Independence Day weekend events

P/PP VFD hosts brunch Saturday, July 3

Pontiac / Price Place Volunteer Fire Department will host an Independence Day Weekend brunch from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 3, at fire station #1 next to the post office on W Highway in Pontiac. The menu will include biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, smoked ham, sausage patties, hashbrown casserole, BBQ meatballs, fresh fruit salad and baked goods, plus coffee, milk and orange juice.

A $12 donation is requested for adults, $6 for kids age 6-12.

Caulfield fireworks, rodeo to be held July 3

The third annual benefit rodeo for the Caulfield Volunteer Fire Department will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at the Caulfield rodeo grounds. 

In addition to the rodeo, festival organizers say the event will feature a bounce house, food and fireworks. Gate admission is $5 for those age 3 and up. Children age 2 and younger are free. The fire department is selling commemorative shirts at the event as well. 

Country Apron Bakery celebrates anniversary with July 2 event 

The Country Apron Bakery in Theodosia will celebrate its one-year anniversary party Friday, July 2, beginning at 6 p.m. Owners Mike and Gretchen Hatcher will host the celebration, open to everyone, including games, a pie-eating contest and the outdoor showing of the movie Ratatouille.

Participants interested in competing in the pie-eating contest are asked to contact the bakery to register so enough pies can be prepared Contestants will be divided into two groups: age 5-12 and age 13 and older. The contest begins at 7 p.m.,with the movie following. Guests should bring lawn  for outdoor seating. Free popcorn will be served, and other treats will be available for purchase, including snowcones, brats and hot dogs from the CF Meat Co., and baked goods from the bakery.

For more information and to register for the pie-eating contest, call 273-2295, email countryapronbakery@gmail.com or search for Country Apron Bakery on Facebook. The bakery is at 5566 Highway 160 in Theodosia.

Lake Bums plans live music, extended hours 

Lake Bums Brew Co will have live music by the CC Dixon Band from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 4. The brewery opens at 4 p.m. on Saturday and closes at 9 p.m. The taproom and brewery are generally only open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday during the summer, but due to the holiday, it will also be open Sunday, July 4.  

For more information, search for “Lake Bums Brew Co.” on Facebook or call the taproom at 679-0070. 

VFW to host live band Saturday, July 3

VFW Post #5366 in Isabella will host Hollow Threat Band from 8 a.m. until midnight Saturday, July 3, at its building on HH Highway just off Highway 160 in Isabella. There is no charge for the Independence Day weekend event, and everyone is welcome. 

For more information, call the VFW at 417-273-5008.

Warriors2US in Hardenville plans July 4 weekend celebration 

Everyone is invited to Hardenville’s Warriors2US Foundation headquarters for the annual July 4 weekend celebration.

“We’d love to see the local community out here, seeing what the organization is all about and finding ways they can maybe help in the future,” said facility founder and president Donna Nasr.

The Warriors2US facility is a recreational camp for active duty and honorably or medically discharged veterans as well as law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and select and scheduled family and friends. 

The celebration, at the Warriors2US Foundation at 404 County Road 519A off Highway 160 in Hardenville, will include live music performed by the Jake Cantrell band starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 3, plus food, drinks and a “spectacular” fireworks display, said Nasr. 

She asks that those who plan to attend let her know they’re coming and / or if they need to reserve a bunk for an overnight stay by contacting her at 321-750-3662 or nasrd@warriors2us.com. Guests are asked to bring a lawn chair for outdoor seating. 

For more information, visit the warriors2us.com website or find Warriors2US on Facebook.

Reminder: fireworks are not allowed in Corps of Engineers properties

Residents and visitors are reminded that, except for sanctioned scheduled events, fireworks are not permitted on Corps of Engineers property, including parks, campgrounds, boat-launch areas, shoreline, parking lots or on the lake itself. This restriction includes Corps properties in Ozark County such as Pontiac, Theodosia and Udall parks and campgrounds, and boat-launch areas at Tecumseh and Spring Creek.

Annual Rockbridge July 4th celebration to be held on the holiday

Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch will host its annual July 4th celebration on Sunday, July 4, at the resort located on County Road 142 in Rockbridge. Fireworks start at dark. 

The annual celebration will include a variety of fun activities from 10 a.m. throughout the day. Vendor booths, including food, craft, pop-up boutique vendors and more, are scheduled to participate and will also open at 10 a.m. Live music by Whetsone will be performed from 5 to 8 p.m. Kids fishing will be available at the same time for a $1 fee or $5 fee to keep fish. Pony rides ($5) and a bounce house ($1) will also be available to keep young ones entertained.

TUMC men host annual pig roast Saturday, July 3

The men of Theodosia United Methodist Church will host their 34th annual pig roast from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at the church on Highway 160 in Theodosia across from Lutie School. 

Besides pork, the menu will include baked beans, coleslaw, chips and beverages.

Everyone is invited. Admission is by donation. Proceeds from the fundraiser support local benevolences, including the DOW Camp, meal delivery for seniors and the Ozark County Food Pantry.

Theodosia fireworks set for July 3 at dark.

Fireworks at Theodosia will start at dark Saturday, July 3, over Bull Shoals Lake, viewable from the campground area and adjoining Theodosia Marina Resort. 

The annual Fourth of July golf cart parade lines up there at 6 p.m. Saturday. The popular parade winds around the upper part of the campground and the RV park. A prize will be awarded for the “People’s Choice” entry. All parade participants will be entered into a drawing for their chance to win other prizes too. 

There’s no entry fee, and any smaller motorized vehicle that is not a car or truck is welcome. Contact Linda Moore at 417-349-1533 for more information about the parade.

Pontiac’s annual ‘Light up the lake’ fireworks will again be held in September

The annual “Light Up the Lake” fireworks show at Pontiac Cove on Bull Shoals Lake will be held Labor Day weekend instead of Fourth of July weekend, organizers say. Last year the show was transitioned into a Labor Day weekend event due to covid and a high lake level, and the date change prompted so much positive feedback that the show organizers decided to host this year’s show again at the end of summer. 

This year’s fireworks show is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, at Pontiac Cove, beginning at dark.

Theodosia Masons to serve breakfast Saturday, July 3

The Masons in Sampson Lodge #298 in Theodosia will serve their regular first-Saturday community breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lodge on Highway 160 in Theodosia. 

The menu will include eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles and cinnamon rolls, coffee and orange juice. The cost is donation. Everyone is welcome.

Romance fireworks set for Saturday night

Mike Gardner and Ricky Jones invite area residents to enjoy the neighborhood fireworks display they will put together around 9 p.m. Saturday, July 3, from Mike and Heather Gardner’s home on Sister Knob near Romance. 

The fireworks show, which Gardner said will probably last 25-30 minutes, should be easily viewable from County Road 122, off County Road 119 between Y and 95 Highways, and from other sections of old Highway 5 north of Y Highway.