The 41st Annual Ozark Black Gold Walnut Festival will be held Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3 on the historic Court Square in Alton. The festival, an annual event organized by Alton Area Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by GFWC Alton Culture Club, features arts and crafts booths, games, lots of favorite food, contests, and excellent music performances.
The Tom Clary Cuise In will kick off the weekend on Friday, October 2. The Cruise-In, a project of Alton School Foundation, has become an annual event of the festival and this year, the festival committee asked that it be named for Clary, who first organized it a few years ago. “Sometimes, when someone dies unexpectedly, the much-deserved accolades for all they did for a community come too late,” the committee wrote. “For more than forty years, Clary served our community in many roles. One of his passions was for well-built automobiles and fast engines. We hope to see the square full of these cars and trucks on October 2 in his honor”. Vehicles will begin filling the square at 4:30 pm and will be there until about 6:30 that evening. The school foundation will accept donations that evening, but there is no admission or entry fee. Everyone is welcome.
Booths, contests and musical performances highlight the day on Saturday, October 3, beginning at 10:00 AM. Contests include pumpkin carving, baking, woodworking, talent and best-decorated booth. Winners of the various contests and drawings will be announced at 1:00. The festival closes at 3:00 PM.
“The festival promises to be every bit as good or even better than those in the past,” organizers stated. “The square is maxed out with booth reservations, and we expect to see approximately 1,200 – 1,500 people throughout the day.”
This year’s festival sponsors are Alton Bank, Fuel Express, Harp’s Grocery Stores, Quick Connection, West Plains Bank, and Young’s Produce. Event sponsors are Southern Bank and Farm Bureau, Pumpkin Carving; and West Plains Bank, People’s Choice Award in baking. In addition, Pack Mule provides clean-up services for the festival.
New To the Baking Contest
The annual baking contest at the Ozark Black Gold Walnut Festival is open for three categories: cookies, cakes and pies, and breads. Prize money in each category for this contest has been increased to $40, first prize; $30, second prize, $20, third prize. A new category, the People’s Choice Award, will give festival goers a chance to sample the entries in the contest and choose their favorite. The people’s choice winner will receive a gift basket, sponsored by West Plains Bank.
Foods must be entered by 10:30 am. at The Local Chapter Coffeehouse and Market, next to JoElla’s Beauty Collective (southeast corner of the square). All foods must be prepared with black walnuts. The tasting contest will be held from 12:00 – 1:00. All winners will be announced from the stage between 1:00 and 1:30.
Talent Contest Replaces Walnut Idol Contest
A talent contest will be held at this year’s 41st Annual Ozark Black Gold Walnut Festival. In the past, the festival Walnut Idol Contest was limited to vocalists. This year, the contest is open for any talent that someone wants to display! It is open to all ages, and only the first ten entries will be accepted.
Three prizes, Showstopper, Rising Star, and Most Entertaining, will be awarded. Each winner will receive $50. Sign-up sheets will be at the Chamber of Commerce booth in front of Alton Florist. Sign-up deadline is 10:30 when the contest begins.
Festival Schedule
8:00 AM – Set up begins
10:00 AM – Booths open to the public
Flag Ceremony and National Anthem
10:00 AM – Pumpkin Carving Contest on Courthouse Lawn
10:10 AM – Performance by Alton School Choirs
10:00 -10:30 AM – Register Baked Goods and Woodworking Contest Entries
Register For Talent Show
10:30 AM – Talent Show Begins
12:00-1:00 PM – Performance by Creek Rocks
12:00 – 1:00 PM – People’s Choice Tasting Contest
1:00-1:30 PM – Contest Winners, Drawings, Announcements
1:30-2:30 PM – Performance by Sarah Jo Sample and the Tonedaddys
3:00 PM – Festival Closes
