An open house and musical jam will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at Mt. Zion Church in Akers, and all are invited to bring an instrument and join local musicians playing gospel and Ozarks traditional music. more

The Willow Springs Arts Council will host a performance by the Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra, “Spooktacula VII,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at the historic Star Theater in downtown Willow Springs. more

St. Paul Lutheran Church, 291 Kentucky Ave. in West Plains, will hold its annual Christmas Craft and Décor Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9. more

Arts Alliance member events and activities: more

The University of Arkansas Jazz Orchestra will perform in concert at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Salem, Ark., Civic Center, 135 Arena Lane. more

Cedarhurst of West Plains invites the community to its 3rd annual Craft Fair, a showcase of the artistic talents of West Plains and beyond, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 at the senior living community, 1521 U.S. 63 in West Plains. more

Get ready for a spine-tingling evening at the historic Avenue Theatre in downtown West Plains as they host a classic horror movie marathon from 3 p.m. to midnight on Oct. 19! If you love old-school thrills, this is a night you won’t want to miss. The marathon will feature timeless favorites like “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” “The Wasp Woman,” “Night of the Living Dead,” and more. Each film is packed with suspense, monsters, and just the right amount of retro fright to get you into the Halloween spirit. more

ShenanigansFest aims to bring local and national talent to the rolling hills of Ozark County this fall and, depending on its success, in the years to come and at expanded venues. The Oct. 14 festival is an all-ages daylong event with camping, food trucks, a beer tent and children's activities. more

Local artist Lee Copen’s artwork is featured on OzSBI’s first floor through December, thanks to a partnership between the West Plains Council on the Arts and Ozarks Small Business Incubator to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator.   more

The Optimist Club of West Plains Optimist Club is encouraging area students to contemplate the phrase “How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success” and submit an essay or speech to enter into the Optimist International Essay and Oratorical contests for the current school year. more

The U.S. 63 bypass in West Plains will be reduced to two lanes from its usual four for about three weeks beginning Oct. 21, Missouri Department of Transportation officials announce. more

The Howell County Commission will meet at 10 a.m. Monday in regular session. The meeting will take place in the conference room on the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square in West Plains. more

West Plains city council members, at a special meeting held Monday, voted unanimously to approve a site plan for a new Dollar General store to be located on the north end of the block between Lincoln Avenue and Jefferson Avenue, off of Abe Taylor Street. more

The magic of Neverland has arrived in West Plains! Last night, the West Plains Playhouse kicked off its much-anticipated production of Peter Pan and Wendy at the West Plains Civic Center Theater, and audiences were transported to a world where flying children, daring pirates, and a sprinkle of fairy dust make anything possible. If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, now’s the time! This enchanting production runs through October 13th, and with showtimes both in the evening and afternoon, there’s plenty of opportunity to experience the wonder. more

The Avenue Theatre is opening its doors for an exciting opportunity to engage the community in a meaningful way. On Oct. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m., a Town Hall Meeting will be held at the MSU Garnett Library. This gathering is open to everyone—from friends of the theatre to past and present actors—and offers a unique chance for the local community to share their suggestions, thoughts, and ideas. Whether you’re a passionate advocate for the arts or simply someone with a good idea, this meeting is the perfect platform to get involved. more

The Lincoln School Project is beyond excited to welcome acclaimed muralist and artist Cbabi Bayoc to the Historic Lincoln School for an unforgettable evening of artistic inspiration! This special event, titled Artistic Inspirations, will take place on October 29, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:15 PM. Attendees will get a rare chance to hear directly from Bayoc as he dives into his creative process, shares his influences, and discusses the incredible power of art to challenge perceptions and inspire meaningful change. more

In a partnership between the West Plains Council on the Arts and the West Plains Public Library, photography and artwork by area artist Kelli Albin will be featured through the end of December. Visitors may view the display between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays at the library, or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.  more

The Yellow House Community Arts Center, 209 W. Trish Knight St. in West Plains, is hosting its first-ever Open Mic Comedy Night on Friday and it's shaping up to be an event that will leave the crowd in stitches. Thanks to Ree Creations, a creative team led by Ree Logan and Logan Carter, the night will be packed with good food, gut-busting comedy and a chance for local talent to shine. And the best part? It's absolutely free to attend. more

All are invited to attend the debut performance of Missouri State University-West Plains’ University/Community Band Oct. 7 on the MSU-WP campus. more

Crafters are invited to create a crocheted chicken using the amigurumi method at the next West Plains Council on the Arts workshop, to be conducted by local artist Tara Shahan from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Dogwood Rooms of the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. more