Traditional craftspeople, historical reenactors and living history encampments will showcase the pioneer spirit of the Ozarks during the 32nd annual Ozark Heritage Festival in downtown West Plains.
The city’s signature event celebrates the music, culture and folklife traditions distinctive to the Ozark Highlands. Free and open to the public, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 16 and Oct. 17, with live music scheduled to begin at noon both days.
The Living History Encampment on the east lawn of the West Plains Civic Center will feature historical lodgings, encampments and exhibits representing several eras of Ozarks settlement. Many participating campers trace their lineage to Indigenous peoples who migrated through the region or early pioneer families who settled the Ozarks.
Demonstrators will provide interactive displays of essential survival skills and trade crafts, including blacksmithing by Sid Brink and Pat Nicholson, leatherwork by Nicholson, Dutch oven cooking by Larry Quinalty, basketry and woodworking by Linda and Jim Strauch, and broom making and pine needle basketry by Thomas and Karen Holt. Visitors can also view river camps featuring traditional wooden jonboats with Rick Mansfield, mountain-man era camps hosted by the Ozark Mountain Long Rifles, children's historic toys with Keith and Candy Sanders, and period merchandise at the Rendezvous Store operated by Kelly and Bev Wilfong.
On the west lawn, traditional artisans will demonstrate material arts that once served practical, utilitarian purposes for Ozark households. While modern manufacturing made many of these crafts obsolete for daily survival, local craftspeople continue the traditions as creative outlets and cultural preservation.
Demonstrators on the lawn include Get to the Point Flint Knappers, Country Heritage Spinners, Elohi Spirit Gourds, Quiet Lady Native American Beadwork, Leona Reed presenting large-scale cross-stitch, Alvin Hensley offering Latter-day Saint genealogy insights, the Fine Arts Academy of West Plains, the Sons of the American Revolution, and Sarah Elrod representing the Missouri Department of Conservation with instructional craft classes.
Festival partners for 2026 include the West Plains Council on the Arts, the City of West Plains, the Ozark Heritage Welcome Center, the West Plains Civic Center, Missouri State University-West Plains and Missouri Humanities, with partial funding provided by the Missouri Arts Council and Missouri Humanities.
For more information, email info@westplainsarts.org, visit oldtimemusic.org or search for "Ozark Heritage Festival" on Facebook.
