"We looked up the fellow who painted them in the 'Sign Painting Dep't' under the stand. And one can't forgetPineapple Whip, which was originally sold at the fair in the mid-1970s (and was developed by former fair manager Dan Fortner). Livestock competitions are up 40 percent, Owen says, noting, I think a lot of them havent been able to show at their county fairs. For example, in a good year, dairy cattle might see 130 head entered. They had 100,000 people during those seven days, which they thought was great for the very first one, says Kepes. The new 40,000-square-foot Campbell Buildings Events Center opened just in time. It's Safe and Sound.". Interested. The Annual Ozark Empire Fair is still on for the end of the month, but it won't look the same as years before. Arnold Amusements Prioritizes Family While Looking Forward to the 2023 Season, Carnivals Large and Small Add Equipment at 2023 Gibtown Trade Show, 2023 IISA Trade Show Comes to a Close as Manufacturers Report Sales, 2023 Gibtown Trade Show Well Represented by Manufacturers from US and Europe, Gibtown Trade Show Gets into Full Swing on Wednesday with H-2B Seminars, 2023 IISF Trade Show Welcomes Crowds back to Gibsonton, Positive But Complicated, OABA H-2B Seminar Promises a New Balance. Aaron Owen, general manager of the Ozark Empire Fair, says there will be several hand sanitizer stations, arrows to indicate which way to walk and social distancing. Especially in the dairy people. "And it was to the fairgrounds. Owen says attendance the first weekend was way off because of rain, but traffic picked up considerably for the OReilly Night of Destruction monster truck show. "So some people say it was pushed into October because they couldnt fit it in (before).". 2.1 miles from Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. The track has been a joke . But he says interest in some aspects of the fair has skyrocketed. In honor of the fairs 80th birthday, Kepes was commissioned to compile a comprehensive history of the fair, which has materialized into a 176-page book containing more than 300 photos. Ozark Empire Fair: Attendance Down, But Per-Cap Spending Up, Fair Manager: No spike in coronavirus following the fair. In those days, however, the area was known as Zoo Park. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Ozark Empire Fair Springfield . If you need a place to hold your show, seminar, sale or workshop, let our friendly staff show you the cleanest and best facility in the area! More Info KY3 Grandstand Click "More Info" for the KY3 Grandstand line and to purchase tickets! But "doubt of some businessmen was replaced by determination," reported the Sunday News and Leader. (Courtesy of the Piland Collection) . Ladies, join us Saturday February 18th starting at 8am for a special day just for YOU, the 2nd Annual KY3 Womens Show presented by Convoy:Women. We truly See more 54,067 people like this 56,159 people follow this 99,463 people checked in here We had some bad emails and phone calls about holding the fair, he said. The park is located on the north side of Springfield at 3683 W. Farm Road 92, Springfield Missouri 65803. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. "It's shifted in that they want to teach young kids about where their milk comes from, and how crops are grown, what an old tractor looks like," says Kepes. Admission: $3 - $30 Days/Hours Open: All Days 11am12 midnight Grab limited time Ozark Empire Fair coupon codes and use 10% off to save money! 99 photos Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Fair Springfield Save Share Tips 8 Photos 99 7.3/ 10 47 ratings See what your friends are saying about Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. We worked very closely with the local authorities. Some of the protocols included daily temperature taking of all employees and volunteers, using social distancing at the grandstand concerts, which were only allowed 50 percent capacity seating only every other row of seats were utilized and changing the beer sales area into a social safe, spread out seating. Snow pants fit like regular pants, while snow bibs are more like overalls, extending partway over the torso and securing over the shoulders with straps. var linktext = username + "@" + hostname; 442 reviews. The regional showcase, an annual attraction since the early 1900s, draws visitors from across the nation. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Other local schools used the event as an excuse for class field trips, especially vocational subjects and home economics. But I got a lot more thank yous from the kids and the adults. No Photos will be judged based on quality and content. 3001 N. Grant Ave. Springfield, MO 65803 -, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Produced Events  >, Ozark Spring Round Up Preview Cattle Show, O'Reilly Auto Parts Outlaw Nationals Monster Truck Show, NEW: Wilson Logistics Arena & Youth Ag Facility, Grounded In Tradition, Growing Our Future Campaign  >. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. A nursery was also available 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for younger kids, which left "mother free to enjoy the fair, leaving the children in good hands.". We worked very closely with the local authorities. Some of the protocols included daily temperature taking of all employees and volunteers, using social distancing at the grandstand concerts, which were only allowed 50 percent capacity seating only every other row of seats were utilized and changing the beer sales area into a social safe, spread out seating. For . Memories of animal shows, grandstand performances, and the fair's resurgence in the 1980s -- leading to numerous years of record-breaking attendance -- are also high points in the event's history. "And I had my calf all ready to come to the fair and all, and my dad wouldn't let me because they were telling all the parents that there were too many people there. Attendance was up compared to the year before, although a review of . Courtesy of AR Workshop Springfield and Infused Catering. She covers the mysterious destruction of the grandstand by fire -- and in 1960,the torching of the Coliseum, a two-story building dating from the 1930s. You went to the Ozark Empire Fair. "The park board submitted a blanket project for a fairgrounds, requesting $40,000 in federal funds.". Admission: none Days/Hours Open: Fri 9am5pm, Sat 9am5pm, Sun 9am4pm "They all got Washington and Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, but broke down after that," the reporter wrote. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Springfield, MO 65802 Status: Updated 12/29/2022 Largest annual event in the Ozarks. 2023 Gibtown Trade Show Wraps Up: Amid Optimism, Can the Industry Work Together? In the end, the fair was a success. Just take some steps, you can buy your favorites with Save an average $12.36 off with Ozark Empire Fair Coupons & Deals. Its state-of-the-art. We had to keep doing what we're doing. As the original timeline stretched, interest waned. And what makes these fairs unusual masks, social distancing, sanitizing and other measures are aspects being closely watched by the fair industry since they may likely be implemented in 2021 in some form or another. The fair was so important to Springfield that it cancelled school on Wednesday and Friday afternoons so children could attend. You carry a lot on your shoulders, said Owen, who said he even took a cut in pay to make sure that the organization could pay staff and ensure operations.But that personal responsibility he felt as a fair manager wasn't just about the commitment he had to the fair, but the crucial role the Ozark Empire Fair plays in its community and the positive impact fairs have on contemporary America. Sign up for email updates from Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center. Reply Quote. So a lot of that stuff wasnt new to us last year. That was a popular evening for us, he says. Why was Springfield's Route 66 Festival canceled by the city because of a recent surge in COVID-19 cases but the Ozark Empire Fair was . 9am Springfield Little Theatre a medley of their upcoming productions. But I got a lot more thank yous from the kids and the adults. Thursday, Aug. 6: OReilly Night of Destruction 6:30 p.m.; general admission $10 adult, $8 children ages 12 and younger; reserved seating, $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. Theyve had time to be at home and work on those more than ever before.. We stay in touch and work with our local officials to do what they want us to do.. And with them, so has Springfield. There was no shortage of things to worry about, of course. Through her research, Kepes found that the fair evolved with the world. Theres a lot of room to social distance, to spread out, we just want people to be respectful, come out and have a good time, said Owen. And those memories live through the minds of longtime attendees. (KY3) - The Ozark Empire Fair is quickly approaching for its 85th year. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. awareness of the signs of gynecologic cancer and support our sisters in their There was no shortage of things to worry about, of course. If you're interested in becoming a police officer, stop by our booth. 1966 was an experimental year with Grandstand shows at the Ozark Empire Fair. (Courtesy of the Greene County Archive), The Lions Club Duck Pond has been a staple at the fair since 1948 -- but the first year, they used plastic fish instead of ducks because the latter couldn't be found. The Cooking Stage is located in the East Hall. (Courtesy of thePilandCollection), For Owen, labeling the fair a success is dependent on various factors, only one of which is money. cancer journeys. But agriculture is still a focus. It was revived in 1929, just a few months before the onset of the Great Depression. Drawing at 3:45pm Feb. 18, An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 11am Fashion Show featuring clothes from the Boutique in the KY3 Women's Show. Whatever the reason, such memories should be celebrated -- along with the fair itself. Thanks Ozark Empire Fair for a good pull. 9/3/2021. "So during World War II, there was no auto racing because all the war effort was poured into building ammunition, vehicles and things for the war.". Friday, Oct. 6 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Show Location Ozark Empire Fairgrounds 3001 N. Grant Ave. Springfield, MO 65803 The Ozark Empire Fairgrounds is easily accessed on the north side of Springfield, Missouri, just off Interstate 44 and Highway 13. The 85th annual fair opened this week on July 29 and will run through Aug. 7. 