Looking for outdoor music this summer? 29 festivals in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma
There is just something special about enjoying live music in fresh air and there are so many ways to do it. Maybe you enjoy sitting in lawn chairs with friends, cold drink in hand or perhaps shuffling under the stars as LED beams dance across a field is more your style. However you prefer to listen to music outdoors, there are plenty of ways to do so this summer.
Throughout the summer months, music festivals in the Midwest provide folks with a variety of experiences, from electronic dance music festivals away from the commotion of a metropolis to rock and roll fests in the heart of the cities they represent.
The News-Leader compiled a list of 21 music festivals in Missouri, northern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, the majority within a three-hour drive of Springfield.
Missouri
Bluegrass & BBQ Festival
Dates: May 4-29
Location: Silver Dollar City in Branson
Silver Dollar City's month-long Bluegrass & BBQ Festival includes a full lineup of bluegrass musicians, including the Ray Wellington Band, Larry Stephenson Band, Route 3, Dale Ann Bradley and others.
In addition to the music and barbecue, the Youth in Bluegrass Band Contest is a part of the festival. This year's youth contest features 10 bands from across the country, including Homestead Holler from Branson. The contest allows young musicians to perform in front of a live audience and complete for cash prizes. The Youth in Bluegrass Band Contest is May 27.
Tickets: silverdollarcity.com/tickets
Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival
Dates: May 19-20
Location: Iron County Courthouse in Ironton
The Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival is a free, family-friendly bluegrass and Americana music festival. In addition to live music, attendees may enjoy crafters, food vendors and activities. This year's festival lineup features BTR, The Punches, The Rising Son, Logan Creek Band and Dave Black Band.
Tickets: Free admission
More: 20+ things to do in May, including Mother's Day activities and free springtime concerts
Pointfest
Date: Saturday, May 27
Location: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights
105.7 The Point is hosting its annual Pointfest during the last weekend of May. This year's music lineup features Incubus, Coheed And Cambria, The Pretty Reckless, Bad Omens, Badflower, Greek Fire, Band-Maid, Des Rocs, Tigercub and Inimical Drive.
Tickets: livemu.sc/3AHH4hd
Old-Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival
Dates: June 2-3
Location: West Plains Civic Center in West Plains
Established in 1994, the Old-Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival is hosted by the West Plains Council on the Arts. The two-day festival is dedicated to preserving the music and folk life traditions of the Ozark Highlands. The festival features live music, square dances, living history, a jig dance competition, a mule jump competition and plenty of other family-friendly activities for children.
Tickets: Free admission
ReKinection Festival
Dates: June 7-11
Location: Astral Valley Art Park in French Village
ReKinection is a five-day long art and holistic wellness festival situated on 250 acres of woods and meadows in French Village, about 40 minutes from St. Louis. This year's headlining musical artists include The Floozies, Opiuo, Daily Bread, Mike Love & The Full Circle and WookieFoot. Festival attendees may also enjoy yoga, dance hands-on art and sound healing workshops. Aerial, fire and dance shows will also be recurring throughout the weekend.
Tickets: rekinection.com/celebration-festival-tickets
Stomp the Blues
Date: Saturday, June 10
Location: Community Blood Center of the Ozarks in Springfield
Stomp the Blues Out of Homelessness is in its 12th year, providing live music and raising funds for local nonprofits dedicated to aiding homelessness in the Ozarks. Stomp the Blues benefits Women in Need of the Ozarks, The Rare Breed, Laura's Home, Darr House and Play It Forward SWMO. This year, Stomp the Blues will feature music artists Eliza Neals, Albert Cummings, Danielle Nicole and Dana Fuchs.
Tickets: stompthebluesoutofhomelessness.com/tickets
Boulevardia
Dates: June 16-17
Location: Grand Boulevard at Crown Center in Kansas City
Boulevardia is Kansas City's annual music festival, held at the Crown Center. This year's music lineup includes Kat King, The Beths, Post Sex Nachos, Caley Rose, Steddy P, Cimafunk and others. In addition to the music, Boulevardia is known for its selection of craft beers, provided by local and regional breweries.
In conjunction with the music festival is Ride 2 Boulevardia, a charity bike ride before the start of the festival. Participants can choose between 15-mile, 30-mile and 40-mile rides. This year, the bike ride benefits Children's Mercy and Cancer Action. Registration for Ride 2 Boulevardia is available online at ride2boulevardia.com/register.
