Hootin an Hollarin is one month away, committee finalizing details

The 62nd annual Hootin an Hollarin festival, scheduled for Sept. 21-23 on the Gainesville square, is a month away, and members of the Hootin an Hollarin committee have been working behind the scenes to finalize details for the big event. This year’s festival theme is “The Best of Yesterday.”

The Times will publish its annual Hootin an Hollarin festival guide, a glossy-covered magazine with information for the event, on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The guide will be included in all mailed editions sent to Ozark County Times subscribers. It will also be available for free wherever the Times is sold and at the festival’s information booth near the main stage during Hootin an Hollarin. 

This year’s music lineup

The music lineup for 2023 Hootin an Hollarin includes several new bands, as well as many others that have played at past festivals. Most musical guests will play a one-hour time slot. Sam Overturf again serves as this year’s festival emcee. 

After the official festival welcome, Hootin an Hollarin will kick off Thursday evening, Sept. 21, with Jessica Suit singing the National Anthem and a couple songs and Regan Blackburn performing on her fiddle. The first band to take the Hootin an Hollarin main stage will be the Finley River Boys, performing bluegrass music from 6 to 7:30 p.m. before the annual queen pageant at 7:30 p.m.

The Gainesville High School choir, under the direction of J.C. Barber, will kick things off Friday morning at 11 a.m. followed by 13-year-old talented country singer Wyatt Dodge who takes the stage at noon. The One More Dollar Band picks things up at 12:30 p.m. with their unique blend of “Ozarkana” music. 

The main stage will host a variety of children’s competitions (see more below) from 2 to 4 p.m. Then the Emalee Flatness Band takes the stage and plays bluegrass from 4 to 5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. Hootin an Hollarin favorite, Backyard Bluegrass, will play their set for an hour and a half followed by Psychobilly Cadillac Band playing upbeat country hits from 7:30 to 9 p.m. 

On Saturday, the live music begins at noon with former Pontiac resident and Gainesville High School graduate Robert Rice Voss followed by District 33, a group of young bluegrass musicians from Mountain View, Arkansas. The Sunny Dee band, consisting of Casey Overturf on fiddle and Dee Hoffman on guitar, will serve as the Hootin an Hollarin stage band, playing from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday and whenever there are open times between bands. Simply Southern Cloggers will entertain crowds at 4 p.m., and Sylamore Special will play between 5 and 6:30 p.m. followed by the popular Kattie Laney Project. 

Every night of the festival will conclude with several hours of square dancing on the platforms in front of the main stage. Like always, the dancing will be set to the tune of live musicians. This year’s Hootin an Hollarin square dance band includes David Scrivner and Ashley Forrest on fiddle, Joel Hinds on guitar and Lillyanne McCool on banjo. Kim Lansford, who played for several years at Hootin an Hollarin, died this summer. 

Throughout the festival: annual quilt show

This year’s Hootin an Hollarin quilt show, sponsored, as always, by the Friendly Neighbors Extension Club, will be situated between Southern Roots and Pandora’s Petals on the east side of the square. Lily Branco, one of the show’s organizers, says the quilt show exhibits “awesome quilted items made by ladies, men and children, sometimes as old as 90 and as young as 10.” Quilts to be judged need to be brought to the show site between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, to be entered. The only requirement is that the quilt has not been entered in a previous Hootin an Hollarin quilt show.

Ribbons are awarded in several categories, including People’s Choice, Judges’ Choice, and one for this year’s festival theme: “The Best of Yesterday.”

If there is space, antique quilts will be accepted for display but will not be judged. 

For more information, contact Lily Branco at 417-989-1313 or email lilybranco@hotmail.com. 

7:30 p.m. Thursday night: Queen pageant 

The Hootin an Hollarin queen pageant will be held at its usual time of 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. The pageant is open to girls age 14 to 18 at the time of the festival and are either homeschooled or attending high school at the time of the festival. Contestants must either live in or attend school in Ozark County. 

The pageant usually includes a good mix of returning queen candidates and new participants who don old-timey dresses and step to the microphone, one by one, to answer questions designed to let them show their creativity and imagination. 

A panel of judges chooses the queen and the queen’s court, including a deputy queen and three princesses. Another honoree, Ms. Sweetie Pie, is chosen by the contestants themselves after voting in secret for their fellow contestant who has been the kindest and most supportive to the group. 

Hootin an Hollarin committee members are happy to help any qualified contestant with their dress, speech or transportation needs to the pageant or rehearsals. Sponsors are available for contestants who do not yet have a sponsor for hte pageant, or contestants can get their own sponsor, which pays the $25 entry fee. 

