Downtown Joplin Alliance, Empire Market have events planned for January

The Joplin Globe, Mo.
·3 min read

Jan. 3—The Downtown Joplin Alliance has a number of events planned for January, including:

—First Friday WineShare will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Empire Market, 931 E. Fourth St.

This event is held at rotating locations in downtown Joplin.

The event is free to attend and everyone over the age of 21 is welcome. Attendees bring a bottle of wine or a favorite craft beer to share with others. Light snacks will be available. There will also be a drawing for attendees, who can win gift cards to Main Street Axe Co. or Chaos Brewing Co.

There also will be an opportunity to explore the Bunny and Jane Newton Community Kitchen. Joplin Board Games will have a variety of communication-based party games available, such as Dixit, Stella, Monikers, Poetry for Neanderthals, Just One, Heads Up and Take 5.

Lori Haun, executive director of Downtown Joplin Alliance, said in a statement, "We'll be unveiling our 2024 Event Schedule, touring the kitchen, and playing some fun games — it should be a fun, relaxing way to kick off the new year."

—Fifth annual Empire Market Chili Cookoff will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20.

Awards will be given for first, second and third places, as well as a people's choice award and an all-market chili award.

Judging begins at 10:30 a.m. with the public tasting from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission into the tasting hall will be $5, which grants access to taste all chili and vote in the people's choice category. Participants can prepay or buy a tasting ticket at the door. All proceeds will support the Newton Community Kitchen.

To register as a participant, fill out the form at https://forms.gle/7nYbT vymDeea2hY3A.

Registrations are due no later than Jan. 13.

—Active hydroponics class will be offered from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Empire Market.

Master gardener Eric Osen, of the Jasper County Master Gardeners Association, will lead discussions surrounding the major topics of home gardening.

—National Seed Swap Day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Empire Market.

This year, there will be seeds to give away, information on gardening and plants, and a showcase of some of the ways the community garden is working to make gardening accessible to everyone. Participants can bring seeds but do not have to bring any in order to participate. There will be seeds for native plants, pollinators, herbs, vegetables and fruits. Invited guests will include master naturalists and master gardeners to help answer gardening questions.

—Downtown Now Evening of Excellence will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Ramsay Event Center, 107 E. Sixth St.

This will be the first Downtown Now event of 2024 and it will honor volunteers, donors, sponsors, businesses and allies. In order to anticipate food and drink, RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-now-evening- of-excellence-tickets-7719 42299197?aff=oddtdt creator or or at info@downtownjoplin. com.

Randy Wilson, president of Community Design Solutions, a planning firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, will be the keynote speaker.