West Plains Downtown

10/22/2026

🎃👻 SCARE ON THE SQUARE 👻🎃

📅 Halloween Night
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 West Plains Downtown

Bring the whole family for a night of Halloween fun! 🧡

🌭 FREE HOT DOGS
The first 100 people get a FREE hot dog from Mandy’s Hot Dogs!

🎶 MUSIC + PHOTO BOOTH
Enjoy music from DJ Robert and a FREE photo booth!

🏆 COSTUME CONTEST
Kids AND adults can show off their Halloween costumes!

🏅 MEET MSU–WP STUDENTS & ATHLETES
Students and student-athletes will be there to interact with kids and families!

🧡 Costumes, community, and Halloween fun all in one place!

👻 We’ll see you on the Square! 🎃

10/19/2026

Today, our Downtown Coordinator, Emily Long, was honored to welcome West Plains High School junior Emily Dalton for a day of job shadowing!

Emily had a firsthand look at the many people, partnerships, and organizations that come together to support downtown revitalization and preserve our community’s history. Her day included a Bond Dance Hall Memorial planning meeting, time with the WPDR board president and vice president, and a tour of downtown that coincided with delivering thank-you notes to community partners.

Throughout the day, Emily Dalton asked thoughtful questions and demonstrated a genuine interest in the history, character, and preservation of our community.

It’s always encouraging to see the next generation taking an interest in the places and stories that make West Plains special. The future of our community is in good hands!

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

Temporary Road Closure

Please be aware that the west entrance to the square is temporarily closed to allow for building maintenance at the Catron Opera House.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as this work is completed!

This road closure is not affiliated with the Ozark Heritage Festival, which is taking place at the West Plains Civic Center.

10/15/2026

What's Happening This Weekend in West Plains?

There is no shortage of things to do this weekend. From live music and community festivals to theater performances and dancing, there's something for everyone.

THURSDAY, 10/15
• Country Express Band at the West Plains Civic Center Exhibit Hall | 7-9 p.m.
Classic country, classic rock, line dancing, two-step, waltzes, and more. Admission is $6.

• John D. Neal at Shenanigans | 7 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of live music in West Plains Downtown.

FRIDAY, 10/16
• Ozark Heritage Festival at the West Plains Civic Center | 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Celebrate Ozark culture, heritage, arts, crafts, music, and more.

• GrossBusters: The Monster Musical at The Avenue Theatre | 7 p.m.
A family-friendly youth theater production filled with laughs, monsters, and spooky fun.

• Tony Logue & The 184s at Shenanigans | Music at 8 p.m.
Country, Americana, folk, and rock and roll energy all in one performance.

• Hazard Pay & Mystic Easel at The Yellow House | 9:30 p.m.
Ozark Heritage Festival After Party. Doors open at 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY 10/17
• Ozark Heritage Festival at the West Plains Civic Center | 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

• GrossBusters: The Monster Musical at Arts on the Avenue Theatre | 7 p.m.

• Lola Blu & The Boys at Shenanigans MO | Music at 8 p.m.
Southern rock and country with plenty of energy.

SUNDAY 10/18
• GrossBusters: The Monster Musical at The Avenue Theatre | 3-5 p.m.

For more local events and details, visit westplainsdowntown.com/events.

See you downtown!

10/15/2026

Every event, we hear a few people say, "Nobody told me about it!"

We promise we're telling everyone we can. The best way to stay up to date on downtown events is to follow West Plains Downtown and keep an eye on our posts.

Dolly & Porter Days may be behind us, but we still have more events planned before the year is over.

And one more thing: we're just 100 followers away from 7,000. Help us reach that milestone by following the page and sharing it with a friend.

10/14/2026

Only one week left to reserve your booth space at Scare on the Square!

Scare on the Square 2026

Bring the whole family to Scare on the Square, a fun, safe, and free Halloween celebration in West Plains Downtown!

📅 Date: October 31, 2026
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: West Plains Downtown

Scare on the Square is designed to provide a festive and family-friendly environment where children can enjoy Halloween traditions while families connect with local businesses, organizations, and community resources. Each year, this beloved event continues to grow, welcoming more and more families to the heart of our downtown. Last year, nearly 1,700 community members of all ages joined the fun!

This is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity, connect with the community, and gain visibility for your business or organization while being part of one of downtown’s favorite Halloween traditions.

Booth Guidelines & Event Information
• Theme: Halloween — spooky, silly, or magical
• Setup begins at 4:30 p.m.
• Event hours are 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Judging begins at 6:00 p.m.
• Candy must be distributed throughout the event. Last year, more than 1,700 trick-or-treaters visited participating booths.
• Power is not guaranteed, so please plan accordingly.

Registration Deadline: October 21

After registration closes, West Plains Downtown will provide an event map with booth assignments by October 29. Downtown businesses that participate will be placed in front of their storefronts. Booth spaces for businesses and organizations outside of downtown will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Award Categories
• Spookiest Booth
• Most Creative Theme

Register today using the link below:
https://forms.gle/VqGgm6wMzoZzb4Mj6

10/13/2026

THIS weekend. Downtown is the place to be.