Each contestant receives a Hootin an Hollarin T-shirt and other gifts, and the contestants enjoy a pizza party at one of the rehearsals. The queen receives a $100 cash prize and a tiara, and special charms are given to the queen and her court. 

Girls interested in participating in this year’s competition can fill out the queen pageant registration form on page 9 and drop it off at any Century Bank of the Ozarks location or Stockmens Bank in Gainesville. Completed forms and the $25 sponsor fee can also be mailed to Becki Strong, PO Box 412, Gainesville, MO 65655. The contestants will meet for their first rehearsal on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 6 in Gainesville. For more information contact Becki Strong at 417-989-9617 or Jerri Sue Crawford at 417-331-6538.

Square dancing at 9 p.m. every night

At 9 p.m. each night of the festival, festival-goers kick up their heels for one of the most authentic parts of Hootin an Hollarin - the square dancing. Live musicians play the night away as dancers of all ages take to the dance platforms. 

Generally, groups of more seasoned dancers perform on the northernmost platforms on the east side of the square, and younger and more inexperienced groups fill the platforms toward the south end. 

Many times those new to square dancing can find a group willing to help them learn in the best way possible – by jumping in and getting twirled around the dance floor. 

Free kids games and terrapin races on Friday and Saturday

Free kids games are scheduled at several times throughout the festival on Friday and Saturday; the games will be held in two locations around the square. 

Shelter Insurance - Douglas Hawkins Agency is sponsoring the Shelter Insurance Kids’ Corner, which features free activities and will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 22, and Saturday, Sept. 23, in front of the Shelter Insurance office on Third Street off the southwest corner of the square. Watch for “free kids’ corner” signs. 

Terrapin races will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday in front of the Shelter Insurance Building. Signs will be hung in the area to direct participants to the site. Those interested in participating should bring their own terrapin and arrive at 10 a.m. to register for the race. Participants can enter either race or both. Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third places in the terrapin races. Organizers ask that contestants not paint or alter the terrapins’ shells in any way and that, after the race, they return the animals to the area where they were found. 

Another set of free old-fashioned kids games, open to children age 4 to 12, will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday on the north side of the courthouse lawn (across from City Hall). 

Game organizer Renee Hambelton said the session will feature games ranging from watermelon seed spitting to tossing games. All supplies will be provided. 

2 p.m. Friday: Lil Cedar Pete/Lil Miss Addie Lee contest

The Lil Cedar Pete and Lil Miss Addie Lee contest begins at 2 p.m. Friday on the main stage. (Sign up beside or behind the stage before the event.)

Sponsored by the Ozark County Chamber of Commerce, the contest for boys and girls ages 4 and 5 commemorates two of the founders of Hootin an Hollarin, Addie Lee Lister, known as the “First Lady of Hootin an Hollarin” and Ed Patterson, whom Lister credited with thinking up the name Hootin an Hollarin and who created the festival’s Cedar Pete character. 

Kids entering the contest will be asked a series of four or five questions from the contest emcee – usually about their favorite color, if they have any brothers and sisters or if they have pets at home. At the end of the interview, the contestants are asked if they’d like to share anything else - a song, joke or story. Old-time costume is optional; contestants are not judged on their costume. 

2:45 p.m. Friday: Princess pageants

Girls in first through sixth grades are eligible to participate in the annual Hootin an Hollarin princess pageants, to be held Friday, Sept. 22. Those who wish to enter the contest must pre-register by Friday, Sept. 15.

The Hootin an Hollarin princess contests, which begin at 2:45 p.m. Friday on the main stage, feature Ozark County girls sharing their most adorable Hootin an Hollarin personalities.

The categories are Lil Princess, open to first and second graders; Lil Miss, open to third and fourth graders; and Junior Princess, open to fifth and sixth graders. 

To register, call Janette McDaniel at 417-255-3312 and leave a message in her voice mail or text her with this information: the girl’s name, grade and three interests or hobbies. 

Judging (by out-of-state judges) will be based on 25 points: 5 for dress, 10 for personality and 10 for poise. 

All contestants are welcome to ride on the princess float in the Big Parade on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23. 

5 p.m. Friday: Outhouse and bed races

The outhouse and bed races are held Friday afternoon on the west side of the square. 

