07/17 - 09/03  Louviere + Vanessa: As If…    Spiva Center for the Arts Main Gallery July 17 – September 3 New Orleans artists Jeff Louviere and Vanessa Brown blend film, photography, painting, and printmaking in this remarkable print and video installation. For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 07/17 - 09/03  Ellen W. Wolf: Layers    Spiva Center for the Arts Regional Focus Gallery July 17 – September 3 Unexpected layers of texture, pattern, color, and meaning inform these mixed media paintings and constructions. The Kansas City artist’s work is thought provoking, quietly perceptive, and laced with humor! For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 07/31  48th Annual Downtown Joplin Sidewalk Sale    Starts at 6:00 am Main Street will be blocked from 4th to 7th and the street will be filled with great bargains! 07/31  Shoal Creek Water Festival    Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center will be holding the Shoal Creek Water Festival July 31 at Wildcat Park from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. Celebrate the wonders of water! Cardboard boat races, duck races, wildlife hikes, water quality testing demonstrations, and water rescue demonstrations. This family event has something for everyone and is free to attend! For more information please call 417-782-6287. www.wildcatglades.audubon.org 07/31  Music Fest for United Way, sponsored by Commerce Bank    The Kitchen Pass, 1212 S Main 7:00 pm $8. All proceeds benefit the United Way of SW Missouri Performances Include: Big Wooly, Head Change, Pit 42, Sober as a Judge, The Jimmy Conley Band, and Felonious Monk. There will be drawings for great prizes throughout the night, and a Jam Session for anyone who wishes to show off their skills at the end of the night. 07/31  A Cappella Music Fest featuring Zing! 2010 Sweet Adalines International Quartet    Joplin Memorial Hall 7:30 pm $5, children 6 and under are free Over 100 women from the four states join in a concert. Featured in the concert will be Zing!, the 2010 Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions. The quartet competed with 52 regional champion quartets from the United States, Sweden, Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to Zing!, there will be performances by members of Springfield Metro Chorus, Queen City Sound Chorus, and Ozark Showcase Chorus of Springfield, Mo., Sunflower Harmony Chorus of Topeka, Oklahoma Jubilee Chorus, Tulsa, Wamego Dutch Mill, Wamego, Ks., and Joplin’s own Show-Me-Harmony Chorus. The evening concert is the culmination of a day of ringing chords and perfecting vocal harmonies as participating choruses are coached by the members of Zing! For more information please call 620.724.7360. 08/01  Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show    Central Park, Carthage 12:00 – 3:30 pm $10 to enter free car, free to attend Rendezvous66 is a benefit car show designed to raise money and awareness for the Carthage Crisis Center. This will be a judged car show with trophies going to the top 7 cars in 7 different classes. This is a family event with something for all ages. There will be inflatables for both big and small kids and the children's pool will also be available. For more information please call 417.358.4044 or log on to www.rendezvous66.com. . 08/01  History of the Carver Family Cemetery    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00-2:00 pm Join a park ranger at the Carver Family cemetery to discover the history of some of the families buried in the cemetery. Enjoy an afternoon learning about the Diamond Grove community. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 08/01  Creation Station    Spiva Center for the Arts Every Tuesday afternoon beginning August 21 3:45 - 5:15 pm Ages: 6+ Cost: $5 Drop in on Tuesdays for a fun-filled after school program and explore a variety of media: painting, drawing, clay, watercolor, acrylic, sculpture, collage, photography, and printmaking, just to name a few! For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 08/03 - 08/06  Little Artist Creature Feature    Spiva Center for the Arts August 3, 4 & 6 10:00-11:30 am Ages: 3,4,5 Cost: $75 Learn about the many animals and insects that live in our world. Children will experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, creating in both 2-D and 3-D mediums. Stories will be the inspiration for masks, paintings, sculptures and much more! For more information please call 417.623.0183. www.spivaarts.org. 08/03 - 08/05  Creature Feature    Spiva