Connect2Culture’s look at October
PERFORMANCES
October 4
Pourfest III: Porchfest Kick-Off Party
Time: 6:00–9:00 pm
Location: Chaos Brewery, 112 S Main St
Event: Tri-state concert featuring The Zane Grimes band (Joplin), The Odyssey (Tulsa), and Townhouse Fire (Northwest Arkansas)
Admission: $10
Contact: Theresa Clift, northheightsporchfest@gmail.com, (479) 366-2005
October 5
Time For Three
Time: 7:00 pm (doors open 6:30 pm)
Location: Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, 212 W 7th St
Event: Genre-bending performance by classically trained string trio Time for Three (TF3)
Tickets: $42.90–$48.10 (available at connect2culture.org or C2C box office)
Contact: Lauren Smith, lauren@connect2culture.org, (417) 621-9824
October 17–19
Clue On Stage: High School Edition
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Joplin High School, Performing Arts Center, 2104 S Indiana Ave
Event: Comedy-murder mystery based on the 1985 film and classic Hasbro board game
Tickets: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $8 (available at tinyurl.com/jhsclueonstage)
Contact: Ashley Trotnic, ashleytrotnic@joplinschools.org
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
Time: 7:30 pm (doors open 7:00 pm)
Location: Dream Theatre Co., 124 S Main St
Event: Off-Broadway, 90-minute gender-bending comedy reimagining Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Tickets: $20 (reserve at showtix4u.com/event-details/85014)
Contact: Becki Arnall, becki.dreamtheatre@gmail.com, (417) 622-6470
October 18–19
The Little Mermaid, Jr.
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: McAuley Catholic High School, 930 Pearl Ave
Event: Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. performed by Joplin Area Catholic Schools students
Tickets: $5
Contact: Kristen Stremel, kstremel@jacschools.org, (417) 623-1465
EVENTS
October 3
First Thursday ArtWalk
5:00–8:30 pm | Downtown Joplin
Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month with art displays, live music, and a proclamation ceremony at City Hall at 5:00 pm.
Contact: Linda Teeter, lteeter00@gmail.com, (417) 438-5931
Children’s Chess Club (Ages 6-12)
5:30–6:00 pm | Joplin Public Library
Learn and play chess with the Joplin Area Chess Club.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org, (417) 623-2184
Opening Reception: Barn Quilts for Rt. 66 by Eric Haun
5:30–8:30 pm | Club 609
Meet the artist and view his barn quilt-inspired paintings.
Contact: Stacey Stotts Cobb, (417) 529-9612
October 4
Read and Play Toddler (Ages 0-2)
9:30–10:00 am & 10:30–11:00 am | Joplin Public Library
Toddler storytime with singing, reading, and play.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org, (417) 623-2184
October 5
2024 Neosho Arts Council Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest (Ages 6+)
10:00 am–2:00 pm | Downtown Neosho
Create sidewalk art during the Neosho Fall Festival with cash prizes awarded.
Contact: Sarah Serio, neoshoartscouncil@gmail.com
Book Club: The Maid by Nita Prose
11:00 am | Joplin Avenue Coffee Company
Discuss this thrilling murder mystery set in a hotel.
Contact: Dr. Chad Stebbins, stebbins-c@mssu.edu, (417) 625-9736
North Heights Porchfest
12:00–6:00 pm | North Heights Neighborhood
A family-friendly festival featuring local music, art, food, and community.
Contact: Theresa Clift, northheightsporchfest@gmail.com, (479) 366-2005
Women in George Washington Carver’s Life
1:00 pm | George Washington Carver National Monument
Learn about the women who mentored and guided Carver’s journey to success.
Contact: Sarah Martin, GWCA_Interpretation@nps.gov, (417) 325-4151
October 6
Wings & Wheels
2:00–4:30 pm | Freedom of Flight Museum
Enjoy aircraft displays, hovercraft rides, and STEAM activities.
Contact: Darryl Coit, contactus@freedomofflightmuseum.org, (417) 540-2657
October 7
MSSU Choral Society Rehearsal
7:00 pm | Missouri Southern State University
Join a community choir open to all ages, no audition required.