Bed races, sponsored by the Gainesville PTO, begin at 5 p.m. Teams consist of five members (four pushers and a rider) who race a bed on wheels down the street from the stop sign in front of Molly’s Salon and Boutique to the finish line in front of City Hall. Costumes are encouraged, and some teams participate with funny or interesting skits during their race. Cash prizes are awarded to first-, second- and third-place teams in the timed event, and another prize is awarded to the best-dressed team. Teams can choose to prioritize speed or to ham it up with costumes, dances and skits in the middle of their run to keep things lively and the crowd entertained. Last-minute entries are welcome. Teams should gather on the southwest corner of the square in front of Molly’s at 4:30 p.m. before the 5 p.m. starting time. 

The outhouse races will follow the bed races, with five-member teams needed – four as pushers with one participant riding inside the outhouse. The teams start from in front of City Hall and race to the stop sign in front of Molly’s, where the first rider hops out and switches places with one of the pushers. The team then races back to the finish line in front City Hall. Cash prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place teams.

There is no entry fee for the bed race or outhouse race.

Chairperson Paula Rose appreciates pre-registration for both events, but it’s not mandatory. To register, contact her at 417-989-1282 or paularose1797@gmail.com. 

8:30 a.m. Saturday: Hillbilly 5K run/walk

Runners and walkers are invited to participate in Ozark County’s oldest 5K, the Hootin an Hollarin Hillbilly 5K, set for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. “This is the granddaddy of them all,” said 5K coordinator Doug Hawkins. Walkers are also welcome and are encouraged to participate.

This year’s event is a partnership between the Gainesville High School running programs, track and cross country teams. All proceeds from the event will benefit the teams. 

The race is a pet-friendly event,  Hawkins said. 

Sign up is at 7:45 a.m. race day next to Gainesville City Hall, or participants can pre-register by mail with registration forms that can be picked up at 5K sponsor Shelter Insurance. Mail the completed form to Doug Hawkins, Shelter Insurance, P.O. Box 115, Gainesville, MO 65655.

Pre-registration is $25. Make checks payable to the Ozark County Youth Sports or to Doug Hawkins. All participants receive a commemorative t-shirt. Custom trophies made by Bargain Bin will be awarded to the race winners. 

9 a.m. Saturday: Shotgun and archery shoot

The shotgun and archery shoot will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday. The event, sometimes referred to as a “turkey shoot,” is held across Highway 160 from the Gainesville square in the grassy area near the Barney Douglas Bridge. 

The shoot, managed by Missouri Department of Conservation agents Jerry Kiger and Tom Leeker, features shooting competitions in shotgun and archery categories. In the shotgun competition, shooters test their skill by taking aim at paper targets. For the archery portion, competitors shoot 3D targets (generally three different animals and one block target). Multiple matches in each category will be held to involve all participants who want to compete. Competitors can choose to compete in one or both categories. 

Those wishing to participate should register just before 9 a.m. at the competition site. Participants in the archery category should bring their own bow and at least four arrows. Participants in the shotgun competition should bring their own firearm; shotgun ammunition will be provided. The event generally takes less than an hour. 

10 a.m. Saturday: Pet show

All different types of pets are welcome in the lighthearted Hootin an Hollarin pet show, which is directed each year by veterinarian  Konnie Plumlee. Contestants and their owners are asked to sign up in front of the main stage on the east side of the square between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. before the show starts at 10.

Some pets come in costume, some perform tricks and others wow the judges simply by being adorable. Contestants show the crowd and the judges what their pet (of any species) can do, and each pet is awarded a ribbon and a title of some kind. Hootin an Hollarin pet show judges are quite imaginative in creating categories. Usually prizes are given for such things as hardest working, best wagger, most unusual and other innovative categories.

All animals must be restrained. Plumlee also emphasizes that temperatures inside vehicles quickly reach dangerous levels, and pets should not be left inside them before or after the show. A container of water is provided for pets at the show.

10 a.m. Saturday: Cornhole tournament

The second annual Hootin an Hollarin cornhole tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, in the parking lot of Donald Amyx’s building, off the northwest corner of the square, across from City Hall. 

Teams consisting of two people can sign up just prior to the event. There are no differing age categories, so teammates can be of any age. There is no need for pre-registration, and there is no entry fee. 

Tournament organizer Renee Hambelton says there will be several cornhole boards and bags available for use, allowing multiple games to be conducted at the same time. Trophies will be awarded to first and second places. 

Cornhole is a lawn game in which teams of two take turns tossing fabric bean bags at raised, angled boards with a hole in the far end. The goal of the game is to score points by either landing the bean bag on the board or through the hole. 

