Trick or treat is a Halloween tradition, but it can get a little boring dressing up and walking around your local neighborhood, year in and year out, so this year, why not do things a bit differently and take the kids along to the Osage Beach Premium Outlet Mall Trick or Treat event on October 31^st.

Starting at 4pm, children aged 12 and under who are suitably dressed up in spooky and ghoulish costumes can walk around the Premium mall shopping outlet trick or treating: a list of participating stores at the mall can be collected from information centre at the entrance. There will also be a fancy dress costume contest with lots of great prizes and children dressed up in Halloween costumes gain an automatic entry.

Trick or treating at the Osage Beach Premium Outlet Mall is all the fun of Halloween, but in a nice safe environment. Instead of walking around outside and risking bad weather and worse, take the little ones for a warm, dry stroll around the mall and let them collect candy while you do some window shopping. And at the end of a couple of hours when the kids have had enough of shovelling sweets and candy down their throats, you can enjoy a bite to eat at one of the many food outlets inside the Osage Beach Premium Outlet Mall.

Since October 31^st is also the last day of the Premium Outlets Pink Event – a special fundraiser in aid of Breast Cancer awareness, while dad takes the kids trick and treating around the outlet mall, mom can do a spot of shopping and benefit from some cool discounts at stores such as Calvin Klein, J. Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Dressbarn—each shopper who donates $10 to the Breast Cancer Awareness charity will receive a fabulous discount card to spend at select stores within the mall.

Arts and Crafts are a big part of the local Lake of the Ozarks heritage, and quilt making has been a popular pastime for local ladies of all ages since the time of the Pioneer settlers. Sadly quilting is not as well practiced by the younger generation these days, but if you have a burning desire to learn more about the golden art of quilt making, come along to the Old-Time Quilter’s Fest on October 29^th between 9am and 4pm.

There will be lots of crafts vendors showing off their quilt notions and techniques as well as quilt demonstrations throughout the day for anyone who wants to learn how to start making beautiful quilts in the traditional way. Visitors also have the chance to win lots of door prizes and drawings at the event, plus a tasty lunch will be available. You will be able to use designated parking at the Museum and entrance to the event is free.

The Camden County Museum is a popular attraction in Lake of the Ozarks and it holds regular family friendly events throughout the year, many of which have a craft based theme. The museum has its own dedicated “patchwork pioneers” quilters group in permanent residence on site, so if you cannot make the Old-Time Quilters Fest at the end of October, you will still be able to see some of their work at a later date. Other groups of artisans in residence at the museum include rug weavers, basket weavers, and a fiber arts guild.

The Camden Museum is full of fascinating local history and artifacts related to pioneer life in the Ozarks area and can offer guided tours by appointment, plus lots of fascinating exhibits dating back from the days of the settlers, right through to modern day life in Lake of the Ozarks.

Miss Lake of the Ozarks Pageant is the first rung on the ladder for any young woman in the local area hoping one day to compete for the prestigious title of “Miss America”. The Miss Lake of the Ozarks Pageant is being held on October 29^th at the School of the Osage in Osage Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, and the doors open at 7pm.

There will be three separate crowns on offer on the night for three lucky girls: Miss Lake of the Ozarks 2012, Miss Osage River’s Outstanding Teen 2012, and Miss Lake of the Ozarks Outstanding Teen 2012.

The Miss Lake of the Ozarks pageant is open to all eligible girls from the state of Missouri, so if you think you might have a good shot at the title, trot down to the School of the Osage and give it a go. You might not win the crown, but at the very least you are bound to have a great evening. Alternatively, if you know a young lady who has what it takes to go all the way to the Miss America contest, encourage her to try out for one of the crowns on offer.

The Miss Lake of the Ozarks Pageant is affiliated to the Miss America Organization and all winners on the night have the chance of securing scholarship funds to help them achieve their future dreams.

Contestants hoping to enter the Miss Lake of the Ozarks pageant must be between the ages of 17 and 24. For the teen contests, girls must be aged between 13 and 17. All contestants must be well-rounded individuals who are willing to take on the responsibilities of the position should they win, so if you need further information before entering, check out the Miss Lake of the Ozarks contestant information website.

Do you have a passion for rocks and minerals? If so, come along to the Osage Rock & Mineral Club’s Club 10^th Annual Auction on October 22^nd. This interesting event will be taking place at the Camden County Museum, Linn Creek, MO.

There will be plenty on offer for rocks and minerals enthusiasts, including a varied selection of rocks, minerals, fossils, cabochons, crystals, and geodes. You will also be able to pick up some new equipment for your rock and mineral collecting hobby—various tools will be available for avid collectors to buy. And if you are interested in buying a nice gift or two for someone special, gem stones and a selection of custom made jewellery by local artisans will be available to purchase on the day.