Center for the Arts August 3, 4 & 5 12:30-5:30 pm Ages: 6-12 Cost: $100 Learn about the many animals and insects that live in our world. Children will experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, creating in both 2-D and 3-D mediums. Stories will be the inspiration for masks, paintings, sculptures and much more! For more information please call 417.623.0183. www.spivaarts.org 08/06 - 08/08  Emancipation Park Days    Ewert Park Activites begin at Friday at6:00 pm, Saturday at 10:00 am and Sunday at 12:00 pm Free to attend! A fun filled three day annual event that has been in existence for over 80 years in Joplin! The Celebration is open to the community and surrounding cites. Friday kicks off at 6:00 pm with a Gospel program, and at 9:00 pm a teen dance on the tennis court featuring music from 4State Entertainment, and an Ol' Skool Jam will be held at TRIO's in downtown Joplin at 9:00 pm for the over 21 crowd! A car show is being held Saturday from 10:00 am-3:00 pm, featuring the ICC Corvette Club! There will be House of Bounce fun time for kids on Saturday from 12:00-5:00 pm, along with face painting, chalk art contests and lots of giveaways! Come listen to bands from Tulsa Ok on Saturday evening featuring, Wall Street, and Dues Paid! Come out Sunday for FREE swim at 1:00-3:00 pm, followed by a FREE picnic from 3:00-4:00 pm. Sunday you won't want to miss the KC Marching Cobra's at 4:00 pm! For more information please call 417.782.0055 or log on to www.joplinparkday.com. 08/06  Mountain Lions in Missouri    Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center 6:00 – 7:00 pm MDC’s Rex Martensen will dispel the myths surrounding these big cats and talk about their impact on our area. This free program is open to all ages and registration is required. Please call the Missouri Department of Conservation Joplin Conservation Office at 417.629.3423 to register. 08/07  Medium Format Photography with Lisa Harris    Spiva Center for the Arts August 7 & 14 10:00 am- 12 noon each day Cost: $50 Learn the basics of shooting medium format photography. Students need to bring a Holga or Diana toy camera to class. Film will be provided. Students are responsible for their own processing/printing fees. For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 08/07 - 08/08  George Washington Carver, Struggle for Education in a Segregated America    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00-2:00 pm Utilizing photographs and artwork, this program focuses on Carver’s years pursuing education despite racial segregation and limited opportunities. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 08/07 - 08/08  Little Hands on Oil with Kyle McKenzie    Spiva Center for the Arts 1:00 – 3:00 pm Ages: 7+ Cost: $50 Students will develop original oil paintings from start to finish in this two day class. Steps will include generating ideas through sketching, planning compositions and color schemes through painted studies, and developing the final version on canvas. To avoid solvent concerns, we will use water-soluble oil color. For more information please call 417.623.0183. www.spivaarts.org 08/08  Music in the Park    Landreth Park 6:00 -8:00 pm Free Diversity Band is the featured band of the evening. They will play 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and Country. Please bring a blanket and a lawn chair. For more information please call 417.623.3254. 08/13  2010 Carl McConnell Memorial Golf Classic hosted by Community Support Services    Schifferdecker Golf Course 7:30 am-1:00 pm $85 Shotgun start format, four person teams. Great games and prizes! All proceeds benefit support servcies for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Southwest Missouri. Call 624-4515 to register or for more information. www.cssmo.org. 08/13 - 08/15  Oklahoma!    Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage August 13-15, Dessert only performances, tickets $18, Friday and Saturday doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 7:30 pm. Sunday doors open at 1:30 pm; show begins at 2:00 pm. Set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together we have no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA! Reservations can be made by calling the theatre at 417.358.9665 or Betty Bell at 417-358-7268. For further information about Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, visit www.stonesthrowdinnertheatre.webs.com. 08/13 - 08/29  Oklahoma!    Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage August 13-15, Dessert only performances, tickets $18, Friday and Saturday doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 7:30 pm. Sunday doors open at 1:30 pm; show begins at 2:00 pm. August 19-22 Thursday-Saturday doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm and show begins at 7:30 pm. For Sunday performances, doors open at 12:30 pm, dinner at 1:00 pm with show beginning at 2:00 pm. August 26-29 Thursday-Saturday doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm and show begins at 7:30 pm. For Sunday performances, doors open at 12:30 pm, dinner at 1:00 pm with show beginning at 2:00 pm. Tickets for for this show are $25.00 for adults, $21.00 for seniors over 55, $22.00 for students w/ID, $22.00 for youth (13-18), $13.00 for children (6-12), and children 5 and under are free. Groups of 10 or more should call the theatre for prices, and large groups should reserve early. Reservations can be made by calling the theatre at 417.358.9665 or Betty Bell at 417-358-7268. For further information about Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, visit www.stonesthrowdinnertheatre.webs.com. 08/13  2010 Music Series at Joplin Memorial Hall featuring Salsa Rhythm Project    The 2010 Music Series at Joplin Memorial Hall continues August 13 at 7:30 pm and features Salsa Rhythm Project. Tulsa’s own rhythmic sound of cultural music primarily from Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Tickets are $20 Reserved Main Floor, $15 Mezzanine and Balcony. Season Tickets Reserved $50 per person for all performances. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.joplinmemorialhall.com or call 417-623-3254. www.joplinmemorialhall.com 08/14  The Cougar 5K & Fun Run    College Heights Christian School Campus, 4311 E. Newman Road, Joplin August 14, 2010 Registration begins at 6:30 am, 5K 7:15 am, Fun Run/Walk 8:00 am 5K = $15/runner; Fun Run = $10/runner Adults and children of all ages, avid runners and new runners are welcome to join us for this event. All pre registered runners will receive a free tee shirt. All participants receive contential breakfast and bottled water. Pre- register is available online and registration will also take place at 6:30 am race day. 5K start time is 7:15 am and the Fun Run/Walk start is at 8:00 AM. The race is sanctioned by the Joplin Road Runners as a certified course. The race benefits CHCS athletics. For more information please call 417.782.4114 ext 201 or log on to www.collegeheights.org. . 08/14  Svitak Freedom Ride    Rufus Racing will be holding the Svitak Freedom Ride beginning at 7:00 am at MSSU football stadium parking lot. The Svitak Freedom Ride is a bike tour that benefits the Svitak Memorial Fund. This fund buys bikes for children of military families at Christmas time. This is the 9th Annual year for this event. Some of the highlights you can expect for 2010 include: great course and riding company; 3 route choices--10, 25, & 64 miles; Rest stops available approximately every 10 miles with water, food, and sports drink; Sag service ; Post Race Cinnamon Rolls & Fruit Smoothies and a T-shirt and water bottle for all registered riders. For more information please call 214-872-6029 or log on to www.rufusracing.com. www.rufusracing.com 08/14  Medium Format Photography with Lisa Harris    Spiva Center for the Arts August 7 & 14 10:00 am- 12 noon each day Cost: $50 Learn the basics of shooting medium format photography. Students need to bring a Holga or Diana toy camera to class. Film will be provided. Students are responsible for their own processing/printing fees. For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 08/14  Ride for the Red    Landreth Park Poker Run begins at 11:00 am, evening events begin at 4:00 pm Cost: $20/ one rider, $30/ two riders, evening admission $5 Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines and join the American Red Cross Ride for the Red! This poker run/road rally is open to motorcycles and cars. All proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Services in Barton, Newton and Jasper counties. Funds will also benefit Lifeguard and Babysitting education to train youth in our area in fundamental job skills. Registration starts at 11:00 am, last hand in by 5:00 pm. Poker stops in Barton, Newton and Jasper county. Evening festivities at Landreth start at 3:00 pm. Evening entertainment includes food and merchandise vendors, National Guard climbing wall and other activities, and music by Felonious Monk, Two Mothers Left and The Jimmy Conley Band. For more information please call 417.624.4411or log on to www.redcross-ozarks.org/ride. 08/14  Ride for the Red Poker Run    Landreth Park Registration begins at 11:00 am Car and motorcycle entries welcome! $20 one person entry; $30 two person entry Prizes, music, vendors, activities! All proceeds benefit victims of disaster in Jasper, Newton and Barton counties. For more information please call the American Red Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter-Joplin office at 417.624.4411. 