Summer Fun is Back!

By Melonie Roberts

After a year of losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, area organizers are gearing up for a summer of fun with several local events on tap.

The Stone's Prairie Picnic kicks off at 6 p.m. on July 16 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Stone Prairie, northwest of Purdy.

Traditional dining options of hamburgers, chips, hot dogs, bratwurst sandwiches, ice cream, beverages and homemade desserts will be available.

“The Eddie Valen Band will return to provide live music from the early days of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Mark McMillin, one of the event organizers. “Horse drawn wagon rides will be offered, along with a car show and display of antique farm equipment.”



Additional activities will include old fashioned games, bingo, baked goods and a country store with many handcrafted items.

A homemade quilt, crafted by ladies of the Quilting Society, will be awarded in a drawing. Tickets will be available at the picnic.

The annual Howdy Neighbor Days Festival is back Aug. 11 through 14 at Pierce City’s South Park.

“We are still working on booking acts and renting booth spaces,” said Ben Slagle, one of the event organizers. Once again, Fun Time Shows will provide carnival rides. The duck race is slated to take place Saturday evening on Clear Creek.

“We are still accepting sponsorships and renting booth spaces for vendors,” Slagle said. For more information, call Slagle at 417-489-1462 or Chris Jensen at 417-669-7337.

The Freistatt Lions Club will host its annual Ernte Fest, or harvest festival, from 4 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Aug. 21.

The event features both the traditional German meal of bratwurst, sauerkraut and German potato salad, available from the cook shack, as well as fair food such as hot dogs and hamburgers. There will be games and rides for children on the grounds.

Live music will be held in the bier garden, where variety of beer will be available, and feature both traditional German music as well as rock and roll performances.



T-shirts, chicken dance hats and other memorabilia will be available. Parking is offered on the grounds north of the festival.

Proceeds help support a wide range of Lions Club supported services, such as Leader Dogs for the Blind and World Service for the Blind.

So, mark these important dates on the calendar now and plan to have plenty of fun this summer with the return of these family-friendly venues.