There will also be lots of fascinating pieces of sparkly rock to keep the kids amused, plus the event is a great opportunity for newcomers to learn more about the exciting world of lapidary and earth sciences, otherwise known as lumps of rock to the rest of us poor uneducated souls.

The Osage Rock and Mineral Club Auction will be a cash only sale. Attendees will have a chance to preview the rocks and other sale items at 11am, and the auction will begin at 12 noon.

This is the first time the Osage Rock & Mineral Club have opened their annual auction event to the public, so if you have an interest in rocks and minerals, you should make a note in your diary and come along to check out what is on offer—you never know, you might be able to pick up a rare collectable item for a bargain price! Just be sure to bring enough cash with you or you could miss out on the bargain of the century.

The Citizens Against Domestic Violence / Victim Outreach Centre are holding the 10^th Annual CADV Brunch on October 19^th at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, so this is a fine opportunity for you and/or your business to support a very worthy cause and buy tickets or sponsor a table for the event.

This year’s event, held in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, will have a “holiday spectacular” theme. The brunch will be taking place between 11am and 1pm and anyone who puts their hand in their pocket and comes, can look forward to a large selection of delicious food dished up from more than twenty local restaurants and eateries in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

Tickets for the Annual CADV Brunch are priced at $20 each for individuals, or if your business would like to support the cause, special table sponsorship deals are available: Gold Sponsorship costs $500 in return for eight tickets and lots of excellent promotional opportunities, and Silver Sponsorship costs $250 in return for four tickets and a lower level of promotional opportunities.

The Citizens Against Domestic Violence / Victim Outreach Centre serves the entire Lake of the Ozarks region and its volunteers are on hand, 24/7, to provide a shelter and sexual assault response center for anyone who is the victim of domestic violence. The CADV also provide counselling, support groups, and a host of other valuable services.

The current domestic violence shelter run by the CAVD is located in Camdenton, but a fundraising campaign is well underway to secure enough money to build a larger and more modern building with better facilities to help women and children affected by the scourge of domestic violence. All profits and donations from the Annual Brunch fund raising event will go towards building the new shelter, so please support this worthy cause.

Halloween is almost around the corner, so if you are searching for some suitably spooky places to take the kids and scare their little socks off, head along to the 20^th Annual Ha Ha Haunt, which will be taking place on 28^th October.

The Ha Ha Tonka State Park is located at Camdenton, Lake of the Ozarks and the Ha Ha Haunt will be taking place between 5pm and 8pm. It is a free event, so bring the whole family along to enjoy the Halloween fun.

The Ha Ha Tonka State Park’s annual Halloween Ha Ha Haunt is a much loved family event full of fun and spooky entertainment for all ages. Park your vehicle in the parking lot and walk the quarter mile trail to the castle ruins. Jack-o-lanterns carved by the students from Camdenton Elementary School will illuminate your path and provide lots of Halloween atmosphere, and once you arrive at the ruined castle even more Halloween fun awaits!

There will be a roaring campfire in the castle grounds with mugs of hot chocolate on offer, plus the opportunity to make smores. There will also be lots of Halloween themed arts and crafts and kids can try their hand at bean bag tossing for the chance to win a prize. And of course, with it being Halloween, each child will also receive a bag of sweets, because Halloween would not be Halloween without plenty of sticky and teeth rotting candy to eat.

To provide lots of seasonal atmosphere, Halloween decorations will adorn the castle lawn and kids will be able to have their photographs taken in amongst the spooky lanterns and mock skeletons.

The Ha Ha Tonka State Park Annual Haunt is a fantastic free family fright night in the perfect haunted castle location—so come along if you dare and walk the haunted trail up to the spooky ruins…mwahahahaha!

Looking for inspiration for the forthcoming Halloween Holiday? If so, take the family along for some FREE Trick or Treat fun at the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake of the Ozarks. This special Halloween event will be taking place on October 29^th between 2pm and 5pm, so make sure you bring the kids to join in the fun.

The Trick or Treat Halloween event is sponsored by the Lake Ozark Betterment Committee and the organizers are providing lots of fun, games, and all-round Halloween entertainment for the kids, including a fancy dress costume contest, Halloween themed games, and some musical fun at Luby’s Plaza.

There are lots of special themed Halloween games designed for the whole family to enjoy. These include Musical Pumpkins and beanbag tossing—always firm favorites with the Halloween crowd at the annual Trick or Treat Bagnell Dam event.