11 a.m. Saturday: Costume contest

One of Hootin an Hollarin attendees’ favorite events is the annual costume contest, when folks young and old – and sometimes whole families – dress up in old-fashioned  attire to wow the spectators and judges. 

Last year, the contest was moved to Saturday morning instead of its usual Friday afternoon time slot to allow more students who are normally in class on weekdays to participate. The change will also (hopefully) provide cooler temperatures for participants who are many times wearing heavy and hot costumes.

Participants can sign up behind the main stage beginning at 10:30 a.m. At 11 p.m., the costumed participants will be led in front of the main stage to have an opportunity to step up before the judges and give ’em his or her best smile. 

Children and adults of all ages are welcome to join in the fun and enter the competition, which is broken down into these categories: 

• Judges’ Choice

• Large group (4 or more)

• Small group (3 or fewer)

• Girls age 0-3 

• Boys age 0-3

• Girls age 4-7

• Boys age 4-7

• Girls age 8-12

• Boys age 8-12

• Girls age 13 and older

• Boys age 13 and older

• New dress

• Old dress

11:30 a.m. Saturday: Annual pie-baking contest

The 2023 Hootin an Hollarin pie-baking contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Shelter Insurance office on Third Street just west of the square. 

Area bakers are encouraged to show off their pie-baking skills with any type of pie. Past contests have included pot pies, mincemeat pies, berry, strawberry rhubarb, cream pies and more. 

Pies will be accepted beginning at 10:30 a.m. There are no age limit, residency requirements or other qualifications for entrants. 

A panel of judges including KY3 news anchor Elizabeth VanMetre and KY3 meteorologist Nicolette Zangara will sample all of the pies and choose a grand champion as well as first, second and third places. 

Pies are judged on appearance, taste and crust. 

After the winners are announced on the main stage, the office will be opened (likely around 12:30 p.m. or so) for guests to come and sample the winning pies.

The grand prize pie contest winner will receive a unique trophy handmade by Todd Friese of Bargain Bin in Gainesville. 

2 p.m. Saturday: The Big Parade

Maybe the most attended event at Hootin an Hollarin each year is Saturday’s Big Parade, when attendees line the streets to watch as a colorful array floats, bands, vintage vehicles, tractors and lawn mowers, horses and other entries make their way along First Street, up Main Street and around the square. 

Parade organizers Kerrie Zubrod and Heather Bushner say five marching bands are expected for this year’s parade. They’ve also had a number of people contact them to say they’ll be participating with floats or other entries. 

Keeping in mind this year’s festival theme - “The Best of Yesterday” - area organizations, families and individuals are encouraged to round up friends and neighbors, tap into their inner creativity and build a float on a pickup bed or a flat-top trailer (or whatever else is handy) to join the parade. Winning floats earn prize money: $150 grand prize, $100 first place, $75 second place, $50 third place and $25 fourth place. All other types of parade entries are also encouraged.

Floats must be available for judging at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the MoDOT maintenance shed on MM Highway behind and just west of the Dollar General store near Highways 160 and 5 north. The facility will open at 8 a.m. for float assembly and decoration. Lineup begins at 1 p.m. with step-off an hour later. 

For more information, contact Kerrie Zubrod or Heather Bushner at Century Bank of the Ozarks, 417-679-3321.

After the parade Saturday: Free magic show

“Randy the Magic Guy” will put on a free 45-minute magic show after the big (2 p.m.) parade on Saturday inside the Shelter Insurance - Douglas Hawkins agency (sponsoring the show), located on the southwest corner of the square. Kids of all ages are welcome.

After the parade Saturday: Calling contests

The annual Hootin an Hollarin calling contests, which have contestants on stage yipping, hootin’, hollarin’ and squawking, will be held following the big parade, approximately 3:30 p.m., on the main stage on the east side of the square. The four calling contest categories are cow, pig, turkey and husband. Those who wish to participate should sign up behind the main stage just prior to the show – or volunteer as the contest begins. Then, when the time comes, each contestant steps up to the microphone to let loose their best hill country call.

More information coming soon

Watch the Times for more updates on various elements of Hootin an Hollarin included a greatly increased lineup of demonstrators who will be at the festival showing attendees the old-fashioned way of doing things. 

There is also a great lineup of booths and food vendors, including a few new options and many festival favorites, that will be featured in an upcoming edition.

The Ozark County Times prints the official Hootin an Hollarin festival guide Wednesday, Sept. 13. The festival guides are included in mailed subscriptions of the paper that week and will be available for pick up at the festival.