The California Area Chamber of Commerce's Ozark Ham & Turkey Festival is back in action this year for its 31st edition.
The festival is set for Sept. 18.
It was forced to cancel last year as the coronavirus pandemic escalated in Moniteau County. It was instead replaced with a "celebration" guided largely by special events planned by California businesses, which were in turn promoted by the chamber.
With the return comes a handful of new and updated events. The festival's car show will return to its old venue at the Moniteau County Fairgrounds, and a pair of pageants will be added to the list of events for the day.
First on the docket is the Miss Curly and Mr. Gobbler pageant, which seeks to offer another option for participation for youths who are too old to participate in the Moniteau County Fair's Little Mr. and Miss Moniteau County contest and not old enough for eligibility in the Miss Moniteau County contest, according to event organizer Anny Roll.
Speaking of the Miss Moniteau County contest, the chamber has taken on the event starting with this year's festival. It wasn't held at the recent Moniteau County Fair in August, and it will instead take place during September's Ham & Turkey Festival going forward.
Much of the usual favorites return alongside the new events - more than 50 vendors are slated to attend, and festival-goers can expect to find a wide variety of options for festival snacking and souvenirs throughout the day. From the 5K and parade earlier in the day to music acts and corn hole tournaments extending until later in the afternoon, patrons will not find themselves with a lack of things to do.
For more information and a more detailed schedule of events, visit the Ozark Ham & Turkey Festival Facebook page.