Tickets: boulevardia.com/tickets/
Open Highway Music Festival
Dates: June 16-17
Location: Chesterfield Amphitheater in Chesterfield
The Open Highway Music Festival is a two-day, family-friendly festival. Headlining acts at this year's festival include Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Blackberry Smoke, The Heavy Heavy and S.G. Goodman.
Tickets: openhighwaymusic.com
Outlaw Music Festival
Dates: Sunday, June 25
Location: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights
The Outlaw Music Festival is a nationally-touring festival for Willie Nelson and like-minded artists. The festival visits several cities throughout the country, including Maryland Heights. The festival's lineup this year features Willie Nelson, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, John Fogerty and many others.
Tickets: bit.ly/3neDzvQ
Heritage & Freedom Fest
Dates: July 1-4
Location: Ozzie Smith Sports Complex in O'Fallon
The city of O'Fallon celebrates the Fourth of July with its three-day music festival. The festival's headlining acts include country artist Chris Lane and Southern rock band 38 Special. A carnival with different vendors, parade and fireworks are also hosted throughout the festival.
Tickets: Free admission
Pickin' on Picknic
Dates: July 6-9
Location: Lost Hill Lake in Saint Clair
Pickin' on Picknic is an annual Midwest bluegrass music festival. The three-day festival features plenty of room for camping, food and craft vendors, workshops, large evening bonfires and of course, music. This year, Bela Fleck, KellerGrass and The SteelDrivers are headlining the festival.
New to the festival this year is Lil' Pickin, an on-site vending experience for children. Lil' Pickin participants will have the opportunity to fill out a festival vendor application, set up their shop, handle money and mingle with customers.
Tickets: pickinfestival.com/tickets/
Chains Unchained Fest
Dates: July 21-22
Location: Real Life Church in Springfield
Chains Unchained Fest is a rock and metal festival in Springfield. Stonewall Static and Convictions are this year's headliners.
Tickets: chainsunchained.com/tickets-merch
Mid-America Music Festival
Dates: Aug. 4-5
Location: Black Silo Winery in Trenton
The Mid-America Music festival is a country music and camping festival on 70 acres in Trenton, about 90 miles north of Kansas City. This year's music acts include Chris Janson, Read Southall Band, The Cadillac Three, Cody Canada & The Departed, Drake White, Micky & The Motorcars, Alex Williams, Dirt Road Addiction, Slow Leak and Jayson Orr & Shop Band.
Hosted by the Black Silo Foundation, the Mid-America Music Festival is a charity event for northern Missouri nonprofits. This year, the festival benefits Boy Scouts Troop 97-Trenton, Boy Scout Troop 120-Chilicothe, Camp Rainbow and Green Hills Animal Shelter. Last year, the festival donated over $26,000 to area nonprofits.
Tickets: bit.ly/3NuJaZw
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
Dates: Aug. 10-12
Location: Downtown Springfield
Missouri's largest Route 66 festival is celebrating 11 years this August. Along with live music, the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival features a car and bike show, poker run, talent contest and parade.
Tickets: Free admission
More: 'Keep It Classic,' Birthplace of Route 66 Festival to celebrate 11 years in August
Music for the Mind
Dates: Aug. 18-19
Location: The Camp at Lake Wappapello in Wappapello
Celebrating its fourth year, Music for the Mind is a mental health awareness music festival. This year, the festival's music lineup includes Maggie Rose, Dirt Dozen Brass Band, Lady Couch, Paul McDonald, Adam Chaffins, One Way Traffic, Ivas John Band and Maggie Thorn.
Tickets: bit.ly/44i5yLC
Evolution Festival
Dates: Aug. 26-27
Location: Forest Park in St. Louis
Evolution Festival is a music, barbeque and bourbon festival in downtown St. Louis. This year's headliners include The Black Keys, The Black Crowes, Brittany Howard, Brandi Carlile, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Ice Cube.
Tickets: evolutionfestival.com/tickets.html
SantaCaliGon Days Festival
Dates: Sept. 1-4
Location: Historic Independence Square in Independence
SantaCaliGon Days is a free, family-friendly music festival in Independence. This year, the festival will feature Boogie Nights KC, M-80's, Bluffett (Jimmy Buffet tribute), Why Not Me (The Judds tribute), Trea Landon, The Styx Illusion, Double Vision (Foreigner tribute) and Elton Dan and the Rocket Band. The first SantaCaliGon Days Festival was held in 1940 to celebrate the creation of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails, according to the festival's website.
