Bear City Fall Festival 2023

Howell County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Malone gets drenched for a good cause at the Bear City Fall Festival. This booth was sponsored by Howell County News.

Deputy John Thomas braved the wind chill to get drenched at the Howell County News booth. Personnel from the Howell County Sheriff's Office were under the bucket all day long volunteering to raise money for Bears for a Better Christmas. The booth raised $400 for the local kids in need at Christmas.

Pizza Americana celebrates its Grand Re-Opening on the day of the festival with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce. Pictured, from left: Chamber Director Kim McCormick, Pizza Americana owner Lori Logan, proud dad Larry Foster, Pizza Americana owner Andy Logan, Robert Hollis of Shelter Insurance, and Dr. Ann Hines of Main Street Wellness Center.

Isaac Kenneth Braniger performs live inside Pizza Americana as part of their re-opening festivities.

Winners of the chicken pageant at Bear City Fall Festival on Saturday were, from left: first place, “Miss Red” held by Kennedy Vandevort with her mom, Destiny Vandevort; second place, “Apple Pie,” owned by Eli Lovan; and third place, “Lavender,” owned by Brooklyn Lovan. The contest was sponsored by Simmons Bank.

John Burgdorf of West Plains discusses his 1965 Mustang with Curt Baldridge at the Jasper Engines & Transmissions car show.

Willow Springs FFA gave cow visors to youngsters who visited their booth and petting zoo. Maggie (in stroller), Addi, and Charlie Cartner, children of Jonathan and Briton Cartner of Iowa and grandchildren of Brenda Kimbrough of Willow Springs proudly show off their cow visors. Serghei Locovlev won the FFA’s 50/50 raffle but donated his winnings back to the FFA program.

Wanda, a Hampshire pig owned by FFA member Sydnie Sigert, was a draw at the FFA petting zoo for children and families like Ethan and Kassidy Earls of Willow Springs, and daughter Bonnie.

Donna Gilliam studies entries before voting in the annual festival quilt show, sponsored by the Willow Springs Church of Christ and held upstairs in the Charles Ferguson Building.

Willow Springs Lion Larry Huitt and Philip Chaffin cooked the club’s traditional funnel cakes at their booth on Saturday.

Betty Church of Willow Springs was presented a music note medal for her community spirit and participation in fall festivals held in downtown Willow Springs each year.

Performers from On the Floor Dance Studio provided entertainment for the lunchtime crowd at the Bear City Fall Festival on Saturday.

Beginners from On the Floor Dance Studio enjoyed spinning and dancing downtown Saturday.

Young boys check out a Corvette at the Jasper Engines & Transmissions car show at the Bear City Fall Festival.

Sunshine, good weather, and a record number of booths drew large crowds throughout the day to the Bear City Fall Festival. Sponsored by the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce, the event was held all day on Saturday.

Sharry Lovan, who organized entertainment for the festival, performed with her band, Stringed Union.

Molly Clair Corman and friends performed as Eleven Point Drive on Saturday afternoon. Pictured from left: Kaitlyn Armer, fiddle and vocals; Corman, mandolin and vocals; Teresa Eldringhoff, bass (background); and Lillian Armer, guitar and vocals.

An American flag marked the beginning of the car show and festival area at the Bear City Fall Festival on Saturday.

A pumpkin decorating contest sponsored by the Willow Springs Arts Council was held at the Bear City Fall Festival. First place in the Adult Category went to Laiken Cash who received a gift certificate to Vintage Floral.

In the Teen Category of the pumpkin decorating contest, Bella McNew placed first. She received a gift certificate to Pizza Americana.

Contest Winners!
Baking contest winners

The winners of the baking contest, sponsored by Ozarks Sweetest Bake Shop, were Cookies, Dawson Gregory; cupcakes, Ellie Gregory; and pies, Laurie Gregory.

Corn hole winners

The Bear City Fall Festival corn hole tournament was sponsored by Monark Realty, Eleven Point Café, Farmers Insurance, and Willow Health Care. Winners were first place, Justin Mickey and Barent Holden; second, Shane Collins and Jim Drum; and third, Tyler Clinton and Ethan Smith.

Decorated pumpkin contest

The Willow Springs Arts Council sponsored a decorated pumpkin contest at Saturday’s festival. The winners were, in the 11 to 15 age group, first place, Lillie McNew; second place, Bella McNew; and in the 16 plus age group, Laiken Cash.

Chili cook-off winners

Winners of the annual G&W Foods Chili Cook-off were first place, Crystal Wallace; second, Don Sanders; third, Christy Graves; fourth, Buster Graves; and fifth, Tony Duddridge.

Fire department coloring winners

The Willow Springs Fire Department sponsored a coloring contest as part of the Bear City Fall Festival, and had a booth, as did the Willow Springs Police Department. Winners of the coloring contest were, in the age 2 through Pre-K category, Piper Rohrer, winning a Paw Patrol movie; kindergarten through second grade category, Emilee Ellis, winning a fire department ladder truck toy; and third to fifth grade category, Jurnee Higgs, fire department Lego kit.

Bear City Fall Festival 2023

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