Community Calendar

Prairie State Park will host Birds of a Feather December 8 for kids ages 5 and up. Learn about Missouri birds in winter and make a pinecone feeder to take home.

The class is limited to 35 participants and registration is required by December 1. Information at 417-843-6711.

South Street Christian Church will host a movie night on December 8 with a dinner of hot dogs, chips, and cookies provided starting at 5:30 pm. This is a free event and open to the public.

Follow Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France on vacation, as he fend off the Wet Bandits who are terrorizing his neighborhood.

The Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site will host Ozark Christmas Traditions on December 8.

Travel back in time to see how the Boone family and other Greene County residents have celebrated Christmas since 1830. Drop in for a visit with St. Nicholas, smell the cooking of a holiday meal over an open fire, make a 19th-century door decoration, learn Christmas customs of the Missouri Ozarks and much more. After visiting the Boone Homestead, make new holiday memories as historic downtown Ash Grove continues the celebration at 4 p.m. with the annual Christmas parade and downtown festivities. The day’s schedule is as follows:

• • 10 a.m.- Christmas wreath laying at both historic cemeteries.
  • 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Living history displays and demonstrations along the path to the Boone home.
    
    • Cider pressing.
    • Block-print Christmas cards.
    • U.S. Dragoons.
    • Nathan Boone Chapter of the War of 1812 Society.
    • Christmas of the enslaved.
    • 19th-century door swags.
    • Fiber arts.
    • Ladderback chair caning.
  • 10:15 a.m. – Christmas carols in the parlor of the Boone home.
  • 10:30 a.m. – Ozark Christmas stories, folklore and superstitions, in the orchard.
  • 11 a.m. – Christmas carols in the parlor of the Boone home.
  • 11:30 a.m. – Ozark Christmas stories, folklore and superstitions, in the orchard.
  • Noon –  Christmas carols in the parlor of the Boone home.
  • 1 p.m. – “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and Christmas caroling in the parlor of the Boone home.
  • 1:30 p.m. - Ozark Christmas stories, folklore and superstitions, in the orchard. Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site is located at 7850 N. State Highway V in Ash Grove.

Talk about musk oxen with bestselling author Jan Brett as she demonstrates drawings from her picture book "Cozy."

Renowned author Jan Brett is traveling across America aboard her Winter Wonderland bus, and Springfield is one of the stops. Join Jan for a drawing demonstration from her bestselling picture book "Cozy" and discuss her research trip to Alaska to see the musk oxen. There will also be a special visit with one of her favorite characters, Hedgie.

Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Books will be available for purchase. Due to time limitations, book signings are available on a first come, first serve basis.

George Washington Carver National Monument will host a Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 9th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Create ornaments at make-and-take stations throughout the visitor center. Listen to local musicians, Robin’s Hood, as they entertain with their jazzy renditions of holiday favorites, plus some original compositions. Hot cocoa, apple cider, and cookies are available for everyone to enjoy.

George Washington Carver shared Christmas memories and greetings in some of his handmade greeting cards sent to friends. A reading of George Washington Carver’s Christmas cards will take place at 1:30 p.m. and some of his original cards will be on display. A special exhibit will feature selections from the Missouri Slave Narratives, a 1930s oral history collection, conducted by the Federal Writers' Project of the WPA - Works Progress Administration. The exhibit provides a sober reminder about the experiences of enslaved individuals during the holiday season. Park rangers will be available to answer questions.

The 28-minute film, Struggle and Triumph – The Legacy of George Washington Carver, will be shown throughout the day and guided tours of the Carver Trail are offered at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Park hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Generous support for Holiday Open House provided by the Carver Birthplace Association, the park cooperating association.

Administered by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior, George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver ‐ scientist, educator, and humanitarian. The park is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri on Highway V, then ¼ mile south on Carver Road. For more information, please call the park at 417‐325‐4151 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., visit the park website at www.nps.gov/gwca, or visit the park Facebook page.

"Santa Paws is Coming to Town" for the Springfield Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9 at 2 p.m. The classic Springfield event returns to celebrate the Christmas season, while highlighting the community's beloved animals with this year's pet-focused theme.

The Springfield Christmas Parade, presented by Vital Farms, will march up South Avenue from Elm Street, circle the west side of Park Central Square and then continue east on St. Louis street to the Springfield Expo Center. Featuring marching bands from local high schools, Louie from the Springfield Cardinals, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The parade will be led by the grand marshal, Captain Springfield Googey the BookMarx bookshop cat. Earlier this year, Googey received more than 8,000 to become the eighth Captain Springfield. Since then he, and BookMarx owner Josh Arnett, have taken the title seriously, using the promotion to support local animal and literacy focused nonprofits. Arnett, a beloved Downtown Springfield small business owner, will join Googey at the front of the parade.

Preceding the parade, there will be a Christmas Market on Park Central Square beginning at noon. The market will offer parade-goers sweet treats, hot chocolate and festive holiday shopping opportunities. The celebration will continue in the evening after the parade with free horse-drawn carriage rides, provided by the Downtown CID, and the opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus below the grand Christmas tree in the square later. Saturday will also be the last day to vote in the Team A.N.A. 417 Downtown Springfield Holiday Window Challenge, where visitors of Downtown Springfield can cast their vote for their favorite holiday window display.

Roaring River State Park will host a viewing of the Geminid Meteor Shower on December 14.

The Geminid is one of the biggest meteor showers of the year. This year, there will be a new moon on the night of December 12, which means the skies will be extra dark for the Geminids' peak on the 14th. Dress warmly for a night of meteor viewing and stargazing, and come learn more about this cosmic spectacle. There will be spotting scopes for you to use and warm beverages to enjoy.

This event will take place in the gravel parking lot at Roaring River Conservation Area. To get to the conservation area from Roaring River State Park, follow Highway F east toward Eagle Rock; the conservation area lot is on the right, just past the park boundaries.

Seating is not provided in the parking lot, and restrooms are not available at the conservation area. Anyone wanting to sit down during the event should bring a lawn chair or blanket, and everyone is encouraged to dress warmly.

This come-and-go-style event is free and open to the public, and registration is not required. In the event of heavy precipitation or thick cloud cover, the viewing will be canceled.

For more information about this event, call the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center at 417-847-3742.

Farmer's Market of the Ozarks will host a special market to prepare for the holiday season.

The Branson Parks & Recreation Department will host Winter Break Camps, offered December 26-29 and January 2-5 for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Participants may choose to attend the entire camp or choose individual days that work best for them. Camp activities will include games, crafts, movies and field trips that include a trip to Wonderworks on December 27 and to the OC indoor pool in Ozark on January 3 and December 28. The cost is $35 per child/per day or $200 per child for the entire camp.

Registration is required. More information can be found HERE or by calling the Branson RecPlex at 417-335-2368. For more information, visit the Kids Camps section on the Programs & Special Events page of the Branson Parks and Recreation website, www.BransonParksandRecreation.com

The Branson Parks & Recreation Department will host Winter Break Camps, offered December 26-29 and January 2-5 for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Participants may choose to attend the entire camp or choose individual days that work best for them. Camp activities will include games, crafts, movies and field trips that include a trip to Wonderworks on December 27 and to the OC indoor pool in Ozark on January 3 and December 28. The cost is $35 per child/per day or $200 per child for the entire camp.

Registration is required. More information can be found HERE or by calling the Branson RecPlex at 417-335-2368. For more information, visit the Kids Camps section on the Programs & Special Events page of the Branson Parks and Recreation website, www.BransonParksandRecreation.com