Organizers Planning For Ozark Orchard Festival

The Ozark Orchard Festival Planning Committee is preparing for a fun-filled, family-friendly event this fall.

The day-long event will feature games and activities aimed at all ages.

The third annual Ozark Orchard Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Goodman ballfield.

Organizers will feature various events and activities, including bouncy houses, a cow drop, a petting zoo, a 50/50 pot, a pie auction, games and door prizes, said Mayor Greg Richmond.

The committee plans to host all the activities from last year but will have two less bouncy houses. Four will be plenty, he added. The previous total of six was hard to accommodate with electricity access, he said.

Again this year, organizers will host free food, which will be offered around the lunch hour. Donations will be accepted.

"We want our neighbors to come and do this for the day, have fun, have some good food, fellowship, as cheap as they can," he said.

Richmond hopes to have one major contributor help sponsor the food, and one sponsor the cost of the bouncy houses.

Long-term, festival officials also hope to raise enough money to purchase playground equipment at the Goodman ballpark. In an effort to do so, officials are hosting an ongoing candy sale, featuring a variety of candy bars and lollipops, at city hall. Candy bars are available for $1 and $2, depending on the kind, as well as 50-cent lollipops.

Though the festival takes place in September, volunteers are planning now to secure funding and work out logistics.

To help spread the word about the festival, committee members are planning on having banners made. Settling on the last Saturday of September to host the event will help with promotions, as the banners can be used every year with no specific date, Richmond said.

Volunteers are needed to help with the festival, from serving food to helping with children's activities to providing musical entertainment.

For information, or to volunteer, call City Hall at 417-364-7316.

General News on 06/07/2018