Summer in Springfield means longer evenings, warm weather, and plenty of chances to make family memories outdoors! Whether your crew loves live music, movies under the stars, festivals, food trucks, or community events, there’s something happening almost every week around the Ozarks.
We’ve rounded up some of the best outdoor entertainment options for families in and around Springfield this summer, many of them completely FREE. Grab your lawn chairs, blankets, bug spray, and favorite snacks, and start planning your summer adventures!
This article is sponsored by Springfield Little Theatre, offering shows, camps, classes, and activities to introduce kids of all ages to the stage.
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Check out Springfield Little Theatre's Big Summer Blowout August 18 to get a taste of everything they have to offer, and of course celebrate a fantastic summer of theatre!
🎬 Outdoor Movie Series
Movies in the Park
Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Enjoy free family movies in local parks over the summer. Families are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks.
Movie Nights @ The Amp
Catch a movie under the stars at Republic's community movie night series! Tickets are $2 in advance or $3 at each event. Pre-movie activities and concessions are available.
Twin Crescent Drive-In Movies
A quick trip to Buffalo is totally worth it for an old fashioned drive in movie! Adult tickets are $8, and kids 5 and under are free. Every other Thursday is family night!
Dive in Movie @ Marshfield Pool
August 1, catch Wicked from the Marshfield pool! Check out the website for details as they become available.
Nixa Movies in the Park Series
Head to McCauley Park in Nixa with your lawn chairs and blankets to see family-friendly movies like Zootopia 2 and The Minecraft Movie for FREE!
🎶 Free Summer Concert Series
Pops in the Park
June 20, check out this FREE concert in Phelps Grove Park!
Live! From Downtown
Free live music on Park Central Square in downtown Springfield Saturdays at 7pm from may to September.
Gigs in the Garden
Free live music at the Peace Through People Pvaillion in Nathanael Greene Park.
Wednesday Concerts at Noon
Free concerts at Founders Park in downtown Springfield in May and June.
🎡 Summer Festivals & Outdoor Events
Pizza Club @ Millsap Farm
Thursday nights, May - October, Millsap Farm serves up wood-fired pizzas alongside live music and outdoor fun. Tickets required.
Ozarks Food Truck Rally
May 30 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, featuring the best gourmet food trucks in the region.
Pickwick Street Fair
June 6, 10am - 5pm. Festival in the Rountree neighborhood featuring 50 local artists, craftsmen, musicians, and more.
Springfield Common Ground Music & Craft Festival
June 13-14, August 15-16, and October 10-11. Free admission. Check out craft vendors, bakers, musicians, and a variety of vendors.
Sertoma Duck Race Festival
June 19-20 at Finley River Park in Ozark. See 10,000 rubber ducks floating the Finley, plus craft fair, Kidzone events, live music, food trucks, and lots more.
Butterfly Festival
June 27 at Nathanael Greene Park. Tons of kid-friendly and educational fun, including a caterpillar petting zoo, live music, local artists, food vendors, and kid-focused organizations from around the area.
90th Annual Ozark Empire Fair
Summer's Biggest Party is July 30 - August 8! Ride the fair rides, see the livestock, and taste the fair food.
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
August 7-8, downtown Springfield. Get your kicks at this HUGE festival and car show celebrating the birthplace of the Mother Road.
🚜 Farmers Markets
Greater Springfield Farmers Market
Saturdays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 8am - noon at the Battlefield Mall parking lot.
Nixa Area Farmers Market
Saturdays, April - September at Main Street and Highway 14.
Farmers Market of the Ozarks
Saturdays, 8am - 1pm.
C-Street City Market
Saturdays, 9am - 2pm on Historic C-Street.
Ozark Farmers Market
Thursdays 3pm - 7pm at Finley River Park in the heart of Ozark.
Ash Grove Farmers Market
Saturdays 9am - noon.
Greater Polk County Farmers Market
Saturdays 9am - noon in the Southern Hills Baptist Church parking lot.
🎆 Fireworks & Patriotic Celebrations
Summer Picnic Drone Show @ Cassidy Station
June 13, 4pm - 10pm featuring food vendors, family-friendly fun, and an amazing drone & fireworks show.
Republic's Have-a-Blast Patriotic Celebration
June 26, 6pm - 10pm at J.R. Martin Park. Live music, food vendors, Kid Zone, and one of the area's biggest fireworks shows.
Willard Freedom Fest
June 27. Festival and parade info TBA.
Fans-on-Field Fireworks @ Springfield Cardinals
July 4, fans are invited onto the field after the game for fireworks and fun.
Red, White & Zoo
July 4, active military and veterans (and their immediate family memebrs) get free admission to the zoo.
Red, White & Zoo
July 4, active military and veterans (and their immediate family memebrs) get free admission to the zoo.
Before You Go
Always double-check event social media pages for weather cancellations or schedule changes before heading out.
Did we miss your favorite summer outdoor entertainment event? Let us know! Email cassyc@macaronikid.com.
