vendors, live entertainment, and a variety of food trucks, making it a favorite community event for both locals and visitors.
Hootin’ an’ Hollarin’ - Gainesville, MO
September 19-21, 2024
Gainesville Square
Admission: Free
Hootin’ an’ Hollarin’ is a lively three-day festival in Gainesville, Missouri, celebrating Ozark culture with traditional music, square dancing, parades, pioneer crafts, and family-friendly activities that bring the community together.
Marshfield Harvest Days - Marshfield, MO
September 20-21, 2024
Marshfield Square
Admission: Free
Features many family-friendly activities including a variety of games for the kids, music, plenty of food, and vendor booths.
Mother’s Oktoberfest - Springfield, MO
September 21, 2024
215 S. Grant Ave
Admission: $5
Oktoberfest just like they do in Munich, with all the brats, pretzels and bier you can handle. All ages are welcome. Rain or shine, it will be fine! Please leave the puppers at home. Bands, food trucks, a bounce for the kids, and more!
2nd Annual Oktoberfest at 4 By 4 Brewing - Nixa, MO
September 21, 2024
4 By 4 Brewing Nixa - 9003 Sawgrass Ave
Admission: Free
4 By 4 Brewing will be hosting an afternoon of Oktoberfest fun with German food options, vendor booths, live music, contests and games, and of course, lots of beer tents!
Marionville Applefest - Marionville, MO
September 20-21, 2024
30 E. Washington Street
Admission: Free
The festival includes a free kids carnival, live music, a parade on Saturday, contests, and more!
Cider Days - Springfield, MO
September 21-22, 2024
Walnut Street Historic District in Springfield
Admission: $5; children under 5 are free; admission gets you into the festival both days
The two-day fall festival features artists and crafters, live music, performances, incredible food and — of course — delicious apple cider!
Black Walnut Festival - Stockton, MO
September 26-28, 2024
East Spring Street, Stockton
Admission: Free
The three-day festival will take place at the Stockton City Park. It is filled with good food, crafts, various vendors, great music, and a large parade on Saturday afternoon.
Wilder Days - Mansfield, MO
September 27-28, 2024
3060 State Hwy A
Admission: Adult $18; Children 6-17 $8; Children 5 and under - Free
An annual celebration commemorating Laura Ingalls Wilder, America’s favorite pioneer girl, and her cherished “Little House” books. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum will host the 9th Annual Fiddle Contest during the festival.
Schofield + Gray Fall Market a & Festival - Fordland, MO
September 28, 2024
353 E. Main St.
Admission: $5
A small pop-up market with unique antique, vintage, garden, home decor, boutique, and gift vendors - plus live music, food trucks, desserts, and amazing people, all nestled in at a cozy little homestead in Fordland, MO.
SGF CultureFest - Springfield, MO
September 28, 2024
Admission: Free
Historic Commercial Street at the base of the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge
CultureFest will feature local musicians, dancers and artisans showcasing their talents and celebrating the rich ethnic diversity and heritage in Springfield.
Pioneer Days - Mountain View, MO
September 28, 2024
125 E 1st St
Admission: Free
Come join the fun as thousands of visitors flock to the streets of Mountain View for the Annual Pioneer Days Festival! Over a hundred vendors will be on hand sharing their wares, foods, drinks, and crafts from 8am till the event ends with the parade at 4pm. This is an event for the whole family!
Cassidy Station Fall Market Days - Nixa, MO
September 28, 2024
5176 N Fremont Rd
Admission: $5 (kids 12 and under free)
They will have amazing vendors to shop, yummy food trucks, live music, and fun for kids.
Fair Grove Heritage Reunion - Fair Grove, MO
September 28-29, 2024
38 S. Main St.
Admission: Free
This annual event hosts thousands of visitors, featuring a huge craft fair, historical demonstrations at Wommack Mill, live music, food and a fun parade on Saturday.
