Prominent forensic anthropologist, Dr. Douglas Owsley will speak in Springfield this weekend. He'll give a talk tonight (4/1) at 7 in Carrington Hall, room 208, on the Missouri State University campus. He'll also speak tomorrow night (4/2) at about 7:45 at the Ramada Oasis on N. Glenstone. Michele Skalicky talks with Dr. Suzanne Walker, MSU professor and Dr. Neal Lopinot, director of the Center for Archaeological Research.
The program, “Stories of the West with Marideth Sisco and Bo Brown” will be held tonight (4/1) at 6:30 at the historic Fox Theatre on Park Central Square. The musicians will perform songs and music of the American West and share stories. The program is a Springfield-Greene County Library Big Read event. To learn more, thelibrary.org
Spring Diversity Weekend is today through Sunday (4/1/-4/3) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The gay pride event features a variety of activities. To view a schedule, click here.
The MSU Baseball Bears will host Central Michigan tonight (4/1) at 6:35 and tomorrow (4/2) at 2:05 at Hammons Field. For ticket information, 836-7678 or missouristatetix.com
First Friday Artwalk will be held tonight (4/1) from 6 to 10 in 24 venues in downtown Springfield. For details, ffaw.org.
The First Friday Night Downtown Stroll will be held tonight (4/1) starting at 5 in West Plains.
The Kiwanis Club of Downtown Springfield will host a Kiwanis Baseball Celebration to help fund baseball camps for the Boys and Girls Clubs tonight (4/1) at 5:30 at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Activities will include an honor wall and video of former Kiwanis baseball players, a live and silent auction and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
The Ozarks Small Business Incubator will host keynote speaker Ellen Rohr, a nationally recognized Business Makeover Expert, today (4/1) at 4 in West Plains. For details, www.ozsbi.com or 417-256-9724.
The exhibit, “On the Square: Two Hundred Years at the Center of Everything,” is at the historic Fox Theatre on Park Central Square. To learn more, www.historymuseumonthesquare.org
Native Plant Sales and Seminars will be held tomorrow (4/2) from 9 am to 2 pm at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way. Learn about plant pollinator partnerships, edible plants in winter and early spring and about Missouri prairies. For more information, 888-4237.
The Film Screening, "The Impact of Poverty and Homelessness on Education," will be held Sunday (4/3) from 3 to 7 pm in the Plaster Student Union at MO State University. See the films, Homestretch and Rich Hill. Refreshments will be provided. A panel discussion will follow. Admission is free.
The Springfield Conservation Nature Center Teen Club will fish at the Bois D’Arc Conservation area tomorrow (4/2). To register, 888-4237.
The Springfield Sister Cities Association will host the annual Cherry Blossom Kate and Pinata Festival tomorrow (4/2) from 11 am to 3 pm at Nathanael Greene-Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic in Springfield. The event will include kite flying and decorating, origami, pinatas and other Japanese and Mexican crafts and games at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center. Admission is $3, and kids 12 and under get in free. Admission to the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden will be free tomorrow. To learn more, peacethroughpeople.org
The 90th anniversary celebration of the Central High School Kilties will be held tomorrow (4/2). The Kilties will perform at noon on Park Central Square and a reception will follow at Central High School from 1 to 3. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.
The second annual Optimist Youth Fishing Tournament for ages five to 15 will be held tomorrow (4/2) at Dr. Stoll’s Lake near West Plains. And the Missouri Department of Conservation will offer a Back to Nature seminar from 8 to 8:30 am at the same location. To learn more, 417-256-9552 or click here.
The C-Street City Market will open for the season tomorrow (4/2) near the Footbridge on Commercial Street. Information at historiccstreet.com
A rain garden and rain barrel workshop will be held tomorrow morning (4/2) from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Wildcat Glades Audubon Center in Joplin. There is a fee to attend. Learn more wildcatglades.audubon.org
The 13 Rebels MC 18th Annual Spring Poker Run is tomorrow (4/2) with two starting points—in Rogers and Harrison, Arkansas--and one destination. For details, click here.
The COPE Gala, a fundraiser to benefit the Lebanon domestic violence shelter, will be held tomorrow night (4/2) at 6 at the Cowan Civic Center in Lebanon with dinner, a silent auction and a concert by the Little River Band. Tickets are $125 or $800 for a table of eight. For details, www.copeoflebanon.com
The program, Old-time Know-How tomorrow (4/2) will focus on compost. Learn how to use germs and worms to turn your organic waste into humus for your plants at 10 am at the Library Station. For more information, 865-1340.
The 2016 Quill Award Gala will be held tomorrow night (4/2) at 6 at Highland Springs Country Club featuring a silent auction, cocktail hour, dinner and the induction of Ron Powers into the Writers Hall of Fame. For ticket information, www.mowritershalloffame.org
Central High School’s media program will host the second annual Central Film Festival for area high school students tomorrow (4/2) from 10 am to 12:30 pm at The Moxie in downtown Springfield with a filmmaker’s meet and greet at 9:30. The more than 60 films submitted to the festival are student-created films.
The Camp Barnabas Big Party Half Marathon and 5K will be held tomorrow (4/2) at Jordan Valley Park. For details, 417-476-2565 or www.bigpartymarathon.com
Make homemade soap during Crafty DIY at the Library Station tomorrow afternoon (4/2) at 3. To register, 616-0683.
Springfield author and poet David Harrison will read from his new book, “Now You See Them, Now You Don’t” Sunday afternoon (4/3) at 3 at the Library Center. Students will also read from their own poems inspired by Harrison’s book. For more information, thelibrarycenter.org
The program, “African American Trailblazers,” will be held tomorrow and Sunday (4/2-4/3) at 1 at George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, MO. To learn more, nps.gov/gwca
A Useful Plant Hike, part of the Springfield Conservation Nature Center’s Primitive Skills Series, will be held Sunday (4/3) at 1. To register, 888-4237.