Looking for fall events to attend around the Ozarks this year? Check out these fall festivals happening around Springfield and the Ozarks. Did we miss one? Email victoria@lifeinspringfield.com and we may add your suggestion to the list.
Japanese Fall Festival
Celebrate the vibrant connection between Springfield and its sister city, Isesaki, Japan, at the annual Japanese Fall Festival held at the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden. Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture through a wide array of artisan and vendor booths offering authentic goods. Experience hands-on activities in the Nihon Bunka Taiken tent (Japanese Culture Experience Tent), browse unique finds and treats in the Omiyage and Dagashi tent (Souvenirs and Snacks Tent), enjoy live performances, savor delicious concessions, and take in the magic of a peaceful candlelight walk through the garden.
When: Sept. 5–7, 2025
Where: 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield
4th Annual Celebrate Springfield Kickoff Event
Join us for a high-energy kickoff event celebrating the launch of Celebrate Springfield as a year-round initiative designed to help everyone explore and enjoy the best of 417-land. Guests can expect live music, interactive booths, food trucks, a beverage garden, and exclusive swag bags. Plus, you’ll leave with a roadmap to adventure across Springfield and beyond. It’s the perfect way to connect with your community, discover something new, and jumpstart your next local adventure.
When: 1–4 p.m., Sept. 7, 2025
Where: 955 E. Trafficway St., Springfield
Seymour Apple Festival
Celebrate 51 years of tradition at the Seymour Apple Festival! This beloved event features over 100 vendors, live entertainment, a 5K run, a lively parade, the crowd-favorite Johnny Appleseed contest, and so much more. Bring the whole family for a weekend full of fun — and the best part? Admission is completely free!I prefer this response
When: Sept. 11–13, 2025
Where: 123 West Market St., Seymour
Crafts & Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City
Photo courtesy of Silver Dollar City
Experience the magic of fall at Silver Dollar City’s Harvest Festival, where Craft Days bring in a rotating lineup of talented artisans each week. As the sun sets, the park transforms into Pumpkins In The City — a glowing wonderland filled with thousands of illuminated pumpkins and playful, non-frightful fun for all ages. It’s a seasonal celebration you won’t want to miss.
When: Sept. 12–Oct. 26, 2025
Where: 399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson
Marionville Apple Fest
Celebrate fall fun at the Marionville Apple Fest with a weekend full of small-town charm and apple-themed excitement. Enjoy handcrafted goods, delicious festival foods, live music, and a Saturday morning parade at 10 a.m. Don’t miss the apple pie baking contest, pie auction, and pie eating competition—or join in the karaoke contest and let your voice shine. With a free kids carnival and plenty more to explore, it’s a sweet way to spend the season..
When: Sept. 19–Sept. 20, 2025
Where: 30 E. Washington Street, Marionville
Mother’s Oktoberfest
This year’s Oktoberfest at Mother’s Brewing is an all-day celebration packed with fun for the whole family. Sip on specialty German beers, dig into bratwursts, and enjoy the sounds of lively oompah music. Kids can bounce to their hearts’ content while adults test their strength in the stein-hoisting contest. Don’t miss live-action knight combat, a traditional dress competition, and plenty more festive surprises. Admission is just $5 at the gate—prost to a great time!
When: 1 p.m., Sept. 20, 2025
Where: 215 S. Grant Ave., Springfield
Cider Days
Celebrate the spirit of fall at Cider Days on Historic Walnut Street in Springfield. This two-day festival is packed with live performances, delicious food, unique arts and crafts, and plenty of crisp, refreshing apple cider. It’s the perfect way to kick off the season with local flavor and community charm.
When: Sept. 20–21, 2025
Where: Walnut Street Historic District in Springfield
PumpkinFest 2025
Photo courtesy Shepherd of the Hills
Celebrate the season at PumpkinFest 2025 at Shepherd of the Hills! Enjoy a charming hayride through the Ozarks, pick and paint your perfect pumpkin, and even build your own scarecrow. With festive photo ops like the famous pumpkin house and iconic pumpkin chair, it’s a fall experience full of fun, creativity, and unforgettable moments for the whole family.
When: Sept. 20–Oct. 25, 2025
Where: 5585 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson
Black Walnut Festival
When: Sept. 25–27, 2025
Where: East Spring Street, Stockton
Wilder Days
An annual celebration commemorating Laura Ingalls Wilder, America’s favorite pioneer girl, and her cherished Little House books, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum will host the 9th Annual Fiddle Contest on Wilder Join the celebration honoring Laura Ingalls Wilder, America’s beloved pioneer girl, and her timeless Little House books at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. This year marks the 9th Annual Fiddle Contest held on Wilder Day—a lively event filled with music, history, and community spirit that brings her legacy to life.
