Welcome to the 65th annual Hootin an Hollarin festival: American Idol winner Hannah Harper to headline festival this year

The wait is almost over. It’s time to dust off your overalls, polish up your boots and get ready for three days of good music, good food, good fun and plenty of Hootin an Hollarin. This year’s festival kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, and keeps the Gainesville square hopping through midnight or later Saturday night, Sept. 19.

And if you’ve heard the big news, you already know Saturday night is shaping up to be one for the books. 2026 American Idol winner Hannah Harper will take the Main stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, giving festival-goers a chance to see one of the biggest stars ever to perform at Hootin an Hollarin, and she’s doing it all as part of the festival’s free entertainment.

With a star of that size coming to little ol’ Gainesville, organizers are expecting a big crowd. So come early, find your spot and, most importantly, bring a little Hootin an Hollarin hospitality with you. The concert is free and open to everyone, and with a crowd this size, not everyone will have a perfect view of the stage. Festival-goers are asked to be courteous to those around them, make room where possible and remember that the chance to gather together and enjoy a free show of this magnitude is something pretty special.

This year’s festival is all about “Celebrating 250 Years of the USA,” marking the nation’s big 250th birthday. That’s right, it’s been 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed, and here in Ozark County, we’re mighty proud to celebrate with a whole lot of red, white and blue. The festival theme will be carried out throughout the weekend in events, costumes and dress and, of course, in the big parade! Area veterans will be honored during the big parade Saturday afternoon, and all veterans are invited to ride on floats that will be provided by the festival committee. If you’re a veteran and interested in participating, just give Kerrie Zubrod (417-372-1372) or Heather Bushner (417-679-3321) a ring to let them know you’ll be coming.

As of presstime Tuesday, the weatherman predicts very hot and dry weather all three days with highs nearing 100 degrees and lows in the 70s, with a five percent chance of rain, according to KY3’s weather app.

Regardless of the weather, there’ll be a whole lot of fun packed into these three days. From the queen pageant and square dancing to the bed and outhouse races, kids’ games, calling contests, live music, the big parade and plenty of old-fashioned festival fun, there’s something happening around just about every corner of the square.

So, what is happening when? Here’s a look at what fun is in store for the next three days:

Thursday, Sept. 17

The festival kicks off Thursday at 5:30 p.m. with the National Anthem performed by 16-year-old Gainesville resident Jessica Suit, followed by the official festival welcome by Gainesville Mayor Gail Reich. The VFW in Ava will also host a presentation during the opening ceremony honoring Bretty Evans, Billy Holt and Mark Dagett.

Viewing of the annual quilt show will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, in the same location as last year, inside a building on the southwest corner of the square near Ozarks Wifi. It is tucked behind the vendor booths, so make sure to step behind them onto the sidewalk and look for the big quilt show sign on the glass front window of the building (located behind booth #63). Guests of the quilt show will have their chance to vote on their favorite entered project, and at the end of the show the quilted entry with the most festival attendee votes will win the “people’s choice” award.

At 6 p.m., Ozark Thunder will take the Main stage with their country and southern rock music. You won’t want to miss that show!

At 7:30 p.m. the annual queen pageant will entertain crowds. This year’s lineup of girls is one of the biggest ever - with 22 contestants, all Ozark County girls ranging  in age from 14 to 18. The girls will perform a group square dance, then each girl will step up to the microphone to answer questions designed to let them show their creativity and imagination. A panel of judges will choose the queen and the queen’s court, including a deputy queen and three princesses. Another honoree, Miss Sweetie Pie, is chosen by the contestants themselves after voting in secret for the contestant who has been kindest and most supportive to the group. To keep things fair and give every contestant an equal shot, the pageant judges come from outside the area. They arrive without knowing the girls or their families, so when each contestant steps onto the stage, she’s simply there to show the judges what she can do.

While the judges are tallying their votes, the 2026 Barney Douglas Citizens of the Year, Jane and Andy Elder, and this year’s 2026 Hootin an Hollarin parade marshal, David Murphy, will be honored on stage. 

The night ends with square dancing to live music from 9 p.m. to midnight. This year’s square dance band includes David Scrivner and Ashley Forrest on fiddles, Joel Hinds on guitar and Nathan McAlister on banjo.

Friday, Sept. 18

Viewing for the quilt show will reopen from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday (and again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.)  