08/14  Expressions of the Soul    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00-2:00 pm George Washington Carver was a talented artist using flowering plants and landscapes as his favorite subjects to draw or paint. The program looks more closely at Carver the artist and how his artistry brought joy to his life. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 08/15  Four State Corvette Club hosts Auto Cross Race Day    Northpark Mall parking lot 4:00 pm Entry Fee: $20.00 NCCC Members $35.00 non-NCCC Members Come test your driving skills at the timed course. All makes and models welcome! For more information please log on to www.4-statevettes.org/raceday2010.htm. 08/19  Downtown Window Decorating for Third Thursday    Meet at 5th & Main 5:30 pm All ages! Help Spiva decorate storefront windows with found objects & recycled materials. For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 08/19 - 08/22  Oklahoma!    Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage August 19-22 Thursday-Saturday doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm and show begins at 7:30 pm. For Sunday performances, doors open at 12:30 pm, dinner at 1:00 pm with show beginning at 2:00 pm. Set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together we have no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA! Tickets for for this show are $25.00 for adults, $21.00 for seniors over 55, $22.00 for students w/ID, $22.00 for youth (13-18), $13.00 for children (6-12), and children 5 and under are free. Groups of 10 or more should call the theatre for prices, and large groups should reserve early. Reservations can be made by calling the theatre at 417.358.9665 or Betty Bell at 417-358-7268. For further information about Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, visit www.stonesthrowdinnertheatre.webs.com. 08/21  Negative Scanning Workshop    Spiva Center for the Arts 10:00 am-12:00 noon Ages: 14+ Cost: $15 Learn how to scan 35mm and Medium format negatives. Use Photoshop to create a pristine digital image ready for portfolio printing. For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 08/22 - 08/23  The Seeds of Success, The Legacy of George Washington Carver    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00 pm This 30-minute film documentary was locally produced by Ozarks Public Television presents insight into the life of George Washington Carver. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 08/26 - 08/29  Oklahoma!    Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage August 26-29 Thursday-Saturday doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner at 6:30 pm and show begins at 7:30 pm. For Sunday performances, doors open at 12:30 pm, dinner at 1:00 pm with show beginning at 2:00 pm. Set in a Western Indian Territory just after the turn of the century, the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love's journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road. That they will succeed in making a new life together we have no doubt, and that this new life will begin in a brand-new state provides the ultimate climax to the triumphant OKLAHOMA! Tickets for for this show are $25.00 for adults, $21.00 for seniors over 55, $22.00 for students w/ID, $22.00 for youth (13-18), $13.00 for children (6-12), and children 5 and under are free. Groups of 10 or more should call the theatre for prices, and large groups should reserve early. Reservations can be made by calling the theatre at 417.358.9665 or Betty Bell at 417-358-7268. For further information about Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, visit www.stonesthrowdinnertheatre.webs.com. 08/28 - 08/29  Carver Experiments    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 11:00 am -1:00 pm Calling all young students interesting in science! A park ranger will lead you in a variety of experiments in the Carver Science Classroom! For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 08/28  6th Annual Summer Social on the Square    Neosho's Downtown Square 4:00 - 8:00 pm This free event is for children of all ages. There will be booths set up with free kids' games, sand sculpting build-off competition, music, entertainment, food and a lot of fun and activities for everyone. For more information please call 417.451.1925. 