Welcome to MAIN EVENT, the Daily American Republic’s guide to upcoming area events. Check out our Thursday print and digital editions for a weekly update on local activities.
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OCTOBER
— Guided hike, 9 a.m. Oct. 1 WHERE COST Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge Free WHAT Guided hike to the summit of Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge. Hike participants will meet at the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site before heading to the lodge. Space is limited; participants must pre-register at 573-222-3589. Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located in Arcadia Valley near the intersection of Missouri Route 21 and Missouri Highway W.
— A Walk in the Park, 11 am-2 pm Oct. 1 WHERE Hendrickson Park WHAT This Butler County Wellness Council event encourages residents to get outside and active in area parks.
— Qulin Fall Festival, 11 a.m. Oct. 1 WHERE Qulin COST Free WHAT Festivities will begin with a parade at 11 a.m. followed by music by Glen Thurman.
— Dr. Fever & The Venus Flytrap, 6-11pm October 1 WHERE CAMP COST Free WHAT Live Music
— Class of 2023 Senior Presentation 7:00 pm Oct. 1, 2:00 pm Oct. 2 WHERE Kay Porter Theater on Poplar Bluff High School campus COST $5 WHAT Six senior principals and a cast and a team of 25 students from Years 9 to 12 bring the entertainment with eight short plays.
— Andy Moondog Live, 8-11 pm Oct. 1 WHERE Fifty Fifty Forum WHAT Grateful Headz-Doniphan opening after party. Andy Moondog performs, along with other solo artists.
— First Friday Coffee, 8:30 a.m. Oct. 7 WHERE COST Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Free WHAT Part of the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce’s monthly business events.
— 10th Annual Liberty Days, 8 am-4 pm October 7 and 8. WHERE The National Stars and Stripes Museum and Library, Bloomfield. COST Free. WHAT Visitors will enjoy wartime reenactments from the Revolutionary War to modern times, including a flamethrower. Also expect live music, food and photography contests.
— Brown Chapel AME Church’s inaugural Fish Fry, 11 am-4 pm Oct. 8. ON Northside Community Center. COST Tickets are $12. QUINA fish fry in honor of Curtis Hinton. The menu includes catfish, spaghetti, beans, bread, coleslaw and pickles and onions, with cake for dessert.
— Fall Craft Festival, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 ON First Church of God 3482 S Westwood Blvd. COST FREE WHAT Annual Fall Festival, featuring vendors including crafts, woodworking, jellies, crochet items, aprons and more. Concession stand. Contact: Sue Little, 573-785-5378
— Hafftoberfest, 2 pm Oct. 8 WHERE Haffy is in Downtown Poplar Bluff WHAT The fourth annual event benefits the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland and Downtown Poplar Bluff. Registration for the cornhold tournament begins at 2:00 p.m. Team registration begins at 4:00 p.m. Hickory Smoke plays at 8 p.m.
— Van Buren Fall Festival, 9 a.m. Oct. 8-9 WHERE Downtown Van Buren WHAT The event features merchants, crafts, collectibles, a pumpkin patch and more.
— AWA Wag’n Train, 1:08 p.m., October 15, 22 and 29. ON Animal Welfare Alliance No-Kill Shelter. COST Free. WHAT A volunteer training class for shelter dogs. Participants will select a dog from the shelter’s approved list to work with for the four weeks. Obedience lessons will focus on the sit, sit and stay commands, as well as how to leash and limit jumping. More information available on the AWA Facebook page.
— PINKtober Lunch & Learn, 12-1pm October 14 WHERE COST Westwood Event Center Free, registration required. WHAT Hosted by Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, a panel of experts will talk and answer questions, including radiation oncologist, general surgeon, oncology nurse navigator, imaging and diagnostics, primary care and more. Mammography appointments can also be scheduled. Lunch is provided. For more information, visit the PRRMC events page.
— Broseley Autumn Festival, October 15. ON Broseley. COST Free. WHAT Breakfast 7-9am at Broseley Nutrition Center; parade at 10 a.m. leaving the high school, line starts at 9 a.m.; live music starts at 10:30 a.m.; food and vendors everywhere.
— Historic Train Depot Quilt Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 WHERE Depot, 400 S. Main St. WHAT This deposit restoration fundraiser will feature quilts with multiple prizes awarded, a silent auction and a raffle.
— Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth Father Daughter Ball, 4:30-10:30 pm October 15 WHERE IT COSTS Black River Coliseum Tickets can be purchased online at eventbrite.com WHAT Doors will open at 4:30 pm for receptions and advertisements Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Limousine bus transportation will be provided from the parking lot to the front door. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered as part of admission. Each princess will receive a tiara, an event t-shirt and a complimentary flower. Food will be provided by Tasteful Creations. There will also be a gift shop and silent auction.
— Greenville Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 3, 22 and 29. WHERE Old Greenville Recreation Area. COST Free. WHAT Campers decorate and hand out candy at trick-or-treaters.
— 6th Annual Rodgers Banquet Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. WHERE Black River Coliseum COST $30 in advance, $40 at the door WHAT Dinner by Tasteful Creations, entertainment provided by the Millstones, live and silent auction available . Proceeds support the restoration of the Historic Rodgers Theater.
— Poplar Bluff Fall Classic, 2-6 pm October 22 WHERE Black River Coliseum WHAT Hosted by the Poplar Bluff Fire Department, this is a firefighter challenge competition open to firefighters from all over Southeast Missouri for raise funds for the Walter Weaver Memorial Scholarship. The WWMS will provide funding to send candidates through the firefighter certification program at the Three Rivers College Fire Training Center.
— Cork & Fork: A Taste of Italy, from 6 to 10 p.m. October 22. WHERE Dinner at the Church of the Holy Cross followed by music in the Margaret Harwell Art Museum’s Sculpture Garden. PRICE $40 per person or $35 for Friends of the Museum. Annual dinner and gathering of QUE MHAM. This year’s cooking is by Tasteful Creations and live music will be performed by The Millstones. Tickets are available for Whitworth’s Gift Chest Jewelers and MHAM.
— Fall Presentation by Three Rivers College Music Department, 7:00 p.m. Oct. 25 WHERE COST Tinnin Fine Arts Center WHAT Free TRC Music Department vocal and instrumental students perform various solos and ensembles and a performance “mini-musical” of the first ensemble of student musical theater. .
— 2nd annual MILLIE Fest, 11 a.m. Oct. 29 WHERE Black River Coliseum parking lot WHAT Food trucks, bounce houses, face painting and live music. Proceeds help support the MILLIE Foundation.
— Murder Mystery Dinner, 7 p.m. October 29. WHERE Holiday Inn. COST $50 per person. WHAT The Three Rivers Endowment Trust will host a murder mystery dinner this fall to benefit its partnership with the Boys & Girls Club. Presented by The Bank of Missouri, “The Death of Dr. Pepper” features a performance and buffet-style dinner by Tasteful Creations.