On Friday morning, the Shelter Insurance Kids Corner will open from 10 a.m. to noon offering free fun for kiddos attending the festival including face-painting and Dena, the balloon lady, who can whip up amazing balloon art pieces in a matter of seconds. Kids are invited to challenge Dena by asking for whatever animal, character or other balloon item they can think of, and she’ll do her best to bend and twist it into reality. Kids get to take home the balloon art home to keep, free of charge. 

There will also be a bounce house, other games with prizes and kids activities. Everything at the kids corner is free, thanks to sponsor Douglas Hawkins-Shelter Insurance, so make sure to stop by the two hours it’s open Friday and Saturday mornings for some festival fun that won’t hurt the pocketbook. 

Also, held at the same location, is the 10:30 a.m. annual terrapin race (held at the same time Friday and Saturday). Kids should bring their own terrapin or turtle to race but are asked not to paint or decorate its shell - and to return it to the exact spot it was found after the race to help ensure its continued survival. Sign up begins at 10 a.m., and there will likely be several different heats to make sure all terrapins are able to get their chance to show just how fast they are. The way it works is that a group of contestants bring their terrapins to a center circle and face outward. When the whistle is blown, the kids place their turtles onto the pavement and let them “race” toward an outer circle that serves as the finish line. The first three terrapins across the line win that heat. The winners of each heat then race against one another with the championship winners taking home cash prizes, and each day’s first place winner also wins a handmade unique trophy or plaque. 

The Main stage entertainment begins at 11 a.m. Friday with music from the praise and worship team from Mammoth Assembly of God Church. Although almost all of the music will be performed on the Main stage, don’t forget about the gazebo pickin’ that will be held throughout the afternoon on the courthouse lawn gazebo both Friday and Saturday. It’s worth taking a stroll to listen to the music and view several of the old time demonstrators, many of whom will be housed on the courthouse lawn this year. 

The Lil’ Cedar Pete and Lil’ Miss Addie Lee contest, open to 4- and 5-year-old boys, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday. Sign up just a few minutes before the contest behind the stage. It is followed by the princess pageants (open to girls in first through sixth grades who are pre-registered for the event) at 1:45 p.m. Both contests are free to enter. 

Local musical duo Blayd and Tara Law from Gainesville will rock the Main stage from 3:30 to 5 p.m. with their unique blend of southern rock and soul-stirring harmonies. 

Meanwhile, free old-fashioned kids games, which in the past has included childhood favorites like flickin’ rubber chickens, sack races, frog hops and more, will be offered at the Amyx parking lot (across from City Hall on the northwest corner of the square) from 4 to 5 p.m. All equipment will be provided, so just show up ready to play!

Two of the most fun - and funniest - events of the whole festival will be held on the west side of the square on the stretch of Main Street between City Hall and Molly’s Salon and Boutique. The bed races kick off at 5 p.m. there, followed by the 5:30 p.m. outhouse races. Teams of five are encouraged to compete. 

There is no entry fee. Early sign up is helpful but not mandatory and can be done just prior to the events. Forms are available at the Ozark County Times office now for those who would like to pre-register. Both races are limited to those age 10 and older. 

The catchy tunes from New Grass Attack will be coming from the Main stage at 5:30 p.m. followed by a 7:30 p.m. performance by Psychobilly Cadillac, a festival favorite that always has the crowd on their feet!

Also beginning at 7 p.m. Friday night, high school FFA chapters from Bakersfield, Dora and Gainesville will be leading their own show at the FFA Bull Blast bull riding event at the Gainesville Saddle Club Arena, located a few blocks off the square on Main Street. Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for students. 

Square dancing with live music will again be held on the platforms in front of the Main stage from 9 p.m. to midnight. 

Saturday, Sept. 19

On Saturday, the annual Hootin an Hollarin 5k run/walk will begin in front of City Hall. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. ($25 per person registration fee with all funds benefiting the Gainesville High School running programs), and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. Sign up forms are available now at Shelter Insurance - Douglas Hawkins Agency and the Ozark County Times office. 

The annual shotgun and archery shoot will be held at 9 a.m. in its usual location, across Highway 160 from the square in the grassy area below the roadway. There’s no need to pre-register, but those who wish to enter should show up before 9 a.m. It costs $3 to enter each round of the competition (per shot for shotgun and per four targets for archery), and there will be a 100 percent payout in Town & Country Supermarket gift certificates. 