12:30pm - Women's Medical Respite - Join Carol Daniel, founder and manager of the Women's Medical Respite; Abigail Cool, Executive Director of WMR; Jan Weiss, President WMR and learn about the history, function, and future plans/needs of the Women's Medical Respite. If you have questions please contact: Do you have products that are made in Missouri? Click "More Info" for the KY3 Grandstand line and to purchase tickets! - The Ozark Empire Fairgrounds are making way for a new 93,000-square-foot event facility and Youth Ag Education Center. Weve gotten lots of compliments on how weve got it set up., When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 8, Cost: $10 ages 12 and older; $3 children ages 6 through 11; carnival wristbands are $25; parking is $5, Grandstand (Note: All prices are in addition to price of fair admission. Those snapshots are as unique as the people who recall them: Perhaps some remembertheir first drippy Pineapple Whip, or summer romance found on the ferris wheel. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds There was a note of the newest ride on the midway, which "will be something fine for what ails your stomach." There was also a show by Captain Frakes' Death Fighters (dare-devil drivers), Station WLS's National Barn Dance and Round-Up, auto races, horse races, grandstand attractions, a "Parade of Stars" (featuring acts "ranging from trained elephants to a ballet-extravanagnza and adagio dancing") and a midway with 12 rides. purchase necessary, do not have to be present to win. -- The Rolla Herald, Sept. 1, 1938. Entertainment at the fair was different in 1938. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; Making families happy, that's why we do what we do. 2:30pm - GYN Cancer Alliance - Liz Thrasher, Community Development Coordinator/Interim Co-Director for GYN Cancer Alliance, will speak You look at the crime rate, the suicide and overdose rates, and you just want to do something positive like the fair. Winner will be contacted by AR Workshop. Owen said that we put a lot of effort in the mitigation plan, there were a lot details we had to work through, a lot of thinking outside of the box. Grandstand shows were free for the first time. The Ozark Empire Fair, shown in the 1950s, celebrates its 80th birthday in 2016. 2pm Jordan Valley Community Health Center - Speaking on the Show Me Healthy Women Program and talk about the importance of Longer days and sunny skies mark the advent of summer, but the true harbinger of the season is the Ozark Empire Fair, happening from July 26 to August 4. FNdocumentWrite("") Show the latest Ozark Empire Fair promo codes and coupons for August 2022 at Coupert. "Their sentiments were summed up by John T. Woodruff, president of the Chamber of Commerce: 'It's certainly a good break for the city. Ten days of food, fun and family activities. ", Looking back at a lifetime of memories, the fair sticks out as a highlight for Kissee. To say locals were pleased would be an understatement: "Merchants and civic leaders here were jubilant at news the project had been finally approved by WPA," wrote the newspaper. ft. home is a 0 bed, 0.0 bath property. That attempt also came to naught.In the mid-1930s,however, things changed. Just seize it. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Produced Events > Ozarks Fall Farmfest; The Man Show Expo; MO Food Truck Fest; Uptown Holiday Hoedown; Beer Wine Cheese and Chocolate Festival; KY3 Women's Show; Lawn & Garden Show > Lawn & Garden Show Vendor Info; Ozark Spring Roundup > Ozark Spring Round Up Preview Cattle Show; Ozark Empire PRCA Pro Rodeo > Mutton Busting Manufacturer: WESTFIELD OUTDOOR INC: Product SKU: 171122882: UPC: 844093066518. . Of course, the fair features far more happy memories than sad. FREE Parking and Admission is ONLY $5 at the door the day of the show (NO Advanced Tickets Needed) KY3 Womens Show Invite 2023 Register to WIN a Night Out & $500 Shopping Spree For others, winning that long-sought blue ribbon still brings smiles. Photos may be of livestock, landscapes, people, around the farm or ranch, or from the 2020 Gold Buckle Extravaganza weekend or Ozark Empire Fair. Obviously, the few fairs that did run in 2020 cannot be considered typical. Grab your girlfriends and enjoy a day of Shopping, Fashion, Food, Health, Beauty & Fun! According to online calculators, that amount would equal more than $170,000 today. And a comment about small boys who were trying to name all the presidents who had their portraits painted on the grandstand piers. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,