Dear Readers,
It seems like fall has been slowly creeping into the air this week, and I have to say, I’m here for it. Football is already in full swing, pumpkin spice is making its annual appearance in our coffee — and just about everything else — and before we know it, all the area fall festivals will be kicking off. But maybe best of all, this shift in the weather means it’s officially bonfire season. There’s just something about the crisp air and the warmth of a fire that pulls people together this time of year. It’s as if the Ozarks are calling us to slow down and enjoy the simpler things in life.
West Plains, Willow Springs, Mountain View, Alton, and Gainesville are all gearing up for their own fall festivals, and each one brings a unique flavor to the season. If you haven’t made a point to visit at least a couple of these, you’re missing out. There’s a real magic to the small-town fall festival — the hayrides, the apple cider, and the unmistakable smell of kettle corn in the air. Whether it’s the booths filled with local crafts or the familiar sound of bluegrass music, these festivals capture the heart of what it means to live in this part of the world. They’re a celebration of community and tradition, and honestly, they’re the perfect way to usher in the cooler months.
But what is it about this time of year that makes us feel so connected to it all? Maybe it’s just me, but as soon as the air turns crisp, I get this undeniable urge to be outside, to gather with friends and family, and to sit around a bonfire. It’s not just the fire itself — though there’s something hypnotic about watching the flames dance — but the whole experience of it. There’s a comfort that comes from the combination of chilly air and the warmth of a fire, the crackle of logs, and the quiet murmur of conversation. Add in a cup of cider and some good company, and that’s about as perfect as it gets.
Is this draw to bonfires strictly an Ozarks thing? Or maybe it’s just something rural communities share. After all, sitting around a fire at night is about as old as human history. But out here, in the hills and hollers of the Ozarks, it feels like a tradition that runs deep. There’s an authenticity to it, a reminder of simpler times when the end of a hard day’s work was rewarded by sitting around the fire with neighbors and friends.
Growing up around here, bonfires were a staple of fall weekends. They still are, honestly. Once the football games wrapped up and the sun dipped below the horizon, we’d gather in someone’s field or backyard and light up a pile of wood. The evening would stretch out lazily, stories would be swapped, and if we were lucky, someone would bring a guitar. It’s a tradition that seems to go hand in hand with the changing season, and it’s one I look forward to every year.
There’s also something a little bit magical about the way a bonfire can make you feel like you’re part of something bigger. When you’re sitting there, staring into the flames, it’s easy to lose yourself in the moment, to feel connected to the people around you and the land itself. The fire, the cool air, the distant sounds of nature — it all has a way of grounding you, of making you feel at home, even when the world feels a little bit off-kilter.
Maybe that’s what fall is really about — taking a break from the rush and the routine, and reconnecting with the things that matter most. Whether it’s football under the Friday night lights, a local fall festival, or a quiet night around the fire, this season invites us to slow down and savor the moments. It’s a time for reflection, for gratitude, and for soaking in the beauty of the world around us as it shifts from the heat of summer to the cool of winter.
So as we move deeper into September, grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte (yes, even if it feels a little cliché), pull out your favorite flannel, and make plans to enjoy everything that fall in the Ozarks has to offer. Head out to one of the festivals, take a drive to see the changing leaves, or better yet, build yourself a bonfire and invite some friends over. Fall is coming, and there’s no better way to celebrate it than by leaning into all the traditions that make this season so special.
And when you find yourself sitting around that fire, watching the flames flicker and feeling the warmth against the cool night air, take a deep breath and just enjoy the moment. Because in a world that never seems to slow down, sometimes it’s the quiet moments — the ones filled with friends, laughter, and the smell of a bonfire — that remind us what life is really all about.
