Celebrate Autumn Despite pandemic, plenty of fun fall events welcome area residents to enjoy the season

The weather forecast for this coming weekend features a prediction of beautiful, crisp, fall temperatures that promise to provide the perfect setting for a fun day at an area event or activity celebrating the season. 

Listed here are events happening soon in this area. Some annual events have been canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic, and other activities may have modified policies and restrictions. So it’s wise to contact the business or organization to get clear direction on requirements before heading out. 

Watch the Times each week for updated lists of seasonal activities. Those organizing a local fall or Halloween-themed event are encouraged to contact Jessi Dreckman at jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com or 417-679-4641 to have the event added to the listings. 

Bakersfield Haunted House, Bakersfield

 The Bakersfield Haunted House, a half-mile down County Road 585 off Highway 101, is now in its 11th year of operation. 

It will be open every Friday and Saturday nights through October, operating from dark until 10 p.m. or until all visitors have left. 

Admission is $15 per person. 

A concession stand is on site, and T-shirts are available for purchase. 

For more information, call or text 870-656-0509 or call 417-284-7215. Visit www.thebakersfieldhauntedhouse.com or search for “Bakersfield Haunted House” on Facebook for continued updates throughout the month.

Fields of Terror Haunted House, Midway, Arkansas

The Fields of Terror activity has transitioned from its usual zombie paintball hayride into a new haunted house that will be open Friday and Saturday nights in October from dark until 10 p.m. 

A special “lights out” night, when all lights inside the haunted house will be shut off and guests must complete the haunted house with only one flashlight per group, will be held from dark to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. 

According to the event’s website, the Fields of Terror covid policy follows Arkansas Department of Health regulations. All staff members must wear a face covering and are screened for symptoms daily. Hand sanitation stations will be available throughout the area, and staff members will be using them frequently. 

Face coverings are recommended for guests inside all buildings and outside when social distancing isn’t possible. Guests younger than 10, those with a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering, people who are performing jobs that allow them to maintain a 6-foot distance from all others, and people consuming food or drinks are all exempt from wearing a face covering. 

Admission to the haunted house is $15 per person. 

Fields of Terror is at 1062 Cannie Baker Road, off Highway 5 about 3 miles south of Midway. For more information visit fieldsofterror.com, call 870-405-9826 or search Facebook for “Fields of Terror.” 

McWilliams Pumpkin Patch, West Plains 

This popular 700-acre farm and pumpkin patch on County Road 6920 off Highway 160 about 5 miles west of West Plains, opened Sept. 26 and will continue to be open Saturdays and Sundays through October. 

Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. 

McWilliams is not booking any school field trips or other large groups this year. 

Retail pumpkin sales are also available from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, but no activities or attractions will be open then. 

Activities include the Pumpkin Patch Express train ride through the pumpkin farm fields, a 40-foot monster slide, a zip line (operates from 2-3 p.m. only), a 30-acre corn maze, horse and wagon rides and a large pumpkin patch with pumpkins and other fall decor for purchase.

General admission is $3 for those who are only shopping or watching; the $10 activity admission band includes most activities. Children age 2 and younger are free. See a full price list at mcwilliamspumpkinpatch.com. 

For more information, visit the website or call or text 417-372-9076.

Mountain Home Berry Farm, Mountain Home, Arkansas 

Mountain Home Berry Farm is currently open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday for the farm store, pumpkin barn and pumpkin patch.

Guests can participate in fall festivities, including hayrides, bounce houses, mazes, a spring house trail tour, petting zoo, “mulch mountain,” hay play area. Make  a reservation for a private group by calling the farm.

Activity passes are $7 per person for ages 3 and up. Ages 2 and younger are admitted free. 

A country store is on site with homemade jams, jellies, butters, fresh-pressed apple cider, local honey, salsas, spices, sauces, scented candles, squash, fresh and frozen raspberries, ornamental gourds, corn stalks and hay bales. For more information, visit mountainberryfarm.com or call 1-870-425-7028.

Saturday, Oct. 10

Docktoberfest at Lake Bums Brew Co.

Lake Bums BrewCo in Pontiac will host Docktoberfest from 1:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the brewery on Parrothead Lane in Pontiac. Two bands are scheduled to provide live music throughout the day. Howell Creek Band will play from 2 to 4 p.m., and Patient Eyes will play from 5 to 7 p.m.

A dinner of pulled pork sandwiches with sides will be sold to raise money for the 2021 Pontiac fireworks show. Plates will be served for $10 per adult.  Those who want to purchase dinner should be prepared to pay with cash or check. 

Cake will be served at 4:30 p.m. as a farewell to Just Jackie’s waitress Megan Pueppke. 

Wine, soda, water, specialty mixed drinks and Lake Bums’ own handcrafted beers can be purchased inside the brewery with cash, check or credit/debit cards. No outside alcohol is permitted on the premises. 

Those attending should bring a lawn chair. 