08/29  Art in the Afternoon: Video as a Medium    Spiva Center for the Arts 2:00 pm Cost: $3 voluntary contribution requested Join Professional Videographer Lisa Harris in the gallery for a lecture and slideshow on video as art. For more information please call 417.623.0183 or log on to www.spivaarts.org. 09/04 - 09/06  Film: The Life and the Legacy, Booker T. Washington    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00 pm Through narration and re-enactment, this 30-minute film traces the legacy of Booker T. Washington and the founding of Tuskegee Institute. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 09/11  2010 Prairie Day Celebration!    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Come and celebrate life on the prairie during the 1860s to 1880s. Musical entertainment, nature exhibits and a variety of living history demonstrations are the highlights of the event. Visitors are invited to dip candles, churn butter, tour the prairie in a horse-drawn wagon, and much more! For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 09/11  Four State Corvette Club hosts Auto Cross Race Day    Northpark Mall parking lot 4:00 pm Entry Fee: $20.00 NCCC Members $35.00 non-NCCC Members Come test your driving skills at the timed course. All makes and models welcome! For more information please log on to www.4-statevettes.org/raceday2010.htm. 09/12  Music in the Park    Landreth Park 6:00-8:00 pm Free Beneath the Surface is the featured band of the evening. Please bring a blanket and a lawn chair. For more information please call 417.623.3254. 09/17  Annual CROPwalk    The Ozark Area CROPwalk will be hodling the 17th Annual CROPwalk at 2:30 pm, Sunday, September 19 at the First Presbyterian Church in Joplin, located at 6th and Pearl. Congregations and schools join together for the for the CROP walk which raises money and awareness regarding hunger issues. One-quarter of funds raised stay in the area to feed our neighbors in need, the remaining goes to Church World Service to provide relief in man-made and natural disasters and economic development in areas of chronic poverty. There will be learning stations along the route. For more information please call 417-673-5866. 09/18  9th Annual Paws in the Park    Landreth Park Registration begins at 7:15 am, walk begins at 9:15 pm. The walk is a fund raiser for the Joplin Humane Society. There will be vendors, live entertainment, demonstrations and give aways! Be sure to come out Park and see what all the fuss is about! For more information please call 417.206.3678 or log on to www.joplinhumane.org. 09/18  The Great Race    Starts at House of Hope, 614 S. Wall 9:00 am-1:00 pm $100 a team The Great Race, Episode 1, Chance, Pursuit, Risk (CPR) is an exciting new event coming to the Joplin area. The Great Race is loosely patterned off the TV show The Amazing Race. Teams of two compete in different legs during the course of the race, each consisting of various tasks to accomplish. Each team's resources are limited. There could be physical tasks, mental tasks, tasks that include finding things, and tasks utilizing strangers. Teams must rely on their own wit and resolve to win the race. The types of tasks will vary. The racers receive clues that will lead them from task to task until they reach the Pit Stop, which is the end of the race. All participants will receive a t-shirt and goodie bag, as well as an invitation to the post-race party. The goal of this race is to provide a fun and exciting way to raise funds to continue the mission of House of Hope, Joplin. This is a Rufus Racing, LLC production. For more information call 214.812.6029 or log on to www.houseofhopejoplin.com. 09/19  Agricultural School on Wheels    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm The Jesup Wagon, also known as the Agricultural School on Wheels, carried George Washington Carver’s bulletins in addition to many other useful supplies to the southern farmers. A park ranger will share the story of this fascinating teaching tool. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 09/25  National Public Lands Day    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 10:00 am – 2:00 pm National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands we enjoy. Park staff have identified projects where volunteers can lend a hand. If interested, please contact the park. