Party in the Path, a four-day festival celebrating the total solar eclipse’s path with just over three minutes of totality in West Plains, will begin Friday and run through Monday, featuring a plethora of activities for all ages. Following is a quick roundup of those activities in West Plain. Visit explorewestplains.com/tse or follow @eclipsewestplains on Facebook for details.
All four days, Ozarks Artery’s “Total Eclipse and the Art” exhibit is on display at the Yellow House Community Arts Center, 209 W. Trish Knight St., during the arts center’s Black Sky + Yellow House events, which will also run all four days.
From 7 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Legit Speedway Park, 10603 S. U.S. 63, will host the Legit Eclipse Experience, offering family entertainment for all ages. Admission is $10 each night and includes a ride on the shuttle, plus games: laser tag, shoot the moon, Saturn ring toss, space ball, shuttle flight challenge and flying saucer.
The Ozarks Small Business Incubator, 408 Washington Ave., will host a reception from noon to 2 p.m. featuring eclipse-themed artwork from the artists of Honest Imagination. Refreshments and snacks provided.
At 7 p.m., the Yellow House will host a stand-up comedy show with comedians Erik Paulson, Chris Grant, Oggie Hafoka and Brayden Jones. The event is all-ages, but expect mature language and content. The show is free to attend, but donations will be accepted at the door to support the traveling comedians; suggested contribution is $10.
A concert will be given by 38 Special at 7 p.m. at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St., with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Purchase tickets by calling 417-256-8087 or go online to ticketmaster.com.
A 5K run will be held at 8 a.m. at Galloway Park to benefit Zizzer Cross Country and Track. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. The $35 cost includes a T-shirt (sizes not guaranteed), water bottle, cooling towel, custom medal and bid. Sign up online at actnowracing.com/events/922/5k-at-galloway.
From 9 to 11 a.m., The Kiwanis Club will host a pancake breakfast served at the civic center. To purchase tickets at $10 each, contact a Kiwanis member, send a Facebook message to “Kiwanis Club of West Plains” or email kiwanisclubofwestplains@gmail.com.
A Cosmic Carnival for Kids will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the south parking lot of the West Plains Public Library, 750 W. Broadway. Activities and games are free, and cotton candy will be available for purchase. Carnival-style games with prizes, a magician, bounce houses, balloon animals, a space-themed cake walk, face pointing, mountain bike demonstration and petting zoo are all planned, as well as an interactive mural-painting event and S.T.E.M. activity. Following, at 2:30 p.m., at kids can head up Broadway to People’s Park for a rubber duck race held by the West Plains Optimist Club.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Sunshine Festival at the civic center will offer vendor booths, live music, a beer garden and food trucks. Musicians performing include Robin and Tony Logue, Tara Nickole and Blayd Law, Chasing the Apocalypse, and Native Souls. The Journey Stagecoach will be on display on the west side of the center.
The West Plains Second Saturday Art Stroll will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m and feature vendors offering arts and crafts for sale, as well as art on display at local businesses.
The Yellow House will host a music and art event from noon to 10 p.m., featuring a reading by local author Marsha Thauwald, live painting, and musical performances by John Depew and The Kursk.
From 1 to 4 p.m., an Eclipse Jeep Show will be held in the West Plains Walmart parking lot on Preacher Roe Boulevard, near the online pickup stalls. Registration is $20 and starts at noon, with proceeds going to Children’s Miracle Network. Three trophies will be awarded: Best Theme Jeep (‘80s, neon or sci-fi), Most Off-Road Ready and Best Original Jeep. A plush “rubber duck” will be awarded to the crowd favorite. Text 417-247-0736 for more information.
Justyn Moreland will perform live acoustic originals and covers at 7 p.m. at Wages Brewing Company, 1382 Bill Virdon Blvd. No cover charge.
The Neon Parade featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales and Grand Marshal Brandon Beck, KY3 meteorologist, begins at 7:30 p.m. and will traverse downtown West Plains.
At 8:30 p.m. three events will take place on Washington Avenue: KC’s Sports Bistro, 409 Washington Ave., will host its first-ever Nashville Showcase Writers Round. Musicians Jacob Hackworth, Jaxson Free, Luke Parrish and Adam Pope will play songs they have written for acclaimed Nashville artists, as well as country and rock covers. West Plains Underground will host Path of the Moon Shadow live music show at West Plains Below Grade, 351 Washington Ave. (West Plains Bike Shop rear entrance), featuring Ghost Hollow from Fayetteville, Ark., Sacrifice the Truth, Mtn. View, and Broken Knuckle, West Plains. Admission is $10.
Lastly, The Avenue Theatre, 307 Washington Ave., will host The Rising Star Revue, a talent show with cash prizes. Admission is $5.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the civic center's east parking lot for Dice Run to the Mills, open to passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Stops include Twin Bridges, Rockbridge, Hodgson Mill and Dawn Mill. Prizes will be given. Cost is $15/vehicle, which includes two scorecards. Additional cards are available for $5 each.
The West Plains Model Railroad Club will have a display in the civic center Redbud Room from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Traditional Ozarks storyteller Danette House will present “West Plains: In the Beginning” at 2 p.m. at the Avenue Theatre.
Starting at 2 p.m., the 37th Judicial CASA will host a dodgeball tournament at Team Fusion West Plains, 220 N. Kentucky Ave. Registration is $60 per team at the door. Admission for spectators is $2 for adults and $1 for kids; hot dogs and chips will be available.
A balloon glow and fireworks show benefiting the Child Advocacy Center-South Central will be held at the Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds on North U.S. 63. The balloon glow will start at dusk. Live music and food trucks will be available starting at 4 p.m., as will kids’ activities and family fun. Admission is $15 per adult and $10 each for ages 18 and younger. Buy tickets and get more information at give.childadvocacycenter.org/event/balloon-glow-2024/e556568.
From 6 to 8 p.m. the Yellow House will host “A Meal With Molly” featuring live music from Molly Healey, known for her work with the Ozarks Mountain Daredevils as well as a vibrant solo career, and a catered meal by Chef Aym Fischer. The menu includes appetizer, dinner and dessert with an Italian theme. Tickets to the limited-seating event are $30 may be purchased by going to @TheYellowHouseWP on Facebook or emailing yellowhousearts@gmail.com.
The MSU-Springfield Astronomy Department will give an hourlong presentation at 10 a.m. in the civic center theater.
Total Eclipse of the Heart weddings will be performed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the civic center’s east lawn.
Dawson Hollow will perform live in concert at noon at the civic center.
The total solar eclipse will last for 3 minutes and 8 seconds in West Plains and totality will start at 1:54 p.m.. A partial eclipse will last about 1.5 hours before and after totality. Official viewing sites in West Plains are at the civic center and the Heart of the Ozarks Fairgrounds, in addition to 19 city parks that will offer viewing spaces and several area businesses.
