From harvest to heritage: Fall festivals bring communities together

Quilts made using patterns of long ago were on display during Pioneer Days Sept. 26 in Mtn. View. Though often elevated to an art these days, the craft of quiltmaking demonstrates the resourcefulness of homemakers of long ago, who usually gathered scraps of worn clothing or old bed sheets that were repurposed into bed coverings. The quilt show was sponsored by Connolly Insurance.

KIMBERLY LANGSTON/WPDQ

Seven contestants signed up for the challenge of eating the most hot dogs in five minutes during Dolly & Porter Days, held Friday and Saturday in downtown West Plains. The first round ended in a four-way tie with seven whole hot dogs eaten and a sudden death eat-off. Tyler Willard, fourth from left and sporting a Dolly Parton wig, prevailed by eating a single hot dog faster than the other finalists.

KIMBERLY LANGSTON/WPDQ

Sylvia Biggers, center, does her best impression of Dolly Parton for judges in a lookalike contest held Saturday afternoon during Dolly & Porter Days in downtown West Plains. Biggers was victorious in her endeavor. The contest, emceed by Crockett Oaks III on the stage, yielded four other winners: Mayor Mike Topliff as best Porter Wagoner lookalike; Llana Damon’s dog “Cocoa,” dressed as Waggoner, best pet lookalike; Robin and Tony Logue, best couples lookalike; and Layla Long, 9-year-old daughter of Lucas and Emily Long, best youth Dolly lookalike.

ABBY HESS/WPDQ

The Willow Springs Bear City Fall Festival had many fun activities on Saturday, including a chicken pageant. Entrants were encouraged to bring their favorite yardbird all gussied up in costume. Past champion Bonnie Mendez took second place this year with Ava, a brown speckled Sussex. Samantha Riley took first place with Cindy Lou, a buff silkie. From left: Brittney Brooks as “Penny,” Mendez, judge Robert Hollis, Riley, judge Mary Aye and Willow Spring Chamber of Commerce Director Kim McCormick as “Henny.”

KIMBERLY LANGSTON/WPDQ

Singer/songwriter Brandy Lee performed Saturday at Bear City Fall Festival in Willow Springs. The signature event hosted by the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce was packed with entertainment, contests, food trucks and vendors.

KIMBERLY LANGSTON/WPDQ

Beau Reed won a blue ribbon for his pumpkin carving skills Saturday at the Ozarks Black Gold Walnut Festival in Alton, one of many area fall festivals held during late September and October to celebrate the fall harvest and traditions of days gone by. The pumpkins were donated by Zach Barton of Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance.

KIMBERLY LANGSTON/WPDQ