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 09/25 - 09/26  5th Annual Four States Open    McClelland Park Friday noon – 7:00 pm Saturday 7:45 am registration begins, 9:15 am players meeting, 9:30 am tee off This year's event will be a B-Tier, two-day event and it promises to be the best event Joplin Disc Club has ever put on. There is $1500 added cash to the tourney, $150 added cash to the Friday night doubles, a premo players pack including a quality disc & dri-fit shirt, free lunch, a Saturday night party will be provided w/free food in downtown Joplin, AM payout is pick your own prizes, and $10 vouchers will be given to anyone who stays at a Joplin hotel at least one night. For more information please ca66 417.850.0166 or log on to www.joplindgc.com. Preregistration is available here http://www.pdgasignup.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=1278960279. 09/25  Epitaphs and Engravings    Visitor Center at George Washington Carver National Monument 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Take some time to learn about the symbols and engravings on the headstones during this program at the Carver Family Cemetery. A park ranger will explain the meaning behind the symbols which tell about the lives of the early settlers. For more information please call 417.325.4151 or log on to www.nps.gov/gwca. 09/26  Music in the Park    Landreth Park 6:00-8:00 pm Free Heartland Community Concert Orchestra is the featured band of the evening. Please bring a blanket and a lawn chair. For more information please call 417.623.3254. 10/02  2010 Music Series at Joplin Memorial Hall featuring The Dorians    The 2010 Music Series at Joplin Memorial Hall continues featuring The Dorians. The region’s premier performers of traditional Irish and Celtic music. Tickets are $20 Reserved Main Floor, $15 Mezzanine and Balcony. Season Tickets Reserved $50 per person for all performances. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.joplinmemorialhall.com or call 417-623-3254. www.joplinmemorialhall.com www.joplinmemorialhall.com 10/09 - 10/16  Maple Leaf Festival    Carthage October 9-16 This week long festival includes Community Lighting Contest, Bike Rises, Run, Sprint Duathlon, High Heel Race, Pageants, Gospel Sing, Lip Sync Competition, Brats on the Square, Live Music, Petting Zoo, Car Show and more! Maple Leaf concludes with the largest parade in Southwest Missouri! For a full schedule of events please log on to www.carthagechamber.com/mapleleafcalendarofevents.html. 10/10  Tri-State Mother Road Marathon    8:00 am starting time for all races 26.2 mile full marathon 13.1 mile half marathon 5K Fun Run/Walk 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk Finish Line Party & Awards Presentation This one of a kind race in Historic Route 66 begins in Commerce, Oklahoma, winds its way through Kansas and ends in Joplin, Missouri. For more information log on to www.runmotherroadmarathon.com/. 11/26 - 12/31  Way of Salvation Christmas Light Tour    Carthage An annual celebration and driving tour fearuting a moving light tour of a variety of Biblical exhibits. Tune in to a local radio station for music to complete your journey. For more information log on to www.visit-carthage.com/. 12/02 - 12/11  Joplin Holiday Experience    December 2-11 A full week of family friendly holiday activities including kids activites, Santa Spottings, concerts, art, music and more! For the first time this year will include DickensFest in Historic Murphysburg in Downtown Joplin. For more information log on to www.facebook.com/HolidayExperience. 12/04  The 9th Annual Dickens Christmas Faire    8:00 am - 5:00 pm The Civic and Downtown Square in Neosho There will be craft and food vendors, Breakfast with Santa, craft projects, craft demonstrations and horse-drawn carriage rides. The Faire will conclude with the lighted Christmas parade at 5:00 pm. For more information please call 417.451.1925. 12/04  Carthage Holiday Homes Tour    Enjoy a relaxing tour of one of the largest historic districts in Missouri. The tour will include at least 6 historic homes with food, art and holiday decorating ideas. For more information log on to www.visit-carthage.com/. 12/04  Neosho's Christmas Parade    5:00 pm Neosho Square The parade route will begin at College and Spring Streets and will go around Neosho's Square. There will be over 120 entries (most of them will be lighted floats). There is no entry fee for entries. For more information please call 417.451.1925.