Purdy
Purdy, MO · Arts & Culture
krps.org
Art returns to the Springfield-Branson National Airport after a year of flooring renovations
Art is returning to the Springfield-Branson National Airport now that flooring renovations are nearly complete. Randy Bacon's "The Life I Choose," produced in partnership with Abilities First, will be the first installation in the airport's Sky Gallery since the carpet was replaced with terrazzo, according to SGF. It features portraits and first-person stories from people of all abilities in southwest Missouri.
Springfield News-Leader
Springfield designer Mike Brown to compete on Food Network show
Springfield designer, builder and professional pumpkin sculptor Mike Brown is returning to Food Network competition television as a contestant on the new season of "Halloween Wars." The series premieres Sept. 13, according to a community announcement. Brown, who is based in Springfield, Missouri, previously won Season 7 of the show alongside teammates Liz Marek and Christophe Rull. The "Back from the Dead" season opens with a two-hour episode featuring returning pumpkin carvers, cake artists and sugar masters competing for a $30,000 grand prize. Host Jonathan Bennett is joined by judges Shinmin Li and Andrew Fuller, who will evaluate teams throughout the season. Brown built a career in design and construction after graduating from architecture school in 2010. His professional background includes residential and commercial design work, with an emphasis on both planning and hands-on construction. He began carving pumpkins as a hobby in 2012 before expanding the pursuit into competition appearances and live demonstrations at festivals and events across the Midwest. Television appearances and business pursuits Since his championship season, Brown has appeared on television and digital platforms including Food Network, Disney and Dude Perfect. His accomplishments also include earning a Guinness World Records title. Outside of television competition, Brown
Springfield News-Leader
Thunder Ridge screening Brad Pitt movie ahead of nationwide premiere
Thunder Ridge Nature Arena will screen an adventure thriller movie starring Springfield native Brad Pitt ahead of its nationwide release. The public is invited to view "Heart of the Beast" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the arena. The movie, which stars Pitt as a Special Forces officer stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with his combat dog, will open in theaters starting Sept. 25. It is rated PG-13. “We’re proud to host this special event and share this movie with families across the Ozarks and beyond,” Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris said in a news release. “So many people remember Brad’s role in 'A River Runs Through It,' a film that helped inspire a deeper appreciation for fly-fishing and the importance of conserving the rivers and wild places that make those experiences possible. We’re especially grateful to share this premiere with military members while helping support the conservation mission that is at the heart of Thunder Ridge.” More: Here are 22 Ozarks events to fill your calendar this September Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis online at ThunderRidgeNatureArena.com for $10 per person. Service members and families, along with Bass Pro Shops Outfitters, Veteran Outfitters, Bass Pro Shops
KYTV
Concert series kicks off at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
REPUBLIC, Mo. (KY3) -Arts in the Park kicked off at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield with live brass music on Saturday. The performance marks the Northwest Arkansas Heritage Brass Ensemble’s first time back at the battlefield since 2023. Known for bringing historic brass band music to life, the group...
ksmu.org
Art returns to the Springfield-Branson National Airport after a year of flooring renovations
Art is returning to the Springfield-Branson National Airport now that flooring renovations are nearly complete. Randy Bacon’s “The Life I Choose,” produced in partnership with Abilities First, will be the first installation in the airport’s Sky Gallery since the carpet was replaced with terrazzo, according to SGF. It features portraits and first-person stories from people of all abilities in southwest Missouri.
KYTV
Connect with culture at the 30th annual Japanese Fall Festival in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Did you know that Springfield has two sister cities? It’s part of an international effort to connect communities. Springfield’s sister cities are Tlauepaque, Mexico, and Isesaki, Japan. That means those international cities have relationships with Springfield where they share all parts of their culture.
Ozarks First.com
Be Sure To Attend “Her Voice” Concert to Benefit Women In Need Of The Ozarks
The “Her Voice” concert series is a signature local fundraising event that directly benefits Women in Need of the Ozarks (WIN), a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing one-time financial gifts to hardworking single mothers and women facing short-term crises in Southwest Missouri. Following a highly successful initial...
ksmu.org
Route 66 documentary to screen in Springfield this weekend
On Saturday, September 12, the feature length documentary "Route 66: The Main Street of America," will have a special screening at Springfield’s Gillioz Theatre. From Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA, the documentary details the extensive stories shared by the various cities and communities, including Springfield, of the road’s historical significance then and now.
hoodline.com
Brad Pitt to Wave Bristol Playoffs Green, Reuniting With Fellow Springfield Native
Brad Pitt will give the command to start engines at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19, serving as a grand marshal for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race alongside Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The Academy Award-winning actor and producer's appearance lands just six days before his new survival thriller hits theaters, and it reunites him with a fellow Springfield, Missouri native at one of NASCAR's most intense playoff venues.
KYTV
BABY NEWS: KY3’s Emily Pritchard announces pregnancy
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - KY3’s family will grow once more!. KY3 anchor Emily Pritchard announced Wednesday on KY3 News @ 6 that she and her husband are expecting another child. This time it is a boy. Emily is due in January. Pritchard grew up in Waynesville. She began anchoring...
KOLR10 News
Springfield once fought over a mysterious book and the professor who brought it here
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Before he became the center of one of Springfield’s stranger religious fights, Fritz Darrow was a Harvard man who married his wife beneath an apple tree. By the time Darrow arrived at Drury College in Springfield in 1907, he had already lived a life that would have stood out almost anywhere in […]
familydestinationsguide.com
The Under-The-Radar Missouri Spot That Looks Like A Real-Life Bob Ross Painting Come To Life
Bob Ross never painted Bolivar, Missouri, but if he had ever driven through Polk County in October, you can bet he would have pulled over, set up his easel, and never left. Dunnegan Memorial Park in Bolivar, Missouri is the kind of place that makes you question every travel decision you’ve ever made, specifically every decision that took you somewhere other than here.
familydestinationsguide.com
This Little-Known Classic Car Museum In Missouri Belongs On Every Bucket List
Most bucket lists include things like the Grand Canyon, the Eiffel Tower, or at least a really good steak dinner, but there’s a strong argument to be made that the Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield, Missouri deserves a spot on that list too. It’s little-known in the way...
fourstateshomepage.com
KYTV
Springfield author’s new novel captures the day before 9/11
A Springfield author is remembering the day before the Sept. 11 attacks in a new book. Readers packed One More Page bookstore as Jacob Brower introduced his novel, “September Ten.” The book is set entirely on the day before the Sept. 11 attacks. Instead of focusing on the tragedy, Brower zeroes in on what he calls the beauty of a normal day that only seems extraordinary later.
KYTV
Now Showing: New documentary highlights the importance of Route 66
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Route 66 celebrated its 100th birthday in April of 2026. The road’s importance dates back decades. Filmmaker John Paget just released his new documentary, “Route 66: The Main Street of America.” It shares the impact of the Mother Road on small communities along its path.
Ozark Sports Zone
Vote now for the Photo of the Week
Vote now in the Photo of the Week contest. Each week, we will nominate photos taken by O-Zone and nominate them for the Photo of the Week. See previous winners at the bottom. Winners can contact Mike Scott (mscott@ky3.com) about getting their photo. Cassville Football. Glendale Golf. Kickapoo Soccer. Miller...