Downtown West Plains will transform into a celebration of Ozark music and local heritage as Dolly & Porter Days returns for its second year. This year’s festival spans two days, starting Friday and continuing Oct. 3.
Just one week out from the event, volunteers are still needed. Accordingly, an urgent call has been made for community members, civic groups and local businesses to step forward to help manage event operations, vendor support, children's activities and festival contests.
"We want everyone who attends to find a way to participate," said Finley Aiton, chair of the promotions committee for West Plains Downtown. "Dolly & Porter Days is ultimately about bringing people together: honoring our heritage, supporting our local businesses, celebrating the arts and creating joyful experiences that strengthen our community."
Inspired by the musical partnership and legacy of country music icons Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, the two-day festival features live traditional country music, local food, vendor shopping, family activities and community competitions.
Wagoner, a West Plains native, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Grand Ole Opry member, served as a primary cultural ambassador for the region during his career. The festival anchors itself in Wagoner's hometown to celebrate the Ozarks' enduring influence on American country music and culture.
A central feature of this year's event is "Rags to Art," a fiber arts exhibit and interactive program inspired by Parton’s classic song "Coat of Many Colors." The program connects historic Ozark craft traditions with contemporary community arts.
Festival attractions also include a Dolly Parton lookalike costume contest, a community pie bake-off, a hot dog eating contest and a dedicated Kids' Corner.
All festival events are free and open to the public.
For more information on festival activities, sponsorships or vendor details, visit westplainsdowntown.com/events/dolly-porter-days.
SIDEBAR / BREAKOUT BOX
GET INVOLVED:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Dolly & Porter Days needs volunteers to assist with two-hour shifts
and full-day coverage across both days of the festival.
Roles Needed
- Event setup and teardown
- Vendor support and welcome
- Kids' Corner monitoring
- Beverage service and bartending
- Contest assistants (Hot Dog Eating, Pie Bake-Off, Costume Contest)
- Photography, videography and social media
- Road closure assistance and grounds care
How to Sign Up
Volunteers can sign up online directly at:
signupgenius.com/go/10C054CAEAE2FA5F5C34-65620356-dolly
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCT. 2
4 to 10 p.m.: Vendor Market open
4 to 7 p.m.: Kids' Corner open
6 p.m.: Live music begins
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Kids' Corner open
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Vendor Market open
Noon: Hot Dog Eating Contest
1 to 3 p.m.: Pie Bake-Off
4 p.m.: Dolly Parton Look-Alike Costume Contest
All Day: Live music performances
