The Ozark Folk Center State Park hosts its annual Fourth of July celebration on July 4 with old-fashion games, crafts and music.
The Craft Village is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the Craft Village is $12 for adults and $7 for children 6-12 while children under 6 are free. Games, races and watermelon are all included in the admission price.
Participants will meet at 2:30 p.m. behind the Administration Building and be divided by age groups. Games include a sack race, egg and spoon race and a cracker whistling contest. Free watermelon will be served and everyone is encouraged to participate in the seed spitting contest.
“Mary Gillihan has been hosting these games for more than 40 years”, said Jeanette Larson, Craft Director at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. “The record for the seed spitting contest here at the Ozark Folk Center State Park is 29-feet, 4-inches, set in 2012. We look forward to a new record this year.”
Mary Parker & Friends will be playing music on the outdoor stage in the Craft Village six times during the day.
The Smokehouse Snack Bar next to the Picnic Pavilion will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and their famous fried pies throughout the day. And the Skillet Restaurant will be serving their award-winning Southern cooking from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Ozark Folk Center State Park is located at 1032 Park Avenue in Mountain View. Follow the signs to the Ozark Folk Center State Park, less than a mile from the Courthouse Square in downtown Mountain View. The park may also be reached by taking Hwy 5/9/14 (Sylamore Ave) to Jimmy Driftwood Parkway, which leads directly to the park entrance.
The mission of the Ozark Folk Center State Park is to perpetuate, present and promote the Ozark way of life in an educational and enjoyable manner; through craft demonstrations, musical programs, the Heritage Herb Garden, workshops and other special events. Listing of classes, concerts and upcoming events is available on the Ozark Folk Center State Park web site at www.OzarkFolkCenter.com. For more information, call the park at 870-269-3851.