In order to make the most of the event, you should encourage the kids to dress up in a spooky costume—think ghost, witch, ghoul, or even pumpkin! Not only will they stand a great chance of winning a fun prize for being the best dressed in their category, they will also have lots of fun showing off their fancy dress costumes to all the shops and businesses along the Bagnell Dam strip.

Trick or Treating along the Bagnell Dam Strip is a great opportunity to collect sweets and candy, so make sure you bring a bucket to collect your treats as part of this fun holiday tradition. And if you are feeling naughty, you had better think up a few tricks to play along the way!

Should you run out of steam at any point, or you have had enough of all those sweets and candy, there will lots of refreshment outlets when you can take a break and enjoy some temporary respite from the Halloween themed activities on offer.

Golfing enthusiasts should make a date in their diary for the Tri-County YMCA Annual Golf Tournament. This year’s event will be taking place on October 15^th – 16^th at the Old Kinderhook Golf Course in Camdenton, Lake of the Ozarks.

Starting on the Saturday evening, the Tri-Country YMCA will be holding a Kid’s Silent Auction and pairings party. The event takes place at the Lodge of the Four Seasons at 6pm in preparation for the main charity golf tournament on the Sunday. There are loads of great prizes on offer, including signed sports memorabilia, artwork and jewellery. All proceeds raised will go to the Tri-County YMCA.

On the Sunday, registration and a buffet lunch take place at 10AM at the Old Kinderhook Golf Course, followed by a shotgun start to the tournament at 11.30AM. The event will be in the format of a four person scramble and you can either enter as a player, a player/sponsor, or as a corporate sponsor. Entry fees for the event include food, special gifts, and of course, lots of fun!

The Old Kinderhook Golf Course is one of the most scenic courses in Lake of the Ozarks. It covers more than seven hundred acres of unrivalled terrain and encompasses waterfalls, valleys, hills and plenty of water hazards. The views from the various parts of the course are beautiful and for those who want to bring their family along while they play golf for a worthy cause, there are two on-site restaurants, a swimming pool, day spa and clubhouse to keep the whole family entertained.

The Tri-County YMCA is a very worthy charity and monies raised from the silent auction and golf tournament will help to provide summer camps, childcare facilities, and sports programmes for underprivileged children living in the Lake of the Ozarks local area

Breast cancer awareness is something that’s, with a lot of effort, has been spreading pretty rapidly. It’s a pretty good thing, especially considering that there are more women who are suffering every day. Totes for Ta-Tas is a non-profit that has really been doing their part in spreading breast cancer awareness to a pretty great degree. It’s something that we have really come to appreciate, and for their second annual event is shaping to be even better than their first one. Taking place from 5 PM to 8 PM on October 11, 2011 at the Elks Lounge, we think that you will really appreciate with what they’re going to be done this year!

With a $20 admission price, you’re set to receive a drink ticket, heavy hors d’oeuvres and all sorts of door prices. Join some of your friends and family for a silent auction of totes, purses, wallets, and even a 50/50 raffle at the event. So, not only are going to get a couple of fun and exciting things as food and door prizes, but who doesn’t love a good auction? And when it’s going to a good cause, it makes the event even more fun, as you’re really fighting for a cause and cure here, too!

And as far as the cause goes, the event is in benefit for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, as well as the Lake Regional Cancer Center. Both this foundation and the cancer center has really been vocal in promoting breast health, and they can really use all of the funding that they can in search of finding a real cure to one of the more debilitating conditions that women face. And with Totes for Ta-tas, you’ll be happy to know that you’re really helping find the answers that specialists need to eradicate this looming problem for a large amount of women around the world.

With Totes for Ta-Tas, there is a chance that the Lake of the Ozarks community can really make a difference when it comes to finding a cure for breast cancer! So, if you have any gently used purses, totes, or wallets – take them to Lake Printing CO (Osage Beach), Blinds in More (Osage Beach), The Mother’s Shrine (Laurie) and the Essentials Salon & Spa (Lake Ozark). If you need any information, please call 573-280-9792 or send an email to meliss.carroll@lakeprinting.com. They’ll be happy to assist you with any of the problems and inquires that you have.

The Great Lake of the Ozarks Road Rally, taking place on October 8, 2011, is shaping up to be one of the best events of the fall! Of all of the amazing things going on, this is assuredly one of those that people are really excited for. The Kiwanis Club is hosting the all-day lake-wide event, located in Osage Beach, MO, and has all of the makings of a real road rally! There are many things about this event, with one being that this is one of the few road rallies that the Lake of the Ozarks has ever seen, and while this is something has gone on in other parts of the state, this may really be one of the only ones that you’ll see around these parts for quite some time.