Contact: Wally Bloss, wbloss@gmail.com, (417) 208-9654
October 8
Young Artists Club (Ages 8-12)
4:15–5:00 pm | Joplin Public Library
Learn about artists and create your own art. Registration required.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org, (417) 623-2184
Film Screening: Bones of Crows (Canada Semester Event)
7:00 pm | MSSU, Cornell Auditorium
Watch a film about the Residential School System and its effects on Indigenous peoples.
Contact: Dr. Chad Stebbins, stebbins-c@mssu.edu, (417) 625-9736
October 9–10
Read and Play Preschool Hour (Ages 3-5)
9:30–10:00 am & 10:30–11:00 am | Joplin Public Library
Preschool storytime with songs, books, and play.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org, (417) 623-2184
October 9
School-Age Storytime (Ages 5-8)
4:15–4:45 pm | Joplin Public Library
Storytime for early elementary students.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org, (417) 623-2184
October 10
Joplin Writers’ Guild
6:00 pm | Joplin Public Library
A meeting for local writers of all genres.
Contact: S.V. Farnsworth, s.v.farnsworth@gmail.com, (417) 691-0480
October 11
Coffee on the Bridge
Time: 9:00am–Noon
Location: Redings Mill Bridge
Breast Cancer Awareness Month event with local coffee, vendors, and free mammograms.
Contact: Colvin Paige, colvin@wildcatglades.org, (417) 708-7713
Read and Play Toddler (Ages 0-2)
Time: 9:30–10:00am & 10:30–11:00am
Location: Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St)
Toddler storytime with singing, reading, and play.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org, (417) 623-2184
October 12
Joplin Writers’ Faire
Time: 10:00am–1:00pm
Location: Joplin Public Library
Meet local writers and publishers; door prizes available.
Contact: Sarah Turner-Hill, sturnerhill@joplinpubliclibrary.org
Feeding Frenzy
Time: 11:00am–Noon
Location: Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center
Learn about reptile care and feeding.
Contact: Tim Smith, Shoal.Creek@mdc.mo.gov, (417) 629-3434
History of the Carver Family Cemetery
Time: 1:00pm
Location: George Washington Carver National Monument
Contact: Sarah Martin, GWCA_Interpretation@nps.gov, (417) 325-4151
October 14
MSSU Choral Society Rehearsal
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Missouri Southern State University (3950 E Newman Rd)
Community choir rehearsal; open to the public.
Contact: Wally Bloss, wbloss@gmail.com, (417) 208-9654
October 15
Joplin Area Town and Country Quilters Meeting
Time: 9:30am–3:00pm
Location: Peace Lutheran/Sojourners Christian Church
Learn quilt hanging methods, community service project presentations.
Contact: Kathy Knapp
October 16–17
Read and Play Preschool Hour (Ages 3-5)
Time: 9:30–10:00am & 10:30–11:00am
Location: Joplin Public Library
Preschool storytime.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org
October 17
Third Thursday
Time: 5:30–8:30pm
Location: Downtown Joplin
Cultural event with artisans, music, and food.
Contact: Lori Haun, info@downtownjoplin.com
October 19–20
Film: Becoming Helen Keller
Time: 1:00pm
Location: George Washington Carver National Monument
PBS documentary about Helen Keller’s life.
Contact: Sarah Martin, GWCA_Interpretation@nps.gov
October 21
Downtown Poetry Reading and Open Mic
Time: 6:00–8:00pm
Location: Joplin Avenue Coffee Company
Poetry reading and open mic with featured reader Robert Powell.
Contact: Julie Ramon, julieramon0802@gmail.com
October 22
Film: Peace by Chocolate
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Missouri Southern State University (Cornell Auditorium)
Canadian film about a Syrian refugee’s life choices.
Contact: Dr. Chad Stebbins, stebbins-c@mssu.edu
October 25
Ghostly Glades: It’s a Bug’s Life!
Time: 6:00–9:00pm
Location: Wildcat Glades
Learn about insects with fun activities and refreshments.
Contact: Colvin Paige, colvin@wildcatglades.org
October 29
All About Bats! (Ages 6-12)
Time: 4:00–5:00pm
Location: Joplin Public Library
Learn about Missouri bats and make a bat mask.
Contact: Christina Matekel-Gibson, cmatekel@joplinpubliclibrary.org
October 31
Open Mic Night
Time: 7:00–9:30pm
Location: Joplin Avenue Coffee Company
Showcase your musical or poetic talents.
Contact: Autumn Zimmerman, autumn@joplinavenuecoffeecompany.com