When: Sept. 26–27, 2025
Where: 3060 State Hwy A, Mansfield
Fair Grove Heritage Reunion
The Fair Grove Heritage Reunion is an annual craft fair that draws thousands of visitors eager to enjoy its vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors. Experience the lively parade, take in live music, and watch authentic demonstrations at a historic blacksmith shop, sawmill, and the restored Wommack Mill. Best of all, attendance is free—making it a perfect outing for the whole family.
When: Sept. 27–Sept. 28, 2025
Where: 38 S. Main St., Fair Grove
Republic Pumpkin Daze
Pumpkin Daze takes place every year on the first Friday and Saturday in October, offering the perfect way to embrace the spirit of autumn in the Ozarks. Explore a variety of fall arts and crafts vendors, admire festive pumpkin displays, compete in fun contests, savor seasonal foods, and much more.
When: Oct. 3–Oct. 4, 2025
Where: 300 E. Hines St., Republic
Ozark Fall Farmfest
When: Oct. 3–5, 2025
Where: 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield
51st Annual Ozark Fall Craft Fair
Explore more than 350 unique vendors at the 51st Annual Ozark Craft Fair held at Finley River Park in Ozark. Organized by the GFWC Utopia Club, this beloved event raises funds to support numerous local organizations, making it a wonderful opportunity to shop handmade treasures while giving back to the community.
When: Oct. 3–5, 2025
Where: 961 N. Riverside Road, Ozark
Schofield + Gray Fall Market & Festival
If you’re looking for a charming way to celebrate fall, don’t miss the Fall Festival and Antique Market happening soon in Fordland, MO. This small pop-up market is packed with unique antique and vintage treasures, garden and home decor, boutique finds, and plenty of gift options. Plus, there’s live music, tasty food trucks, and desserts to enjoy—all set in a cozy homestead setting that really captures that autumn vibe. Admission is $5 at the gate, and it sounds like the perfect spot to soak up the season and discover something special.
When: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Oct. 4, 2025
Where: 353 E. Main St., Fordland
Sycamore Creek’s Fall Roundup
Get ready to dive into all things fall at the Sycamore Creek Fall Roundup, running every weekend from October through early November. This family-friendly event offers hayrides, a sprawling 6-acre corn maze, barnyard animals, and tasty treats like apple cider slushies and wood-fired pizza.
Whether you’re soaking in the peaceful farm atmosphere or exploring new attractions like the Maize Lookout and Harvest Hoops, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained. Don’t forget to cozy up by the fire with some s’mores, and let the kids roam free in this autumn wonderland. Tickets are $15.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids when purchased online, and little ones under 2 get in free!
When: 2:30–8:30 p.m. Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, Nov. 1, 2, 2025
Where: 2657 Sunset Inn Road, Branson
Cedar Fest
Photo courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
Cozy up in your favorite flannel and grab a blanket for Cedar Fest at Big Cedar Lodge. Taking place throughout September and October, this festive event offers plenty of fall activities like tram tours, pumpkin patch visits, pumpkin carving, fall foliage tours, pottery painting, tie-dye, face painting, and more—perfect for soaking in the season’s best moments.
When: Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, 2025
Where: 190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale
Harvest Fest
Celebrate fall weekends at the Harvest Fest party at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park! Enjoy hayrides, a cow train, inflatables, pony rides, kettle corn, and more. Wander through the corn maze while playing along with the Agents of Discovery app, or pick out your perfect jack-o-lantern from the pumpkin patch for a festive seasonal experience.
When: Oct. 4–5, 11–12, 18–19, 25–26, 2025
Where: 3825 W. Farm Road 146, Springfield
Apple Butter Makin’ Days
When: Oct. 10–12, 2025
Where: 319 E. Dallas St., Mount Vernon
SGF CultureFest
Featuring local musicians, dancers, and artisans showcasing incredible talents, CultureFest celebrates Springfield’s rich ethnic diversity and heritage. The event fosters collaboration among globally minded residents, helping to cultivate a welcoming city for people from all around the world.
When: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Oct. 11, 2025
Where: 321 E. Commercial St., Springfield
Pets & Pumpkins Family Festival
When: 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Oct. 18, 2025
Where: Downtown Springfield
59th Annual Maple Leaf Festival
Held every year during the third week of October, this festival offers a full week of daily events culminating in the largest parade in Southwest Missouri. The nearly two-mile parade kicks off at 9 a.m. and winds through the charming Historic Carthage Square. Throughout the day, the square buzzes with arts and crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, a quilt show, kids’ activities, a petting zoo, and plenty more to enjoy.
When: Oct. 10–18, 2025
Where: Carthage Square