Tickets: Free admission
MO Jazz Music Festival
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Location: Rose Music Hall in Columbia
Hosted by the Jazz Forward Initiative, the annual MO Jazz Music Festival is a free, family-friendly festival showcasing both local, regional and national jazz artists. This year's lineup includes Samantha Fierke, The Bel Airs, Dawn Weber & Good Company, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra and headliner the Lao Tizer Quartet.
Tickets: Free admission
Music at the Intersection
Dates: Sept. 9-10
Location: Grand Center Arts District in St. Louis
Celebrating its second anniversary, Music at the Intersection is a civic project led by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Steward Family Foundation and The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. The festival aims to document and highlight St. Louis culture through national, regional and local music acts. Headlining musicians at this year's festival include Smino, Masego, Snarky Puppy, Cameo, Herbie Hancock, Thundercat and The Fearless Flyers.
Tickets: musicattheintersection.org/tickets/
Treeline Music Festival
Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Location: Stephens Lake Park in Columbia
Formerly Roots N Blues, the Treeline Music Festival is a family-friendly bluegrass music festival. The festival's lineup has yet to be announced.
Tickets: treelinemusicfest.frontgatetickets.com
Arkansas
FreshGrass
Dates: May 19-20
Location: The Momentary in Bentonville
FreshGrass is a two-location bluegrass music festival, held in Bentonville in May and North Adams, Massachusetts in September. For the festival in Bentonville, guests may enjoy a lineup featuring Caamp, Elle King, Mavis Staples, Sierra Ferrell, Del McCoury Band, and Molly Tittle. The festival also includes access to The Momentary' s exhibitions, a silent film with live music, and food, drink and artist vendors.
Tickets: freshgrass.com/tickets
Outlaw Music Festival
Date: Thursday, June 29
Location: Walmart AMP in Rogers
A few days after the Outlaw Music Festival in Maryland Heights, the touring festival is visiting Rogers, Arkansas.
Tickets: bit.ly/424Weca
Peacemaker Festival
Dates: July 28-29
Location: Riverfront Amphitheater in Fort Smith
The Peacemaker Festival is a two-day country, blues, rock and Americana music festival. This year's headliners include Shane Smith & The Saints, Marcus King, Muscadine Bloodline and 49 Winchester. The Peacemaker Festival is organized by a Fort Smith-based nonprofit and benefits area organizations. According to the festival's website, over the last eight years, the festival has raised over $870,000.
Tickets: peacemakerfest.com/tickets
ByrdFest
Dates: Sept. 15-16
Location: Byrds Adventure Center in Ozark, Arkansas
A two-day festival, ByrdFest is held at the Byrds Aventure Center, an 800-acre campground. The festival includes both Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin tribute concerts.
Tickets: byrdfest.com/tickets.html
FORMAT Festival
Dates: Sept. 22-24
Location: Sugar Creek Airstrip in Bentonville
In its second year, FORMAT Festival is a music, art and technology festival in Bentonville. This year's headliners include LCD Soundsystem, Alanis Morissette and Leon Bridges. In addition to traditional stages, FORMAT features several uniquely-designed venues and a handful of different art experiences, like a Guerilla Girls' exhibition.
Tickets: format-festival.com/tickets
WAKAAN Music Festival
Dates: Sept. 27-30
Location: Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas
WAKAAN is an electronic dance music festival in Ozark, Arkansas, about three hours south of Springfield. A lineup for the festival has yet to be announced.
Tickets: fanlink.to/wakaanfest23
Oklahoma
OKM Music Festival
Dates: June 8-12
Location: Bartlesville
The OKM Music Festival, formerly the OK Mozart Music Festival, is held each June in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, just shy of three hours southwest of Springfield. The week-long festival puts an emphasis on traditional orchestra musicians. This year's headliner is Lee Greenwood, a country singer-songwriter.
Tickets: Free admission
Rocklahoma
Dates: Sept. 1-3
Location: Rocklahoma Campground in Pryor
Rocklahoma is a three-day rock and roll music festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, just over two hours southwest of Springfield. The festival is featuring Godsmack, Pantera, Rob Zombie and Limp Bizkit as this year's headliners.
Tickets: rocklahoma.com/passes
Born & Raised Festival
Dates: Sept. 13-16
Location: Rocklahoma Campground in Pryor
The Born & Raised Festival is a camping and rock music festival in Pryor. The festival will feature Turnpike Troubadours, Whiskey Myers, Gary Allan, Ryan Bingham, Randy Rogers Band and others.
Tickets: bornandraisedfestival.com/passes
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 29 music festivals in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma this summer
