Vendor applications due Saturday for Homegrown and Homemade Festival
<p class="p1">Organizers are busy finalizing details for the third annual Homegrown & Homemade Festival, sponsored by the Ozark County Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in downtown Gainesville. The festival’s goal is to showcase Ozark County agriculture, food, garden plants, arts and crafts, baked goods and handmade items. </p><p class="p1">The festival welcomes those wishing to set up as vendors selling items made or grown in Ozark County. The deadline to apply to be a vendor at the festival is this Saturday, April 15. Vendor forms can be picked up and dropped off at First Home Bank, Shelter Insurance or Century Bank. Forms can also be submitted by mailing to the Ozark County Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 65, Gainesville, MO 65655. Vendor spots are open only for items that are grown or made in Ozark County, including, but not limited to, art, woodworking, quilts, food, plants and garden goods. Contact Laken Jones at First Home Bank at 679-3080 or Amelia LaMair, Chamber office manager, at 679-4913 or <span class="s1">info@ozarkcounty.net</span> for information on vending.</p><p class="p1">This year the Chamber of Commerce will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs for sale at the festival, as well as selling chewy fudge brownies with chocolate fudge frosting in a cup for dessert. The Fried & Frozen food truck will be available, and Deb & Lou’s Cafe will be open. </p><p class="p1">Live music will be played all day. Currently the bands set to play include the Sycamore alternative folkgrass band Creek Stink, the bluesy Half Step Down Band from Pontiac and the folksy Buzzards Holler. Music organizer Billy Pippin said the festival welcomes youth musicians to play. Those interested should contact Pippin by email at pippin_cpa@yahoo.com or call or text him at 417-543-3952. </p>