The pet show, free and open to pets of all shapes, sizes and varieties, will be held on the Main stage at 9:30 a.m. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. and sign up will be cut off at 9:15 a.m. No late participants allowed due to tight scheduling Saturday morning.

The Hootin an Hollarin Auto Roundup Car Show will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot on Main Street that sits between 160 Pit Stop and the Phillips 66/White Oak Station convenience store (formerly J-Mart). Registration for those entering vehicles into the car show will begin at 8:30 a.m. The cost to enter a vehicle is $20, and the event is open to everyone. Vehicles will be judged in the five categories: Current rides (1995 to 2025); Sylin’ classics (1994 to 1975); Anne-Teaks (1974 to 1962) and Custom (any aged custom automobile). Prizes will be awarded at 1 p.m., and all car show participants are invited to join the Hootin an Hollarin parade at 2 p.m. Saturday.  

Quilt show viewing will again be held in its location in a building on the southwest corner of the square near Ozarks Wifi from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 

The free fun at Shelter Insurance Kids Corner will be back on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon with another free terrapin race at 10:30 (sign up at 10 a.m.). See description under Friday for more information on that attraction. 

A cornhole tournament, free to enter for groups of two of any ages, will begin at 10 a.m. in the parking lot off the northwest corner of the square (across from City Hall). Sign up begins at 9:30 a.m. Teams of two are encouraged to pre-register by calling Renee Hambelton at 417-989-0116 or Gabe Blackburn at 417-838-3369; however, pre-registration is not mandatory, and teams can sign up just before the contest. Boards and bags will be provided. 

The annual costume contest (free and open to all ages of hillbilly- and pioneer-clad participants) will be held at 11 a.m. on the Main stage. Sign up beforehand behind the stage. Children and adults of all ages are invited to enter the competition, which includes several categories of boys and girls by age, as well as new dress, old dress, judge’s choice, large group and small group. 

The sweet and delicious pie-baking competition will be held inside the Shelter Insurance building off the southwest corner of the square at 11:30 a.m. Pies should be brought before then. The competition is free to enter, and all types of pies are welcome. After the winners are announced on the Main stage, the office will be opened (likely around 12:30 or so) for guests to come and sample the winning pies. 

At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, the Hootin an Hollarin calling contests will be held on the Main stage. Contestants in this fun event give their best cow, pig, turkey or husband call for the audience to vote on by cheering. Sign up is free, held just before the contest behind the stage. 

The Main stage music will kick off Saturday at 12:30 p.m. with classic rock and country, and a few new favorites thrown in, from Buckshot, followed by the recognition of the 2026 Ozark County Farm Family, Dalton and Sarah Jo Nash and their three children, and an honored Ozark County Century Farm owned by Judy Kruse and her husband Galen, just before the 2 p.m. parade. Another session of afternoon gazebo pickin’ will be held at the gazebo on the courthouse lawn. 

The big parade will make its way up Main Street by Town & Country Supermarket at 2 p.m., making a round on the square and exiting on the southwest corner near Shelter Insurance. Good viewing can be had just about anywhere along the route. 

Just after the parade, Robert Morris, “The Coloring Magician” will perform a show filled with laughter, wonder and plenty of magical surprises on the Main stage. Saturday afternoon will also include a performance by the Simply Southern Cloggers at 4 p.m. 

Another set of old-fashioned kids games will be held in the Amyx parking lot, across from City Hall on the northwest corner of the square, from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

At 5 p.m., Stringed Union will perform their popular bluegrass gospel music on the Main stage. That will be followed by a 7 p.m. performance by 2026 American Idol winner Hannah Harper. 

The festival will end with the last session of square dancing, held from 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday night.  

Find out more

To see more information about each of these events, booth map, information on the bands and more, check out this year’s Hootin an Hollarin festival guide, available free at the Ozark County Times office, Hootin an Hollarin information booth or online at www.ozarkcountytimes.com/hootin-hollarin-magazine/2026-hootin-hollarin. 

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Editor’s note: The capitalization of the “Main stage” reflects the 2024 naming of the Hootin an Hollarin stage  in honor of the late Dr. Bob Main in honor of his nearly 40 years of service, assembling the festival stage and helping to lay the square dance platforms each year.