"It was just a sea of tents all over the place," says Kepes, a comment which the newspaper took a step further. Were going to roll on because people have based on ticket sales and stuff theyre wanting to get out and they know I think after what we did last year that we can keep it clean, we can keep it safe, said Owen. Others had been held sporadically, but none of them ever took root where they were, says Cheryl Kepes, a local writer and historian about the Ozark Empire Fair. "I would call Friday and Saturday record attendance and Sunday very solid. For the last part of the 1920s and early 1930s, a location around what is now Pickwick and Grand Streets was used. The Ozark Empire Fair is expected to open at 4 p.m. on July 30 and at 11 a.m. on July 31 through August 8. If you have questions please contact: Do you have products that are made in Missouri? Some presidential portraits he copied from postage stamps. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Grandstand shows were free for the first time. Their attentionand dollarsdon't stay only within the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, however. From keeping staff paid, developing a plan and working with the vendors, exhibitors and other fair participants to make sure the show would go on. There was no shortage of things to worry about, of course. The park is located on the north side of Springfield at 3683 W. Farm Road 92, Springfield Missouri 65803. Click "More Info" to be directed to our Livestock pages. Sign up for email updates from Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center, 3001 N. Grant Ave. Springfield, MO 65803 -. Owen points out that there was no spike in coronavirus following the fair, indicating that a large outdoor event with the proper precautions can be held safely. Obviously, the few fairs that did run in 2020 cannot be considered typical. So none of thatll change.. That attempt also came to naught.In the mid-1930s,however, things changed. If you're interested in becoming a police officer, stop by our booth. daily parade, kids' area, demonstrations. He said he painted them all in three days. Many vendor spaces were actually vacant so fairly large empty spaces. The Fair had no permanent home but was held in various locations within the Springfield city limits. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; We want to welcome Alyssa Kelly as our MC on the Pinegar Honda Stage at the KY3 Women's Show. Thanks Ozark Empire Fair for a good pull. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Ozark Empire Fair Springfield . General Manager Aaron Owen is. The Cooking Stage is located in the East Hall. A special section was included in the Sunday News and Leader on the fair's opening day. For a full list of events you can find that here. Attendance was not great but the actual displays and vendors were well below expectations. General Manager Aaron Owen is expecting ticket sales will return to pre-pandemic levels. 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. West Hall - Commercial Vendors Interested in being an inside commercial vendor in our West Hall? Interested in being an inside commercial vendor in our West Hall? Note: Masks are required for everyone 11 years old and older except when eating or outdoors where a distance of 6 feet can be maintained between patrons. Attendance: undisclosed # Food Booths: na # of Exhibitors: tba Juried: no Prize Money: na Deadlines: Art . Booth selection for new exhibitors begins July 1, 2023. "Their sentiments were summed up by John T. Woodruff, president of the Chamber of Commerce: 'It's certainly a good break for the city. The Photography Contest allows those who cannot be in attendance during the Extravaganza to participate. Owen says he and his team spent months after the arrival of COVID-19 figuring out how to get the fair to safely take place this year. Want to be a vendor this year? Manufacturer: WESTFIELD OUTDOOR INC: Product SKU: 171122882: UPC: 844093066518. . What: Ozark Empire Fair When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 8 Where: 3001 N. Grant Ave. According to online calculators, that amount would equal more than $170,000 today. "We looked up the fellow who painted them in the 'Sign Painting Dep't' under the stand. "It's just a homey thing," Kissee says. "The Coliseum was kind of the crown jewel for a long time at the fairgrounds," says Kepes. (KY3) - The Ozark Empire Fair is quickly approaching for its 85th year. The book was the brainchild of Aaron Owen, who has served as general manager of the Ozark Empire Fair since 2012. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. At the time, they planned to add an18-hole golf course, a camping site, and a zoo. The Ozark Empire Fair started in the early 1900s as a traveling display of area crafts and handwork. That plan, however, fell through. But I got a lot more thank yous from the kids and the adults. 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"We're an urban community.". 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  >. By the spring of 1937, however, enthusiasm began to grow as work on the grandstand progressed. 2023 Ozark Empire Fair July 27 - August 5, 2023 Livestock Click "More Info" to be directed to our Livestock pages. Show the latest Ozark Empire Fair promo codes and coupons for August 2022 at Coupert. We want to remind you all that we have some big events coming in September and October. Aaron Schekorra, spokesman for the health department, tells me 23 people who attended the fair last year came down. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you have questions please contact: 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  >. ", The young adults who torched it were caught just hours after the blaze began. Not only is it the 85th anniversary for the fair, but the bicentennial for the state of Missouri. Click "More Info" for the KY3 Grandstand line and to purchase tickets! 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. (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. According to the newspaper, the original agreement was that120 WPA men would use five months to construct a new grandstand, a stable for race horses with 40 stalls, an agricultural and horticultural building, a fine arts building, a dining room, an automobile and machinery building and a livestock pavilion. Some of those familiar faces, however, aren't simply individuals walking through the gate. Obviously, the few fairs that did run in 2020 cannot be considered typical. marketplace | privacypolicy | contactus. Just went to the Ozark Empire Fair at the fairgrounds. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. They had 100,000 people during those seven days, which they thought was great for the very first one, says Kepes. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,