Community Calendar

Hunger Action Month is Ozarks Food Harvest’s annual advocacy campaign to raise awareness about hunger in the Ozarks and inspire action in the community. Proceeds from Hunger Action Month will support the Weekend Backpack Program, which provides children facing hunger with kid-friendly, nutritious meals and snacks to take home every weekend of the school year.

Join the movement to end hunger by attending Hunger Action Month events, hosting a food and fund drive, making your business a community partner or spreading the word.

Orange is the color of Hunger Action Month. You can show support for hunger relief by wearing orange on Go Orange Day, September 16.

The Swapalooza Community Garage Sale and Swap Meet Parking Lot Sale will be held at its new location on September 20 at its new location, Doling on Atlantic with indoor vendor booths.

90+ vendors selling a variety of items, including
🔌 Electronics & Home Appliance
📿 Permanent Jewelry
🍋 Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
🛋️ Furniture & Home Décor
👕 Clothing & Accessories
🚗 Tools & Car Accessories
🧸 Kids’ Items & Baby Gear
🎮 Games & Video Games
🕰️ Antiques & Collectibles
🔊 Stereos & Audio Equipment
👒 Custom Hats & Apparel
🍞 Fresh Sourdough & Artisan Breads
🌱 Plants for indoors & gardens
🍪 Homemade Baked Goods
🎨 Handmade Crafts & Artwork
🧼 Goat Milk Soaps & Lotions
💎 Resin Art
🪅 Pinatas & Party Accessories
🪵 Wood Carve Art
🧶 Crochet Items
👜 Upcycled Bags
🥤 Custom Tumblers
🃏 Trading Cards
♻️ Liquidation Resale
🌵 Succulents
🥮 Cookie Cakes

Food trucks will also be on site.

The GLO Market is a monthly event supporting local queer-owned businesses and resources. The market showcases local talent from artists and entrepreneurs.

September is a great month to learn about monarch butterflies in Missouri because this is when these fascinating and beneficial insects are migrating through the Show-Me State on their way to their wintering grounds in central Mexico.

People can learn about monarch butterflies and purchase native plants to improve habitat around their homes on Sept. 20 at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program Fall Native Plant Sale and Monarch Festival. These events will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center in Joplin. The Shoal Creek Center is located at 201 W. Riviera Drive in Joplin.

The importance of having monarchs and other species of butterflies around is about more than seeing pretty insects in flower gardens. Butterflies are a valuable part of a healthy ecosystem. In addition to their habitat value, studies have shown the financial benefits provided to U.S. citizens by the pollination activities of butterflies and other insects can be measured in the billions of dollars.

Just as impressive, but much more mysterious, is the annual autumn migration monarchs make to central Mexico. No monarch makes the trip more than once (the butterflies live about a year). At the Sept. 20 program, education tables will be set up at which people can learn more about this annual monarch migration. Information will also be available about the types of plants that provide good habitat for these colorful butterflies during the time they’re in Missouri.

On the same day, MDC’s Shoal Creek Center will hold a fall native plant sale. People can drop by any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to purchase native plants for their landscaping needs. Vendors will offer plants and planting advice about native plants and their benefits.

People can go to Missouri Wildflower Nursery at https://mowildflowers.net/ or to Ozark Soul Native Plants at https://ozarksoul.com/ for information about plants that vendors will have at the sale or to pre-order plants.

Registration is not required for the Sept. 20 event at the Shoal Creek Center, but people can learn more at:
https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/210815

People can stay informed about upcoming programs at the Shoal Creek Center by signing up for text alerts and e-mail bulletins. People who have questions about how to sign up for text alerts from the Shoal Creek Center can call 417-629-3434.

The 27th annual Cider Days will be held on Historic Walnut Street September 20-21 with regional artists and crafters, live music, performances, food, and apple cider.

Adults are invited to attend Notorious Women of Missouri at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Republic Branch Library, 921 N. Lindsey Ave.

Historical author Larry Wood will discuss infamous and notorious women throughout Missouri's history. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For more information on this free program call 417-732-7284.

The Christian County Library's Outdoor Concert series will be held most Saturdays in September, as well as October 25 at 6:30 pm at various branches.

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, snacks and drinks.

Schedule

• September 6: RH Silverwood at the Ozark Branch
• September 13: Jasmine Road at the Clever Branch
• September 20: Rowan's Crossing at the Sparta Branch
• October 25: Lancaster Station Band at the Nixa Branch

The Historic Gillioz Theatre Presents:
Chris D'Elia: Straight Outta The Multiverse

Saturday, September 20th, 2025
Doors: 6:00PM
Show: 7:00PM

__________________________
This performance is 18+

Chris D'Elia has become one of the most in-demand performers in comedy. His highly successful podcast CONGRATULATIONS WITH CHRIS D'ELIA has been a mainstay on iTunes' comedy podcast charts since its debut in February 2017. He is also a co- star on THE GOLDEN HOUR with Brendan Schaub and Erik Griffin.

As a stand-up comedian, D'Elia has toured the US and Canada. D'Elia has three comedy specials available on Netflix, NO PAIN (2020), MAN ON FIRE (2017), INCORRIGIBLE (2015), and he was chosen as one of four comics to represent the US in Netflix's 2019 Series COMEDIANS OF THE WORLD which features 47 comedians from 13 regions in eight different languages. His first special, WHITE MALE, BLACK COMIC, debuted on Comedy Central in 2013 and he can be seen on Comedy Central's ROAST OF JUSTIN BIEBER (2015).

D'Elia is also a father to sons, Calvin, born in 2020, and William, born in 2023.

VIP tickets include a show ticket as well as a post-show meet and greet with Chris, and a photo opportunity.

Live From Downtown is a weekly summer concert series on Park Central Square that showcases local musicians and bands from all genres. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

Shows start at 7 pm every Saturday from the beginning of May through the end of September.

Find the schedule of performances here: https://www.livefromdowntownsgf.com/

Theatre North of 60, an initiative of National Avenue Christian Church, will present a production of the musical Annie September 12-21. This unique staging will bring the classic story to life with a twist: every role, from the feisty orphan Annie to the formidable Miss Hannigan and the benevolent Daddy Warbucks, will be portrayed by actors aged 55 and over.

Annie will be performed in a re-engineered space at National Avenue Christian Church. All shows are free to the public, with donations accepted. Shows include evening performances and matinees on the following dates:

• Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m.