Featured Events
Celebrate Springfield is proud to partner with a variety of local businesses to help showcase both new and traditional ways to experience Springfield! In 2022, we partnered with different events each weekend so you were sure to find something you and your family would enjoy! Take a look at the lineup and offerings below.
September 1 @ 6-10pm
Springfield Cardinals Kick-Off Event
We kicked off Celebrate Springfield with the Cardinals at Hammons Fiend! Attendees had the opportunity to visit with representatives from Celebrate Springfield and our featured events to learn more about what the month had in store!
September 2 @ 6-10pm
First Friday Art Walk
Attendees visited the Downtown Arts District to enjoy original art, live music, hands-on activities and live art demonstrations in more than 20 participating galleries! This is offered the first Friday of every month, so check it out! While you’re downtown, try out a new spot for dinner, shop cutting-edge fashion, and take in the one-of-a-kind retail and vibrant nightlife throughout the historic heart of Springfield.
FREE TO ATTEND
All September @ 9am-5pm
Dickerson Park Zoo
Families had the chance to see over 500 animals from around the world at the Dickerson Park Zoo! As the Zoo is open year round, you still have the opportunity to walk alongside peacocks while visiting monkeys, elephants, giraffes, bears, tigers and more! As a partner of Celebrate Springfield, the Dickerson Park Zoo offered special family bundle prices for the month of September.
September 9-11 @ 11am-6pm
Japanese Fall Festival
The community joined in the celebration of authentic Japanese culture highlighting Springfield’s sister city, Isesaki, Japan. The annual celebration took place in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Gardens located within the Springfield Botanical Gardens and included performers from Isesaki to entertain and share culture at the festival.
September 10-11 @ 10am-6pm
MIDxMIDWST
Large-scale art came to life in real time during the first MIDxMIDWST Art and Culture Festival one weekend this past September! Artists from around the country came to our downtown area to transform two buildings with murals. This was the region’s largest mural festival and will included 8 murals, 15 bands, 2 stages, art installations, food and more! It’s one you won’t want to miss next year. The organization has changed the name to Overlay, so be sure you follow them on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about the plans for 2023!
September 17-18 @ 10am-5pm
Cider Days
Cider Days, Springfield’s local arts and crafts festival, is always a great way to enjoy the first few days of fall. This two-day fall festival, held on Historic Walut Street, features artists and crafters, stage performances, incredible food, and of course, amazing apple cider! Be sure you don’t miss it next year!
September 24 @ 12pm-7pm
Springfield Jazz Festival
If you love jazz music, this annual event is for you! Park Central Square and Park Central East both host stages where the public can hear free live jazz music downtown! In 2022, Bruce Hornsby, three time Grammy Award winner and American singer-songwriter, was the headliner for an additional concert in conjunction with Springfield Jazz Festival at the Gillioz!
FREE TO ATTEND
September 25 @ 10am-2pm
Fellows Lake Fun Day
Ozark Greenways coordinated this brand new event that offered something for most everyone out at Fellows Lake! They had offered free kayaking and canoeing, fishing, boat rides, mountain biking, guided hikes and more! While you were there to try our hand at a new hobby, you were also able to connect with the local clubs that you could join to continue your new sport.
FREE TO ATTEND
October 2 @ 12pm-4pm
Celebration
At the end of it all, it was time to Celebrate Springfield! The community came to Jordan Valley Park to enjoy live music, local food trucks, character meet and greets, several games and activities, art, a science experiment, giveaways and more! We wanted to celebrate all the memories we made in September and how far our city has come in the past 10 years and offer ways to continue to help our community to enjoy our city!
FREE TO ATTEND