October Events
Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks - Ava, MO
October 4-5, 2024
Fox Trotters Showgrounds, Ava, MO
Admission: Free
The Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks offers a rich blend of music, heritage skills demonstrations, and family-friendly activities, including a period costume contest, youth talent show, baking contests, and children’s games.
Republic Pumpkin Daze Fall Festival - Republic, MO
October 4-5, 2024
J.R. Martin Park in Republic
Admission: Free
The two-day festival includes a giant pumpkin contest, crafts, live music, food trucks, a kids zone and more!
Ozark Fall Farmfest - Springfield, MO
October 4-6, 2024
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds - 3001 N Grant Ave
Admission: Free
The Ozark Fall Farmfest is held annually on the first weekend of October at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri. With over 1,200 agricultural and rural living exhibits and more than 600 head of registered livestock on display, it has become the Ozarks’ largest agricultural event. Parking and admission are free.
50th Annual Ozark Craft Fair - Ozark, MO
October 4-6, 2024
Finley River Park - 961 N Riverside Road
Admission: Free
One of the largest craft fairs in the area! Shop hundreds of craft vendors and visit the food booths!
Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park Harvest Fest - Springfield, MO
Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, 2024
Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park - 3825 W Farm Road 146
Admission: Free
A Midwest fall tradition, weekends in October at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park. Includes pumpkin patch, hayrides, corn maze, cow train, inflatables, pony rides, farm animals, kettle corn and more! Free admission, but some activities have a fee.
Apple Butter Makin’ Days - Mt. Vernon, MO
October 11-13, 2024
Mt. Vernon square - 319 E Dallas St.
Admission: Free
Apple Butter Makin’ Days, a beloved annual festival held each October since 1967 in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, celebrates the time-honored tradition of cooking apple butter in century-old copper kettles, accompanied by a lively array of contests, crafts, live music, and food vendors. The three-day event, which draws around 100,000 visitors, offers entertainment for all ages, from parades and weiner dog races to mustache contests and the crowning of the Apple Butter Queen.
Hollister Grape and Fall Festival - Hollister, MO
October 12, 2024
Historic Downing Street
Admission: Free
The Hollister Grape and Fall Festival is a long standing Hollister Tradition. With unique vendors, crafters, businesses and live entertainment including a real live grape stomp competition there is something for everyone. The Festival is one day packed full of fun and community with nearly 10k annual visitors.
29th Annual Art in the Park Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Show - Springfield, MO
October 12-13, 2024
Sequiota Park
Admission: Free
Outdoor art festival in one of the most beautiful parks in SW MO. Over 30 fine artists from around the states displaying and selling their art, hosted by the SW MO Art and Craft Guild.
Sparta Persimmon Days - Sparta, MO
October 18-19, 2024
Roller Park, 837 Division St, Sparta
Admission: Free
Sparta Persimmon Days celebrates the region’s unique persimmon heritage with live music, a parade on Saturday, craft vendors, food and family-friendly activities. Don’t miss Saturday’s Trunk or Treat hosted by First Baptist Sparta!
Pets & Pumpkins Family Festival - Springfield, MO
October 19, 2024
Downtown Square in Springfield
Admission: $2 per person/pet
The Pets and Pumpkins Family Festival in Downtown Springfield, Missouri, is a fun-filled event featuring one of the state’s largest costume parades, where pets and people alike can enjoy a day of festivities, with proceeds supporting local children and animal charities.
58th Annual Maple Leaf Festival - Carthage, MO
October 19, 2024 (events start on October 11, with the main event on October 19)
Carthage Square
Admission: Free
The Carthage Maple Leaf Festival, held each October in Carthage, Missouri, is a cherished tradition featuring a grand parade, craft fairs, a quilt show, a petting zoo, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities that celebrate the vibrant autumn season. Spanning several days, the festival draws thousands of visitors to experience the community’s rich heritage and the beauty of the fall foliage.