Lake of the Ozarks Festivals
The festivals and celebrations at the Lake of Ozarks all year round are among the reasons people choose this destination for their vacation. The people of Ozarks celebrate just about every part of life. There are festivals celebrating barbeque and wine, Native Americans, men in the mountains, apple butter and apples, Christmas trees and dogwood trees, motorcycles, cars, boats….. you name it and they have a festival celebrating it!
Most people who come to the Lake of the Ozark for their vacation end up overstaying, thanks to the various festivities that enliven the Ozarks every single day of the year. Let’s check out some of the Lake of the Ozarks festivals that you can not experience in any other part of the world.
The Laurie HillBilly Barbeque Festival turns on the heat at the Lake of the Ozarks fair grounds in summer. If you want to taste the best barbeques in the world, then, you should head to this festival which is conducted between July and August every year. Barbeque teams, not only from Missouri, but from other various parts of the United States arrive to participate in this fair to display their skills and scintillate the taste buds of the thousands of visitors that pour in here to experience the craziness. Beer garden, yummy barbeques, craft booths, races, free samplings and dances are integral part of this fair. Don’t forget the children; this festival has events lined up for children as well.
The Missouri Wine Festival, held in the month of July, is a must even for wine lovers. The best wines from the wineries throughout Missouri will be available for sampling during this weekend festival. Representatives of the wineries will be present at these events to help amateur samplers try the wine of their choice. Every person who attends this festival walks away with a wine glass as a souvenir.
One of the Lake of the Ozarks festivals held in fall is the Lake Area Fall Festival. This is a fun-filled event that kicks off in September. The festival is packed with activities for kids, crafts, food and entertainment which include dancers, singers and performances by local bands. The Bow Wow contest for dogs and the children’s Osage Beach Little Miss and Mr. Contest are the highlights of this festival.
The fastest boats from all around the world can be seen competing against each other in the lake during the Offshore Super Series National Championship held towards the end of September each year. This event is often compared to NASCAR, but on water! Boats that fall into six distinct categories race though a three mile course gaining the attention and cheers of the thousands of spectators who flock to the lake for this event.
For art lovers, there is the Carousel of Art festival that takes place in the months of October and November. This is a six week long celebration that commemorates the diversity of this region in terms of music, performing arts, literature and visual arts.
If you would like to experience a traditional festival which includes floats, parades, pageants and more, then, ensure you make it to the Dogwood festival which is the first celebration in spring. Fish fry, spaghetti dinner, pancakes accompanied by beer are the main highlights of the festival. Miss Dogwood pageant and a contest for dogs are also held during this festival.
These are just a few of the innumerable Lake of the Ozarks festivals. If you want to know the true meaning of celebration and fun, you should head to the Lake of the Ozarks and partake in these fun filled festivities.