The Kiwanis Club of the Ozark Coast calls this a fun, but very challenging road rally that’s set to take place on the Saturday. The proceeds will go to a very good cause, including the club and some of their associated charities, which is easily the most important thing, as it’s always good to support a cause that’s willing to support people who may need assistance. The cost for vehicle entry is $35, and that’s essentially all that your vehicle needs to participate.

If you’re looking to be a part of the action, there are a few things that you should know about beforehand. First and foremost, you’ll need to know that the registration is held at two different places: Bootleggers Sports Bar and Grill and the Stone Crest Mall. You’ll have to be at one of these locations at 10:30 AM sharp, with the race starting 12:00. The rally will last about 2 hours, which is more than enough time for those that have the need for speed to have a good amount of run throughout the track.

So, if you’re looking for something to do, or watch on Saturday the 8^th of October, we think that you should head down to the road rally hosted by the Kiwanis Club. Not only will you find it to be a lot of fun (whether you’re participating or watching), you will also feel good about supporting one of the best causes in the area. Also, if you need any information regarding the road rally, be sure to call 573-365-2265 or 573-553-2121. If you’d like to email a representative, send one to d.creel@bank-star.comfor a little more information regarding this exciting event.

Majestic Oaks Park has been a staple for families in Lake Ozark for a while now, and every year, families come to appreciate it even more. While there is a lot of fun to be had year-round, there’s something that’s even more special around October. The leaves start changing colors and kids start getting excited about what’s lurking around the corner – Halloween. The two are synonymous with fun, and the Saturday night hayrides are making their triumphant return as the number one thing to do in Lake Ozark in October, perfect for anyone who wants to get into the spirit of fall and Halloween.

Every week in October, Majestic Oaks has a hayride, amongst other events that people are genuinely excited for. The hayrides lead up to what people consider the main event – the Haunted Hayride. On the last week of October, this year being the 29^th of the month, is the ride. And it’s full of activities that parents and children will really love, as some of the fun activities include trick-or-treating, prizes, games, costume and site decorating contests. Practically, everything that children love about Halloween is well represented here – including pumpkin carving. This is generally more than enough to keep all of the children happy.

All of the events start at dusk, which provides the best possible back drop for a hayride, especially as we inch closer to Halloween. There always needs to be a little bit of aesthetic spookiness that drives the minds and imaginations of children and parents alike. Majestic Oaks has always been pretty consistent about being able to create the mood, and we don’t think that there will be any exception this year, as their tweaks throughout the off-season will prove to be a welcomed change to a formula that has worked so well in the past, all with hopes of creating a familiar, yet new feel to the proceedings.

If you’re looking to catch one (or many) of the magnificent hayrides at Majestic, feel free to contact them by phone at 573-365-1890 or visit their website at http://www.majesticoakspark.com/. And in addition to the hayrides that they offer, they still do have some of the best camping and a whole host of other events that they’re usually gearing up for. We think that you should check them all out, especially considering that some of them are usually populated by some genuinely incredible people!

3^rd Annual Ozark Cup Regatta is a fantastic way for you to spend a day! Join sailors from all over the Midwest for the largest race on the Lake of the Ozarks. With the third year in existence, it’s primed to be something that just about everyone will come to appreciate, and we think that more people will find that this is something that they really appreciate, as it has all of the makings of a very successful event. On October 1, 2011, thousands of people will flock to the Ozark Yacht Club at 11 AM, and we think that you will also be one of those happy people who have a need to watch one incredible race.

The race will start at the yacht club on the 1mm towards Atlantis Island and eventually returning to the finish line right below the Ozark Yacht Club. There are also three races that are slated to run, and if weather permits, you’ll be able to see all three. And if the first three regattas are anything to judge by, this will definitely be one of those events that you may not want to miss. It’s an event that culminates all of the great things that you know about yachting, as it really is one of the more aesthetically pleasing things that will be happening on the Lake of the Ozarks at this time.

One of the best things about this event is that it doesn’t have an admission, and it is completely open to the public, meaning that every resident can get in on the action. This makes the regatta a sensible and exciting choice for anyone who has some kind of interest in boating, and considering the area – that’s just about everyone.

So, if you’re looking for something exciting to do on the first of October, you may find that the 3^rd annual Ozark Cup Regatta to be a solid choice. It’s free, fun, and open to everyone who may have interest – or may be budding interest – in yachting. And if you would like some more information regarding the regatta, we’d like you to either give a call to the Yacht club at 573-552-8401 or visit their website at www.ozarkyachtclub.com. They’ll be happy to answer your questions about this, or any of the other events that they’re currently preparing for. Also, they are currently filling the positions of monitors and volunteer staff, so inquire about it if you’re interested in any of these positions!