The weekend after Labor Day starts off with the Midwest’s biggest in-water boat show at Toad Cove, located at the 7 mile marker. This event is in its 4th year.
For those who prefer cars over boats, this weekend also provides the Westlake Street Machine Fall Follies at the Laurie Fairgrounds. The Lake Of The Ozarks Bike Fest 2008 will be held Sept 11th-14th. Bike Fest weekend spans the Lake region with live entertainment at several venues and 3 Vendor Villages in Lake Ozark, Kaiser, and Osage Beach.
Step back in time the third weekend in September at the 21st Annual Osage Mountain Man Rendezvous held at the American Legion Campground in Lake Ozark. This living history event features 1840’s re-enactments with black powder shoots, tomahawk / knife throwing contests, fire starting competitions, artisans, storytellers, and gunsmiths. Trader’s Row offers a chance to shop for unique and authentic gifts. September closes out with a bang as two events bookend the last weekend with a tribute to our roots, and an adrenaline junkie’s “need for speed” fix. Oma and Noma Days is a perfect nod to our past. Oma and Noma Degraffenreid were sisters who were the first to drive across the Bagnell Dam on May 30th, 1931. A third sister, Elda, went along for the historic journey. Oma and Noma Days celebrates their trip with local musicians, craft artisans, country dancing, Little Mr. / Miss Oma & Noma Days contest, historical exhibits, a 5k run, a vintage car show and a parade like dam crossing. Another nostalgic event is an old fashioned frog jumping contest.
I imagine that the Degraffenreid sisters would have been thoroughly impressed with the thundering displays of speed at the Offshore Super Series National Championships. As the name implies, the Lake of the Ozarks takes center stage at the national level of this pulse pounding event. Approximately 50 of the fastest boats in the world will take to the water and compete for the National Championship title. These high powered performance boats can reach speeds of 200+ miles per hour. Even more impressive, is the fact that this is a tag team effort. The boat crew consists of a driver, who steers the state of the art craft through the 9 turn course. The driver practically reads the mind of the man in charge of the speed, the throttle man. The race events center around The Horny Toad entertainment complex, but spectators can watch the action from land or water. Designated areas will allow boats to drop anchor and watch the machines fly by in their quest for the title.
The outdoors is still king during October with several apple festivals, a traditional Oktoberfest, a haunted hayride, and several golf tournaments, a poker run, and the Missouri Fall Handicap Trap Shoot in Linn Creek.
The outdoors is still king during October with several apple festivals, a traditional Oktoberfest, a haunted hayride, and several golf tournaments, a poker run, and the Missouri Fall Handicap Trap Shoot in Linn Creek.
The 29th Annual Old Tyme Apple Festival kicks off the first weekend of the month in Versailles. The Festival includes a car cruise and sock hop, a parade, a theater event, arts and crafts booths. Celebrate the Harvest in a family fun setting and enjoy some delicious food also.
Boating enthusiasts revel during the 23rd Annual Fall Harbor Hop October 11th. Over 2000 players participated in this Poker Run in 2007. Bait and Bagel Marina (practically our next door neighbor) is one of the checkpoints in the second section of the run. Make sure and try one of their walking tacos while you are drawing your card! October 12th offers the Ride for Relief Benefit. This is a motorcycle ride around the Lake (approximately 125 miles) that benefit’s the American Red Cross.
Break out the bass boat the third weekend in October for the 23rd Annual Missouri State Buddy Bass Championship. This fishing tournament is held at Deer Valley Park in Sunrise Beach.
Missourians are very proud of their St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs, and we also love our high school football. Several local schools have excellent programs and the Camdenton Lakers consider anything less than a State Title bid an “off season.” A great local rivalry is the Waynesville Tiger-Camdenton Lakers match up. This year's contest has the Lakers having home field advantage on Friday, October 17th at 7 pm. This game falls during week 8 of the season and promises to be a gridiron great.
Take a ride through Laurie’s fairgrounds the fourth weekend on a tractor drawn wagon the 24th and 25th during the Haunted Hayride. Two fishing tournaments round out the weekend. The 14th Annual Fall Classic Buddy Bass Tournament is held at Alhonna Resort and the 18th Annual White Bass Tournament is held in Gravois Mills. The Ha Ha Haunt will be held at Ha Ha Tonka on Halloween.
Nature lover’s delight in the autumn color splashes that decorate the Lake’s shoreline in brilliant red’s, golden hues of yellows, and a spectrum of oranges. Shermanstravel.com has rated The Lake Of The Ozarks as a Top 10 Fall Foliage Destination and late October is the peak of the season’s colorful display.
November and December hold just as many activities and greats things to see and do and we will cover those in a future entry. We hope that you didn’t put your Atlantis Island Condominium keys away on September 2nd; you will need them year round!
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