For more information, call the brewery at 417-679-0070 or visit the brewery’s Facebook page by searching for “Lake Bums Brew Co.”

Saturday, Oct. 17

Rockbridge fall festival

Rockbridge Rainbow Trout & Game Ranch is hosting a fall festival Saturday, Oct. 17. Social distancing is strongly encouraged at the outdoor event. Vendors will begin setting up as early as 8 a.m., and all vendors will be in place by 10 a.m. For a complete lineup of vendors, visit the Facebook event “Fall Festival at Rockbridge.” Vendors can request a vendor application by emailing mod1@rockbridgemo.com. 

Live music by the Whetsone Band will begin at 2 p.m. on the mill’s lawn, and western-themed lawn games will kick off at 3 p.m. Corral rides and kids fishing will be available from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at 3 p.m. near the Rockbridge conference room. At 6 p.m., the Rockbridge wranglers will share cowboy stories and poetry around a campfire. 

For more information, call the resort at 417-679-3619 or visit rockbridgemo.com/events. 

In case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until Saturday, Oct. 24. 

Halloween night, Oct. 31

Gainesville trunk-or-treat

Gainesville’s trunk-or-treat event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Halloween night, Oct. 31. 

Those wishing to hand out candy must set up on the square before 5:30 p.m. Setup can only be on the outer edge of the street circling the square. No one will be allowed to park or set up on the interior side of the street next to the courthouse lawn. All candy-givers should be at least 6 feet apart. Setup can be in a decorated or undecorated trunk, table or in some other type of creative Halloween display. 

Candy-givers are asked to wear a mask and gloves during the entire event and to wait until they arrive at the square to unwrap their candy for distribution. They should also be careful to place the candy in each child’s bag or bucket instead of letting children grab candy on their own.  Candy-givers should be set up by 5:30 p.m.; the event will begin at 6 p.m. There is no need to sign up ahead of time. Just show up before 5:30 p.m. The square will be shut down to traffic after that time.

Families with children participating in the event are asked to park in designated parking areas this year to help control the flow of traffic at the event. Parking is free. General parking will be available off North Main Street at the Gainesville Saddle Club Grounds and in the parking area on the site of the former Klayman dental office next to the current Geroff dental office. Handicapped parking will be available at the city-owned lot across from Shenanigans Arcade, also on Main Street, and at the lot adjoining Donald Amyx’s building at Main and Fourth streets. 

Participants should walk on foot up to the square, lining up along Main Street and being careful to maintain at least 6-foot social distancing between family groups. All participants should enter the square next to City Hall.

A limited number of people should be allowed  on the square, keeping participants spread apart. Participants should do one counter-clockwise lap around the square and then exit at city hall. 

Parents and guardians should limit their group number if possible, and children should not intermingle while waiting in line. 

Bakersfield trunk-or-treat

The Festival Committee of Bakersfield has confirmed that its annual trunk-or-treat event will happen this year. Information on the event will be shared in an upcoming edition of the Times when details are finalized.  

Canceled due to covid 

Lutie trunk-or-treat: The annual Lutie trunk-or-treat event has been transitioned this year to an in-school event where candy bags will be handed out to students on campus in order to reduce the number of outside visitors. 

Glade Top Trail Flaming Fall Revue: The Glade Top Trail Flaming Fall Revue, held annually at the Caney picnic area of the Glade Top Trail in the Mark Twain National Forest, south of Ava, has been canceled this year. Next year’s festival will be held Oct. 16, 2021. For more information, search for Glade Top Trail Flaming Fall Revue on Facebook.

Mark Twain Carnival, Rueter: Main Twain Elementary School’s annual fall carnival has been canceled this year. For more information, call the school at 417-785-4323.

Haunting in the Hallows, West Plains: The annual Haunting in the Hallows, a free Halloween event held annually at the Galloway Nature Park in West Plains, has been canceled this year. 

Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks, Ava: The annual Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks generally held the first weekend in October at the New Haven Event Center in Chapel Grove, 15 miles east of Ava on Highway 14, has been canceled this year due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

“As much as we wanted to persevere as the pioneers did, our board of directors met and agreed out of an abundance of caution, that we should unfortunately postpone our event this year,” an Aug. 12 press release announced. “Pandemics now only affect people, but there is a highly contagious equine virus circulating in Douglas County that prevented us from having our mule demonstration. And some of our musicians and exhibitors were uncomfortable performing as the number of cases in our county climb.”

Next year’s event is set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2021. The event location will also change next year when the festival moves to the Missouri Foxtrotter Show Grounds about 2 miles north of Ava on Highway 5. 

Those interested in demonstrating a “turn of the century” skill at next year’s festival are asked to private message the Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks Facebook page. 

For more information visit www.heritage417.com or email heritage417@gmail.com.

Turkey Trot, Yellville, Arkansas: The Turkey Trot festival in Yellville, Arkansas, has been canceled this year due to Arkansas restrictions concerning covid-19.