The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
We hear’d tell this year is going to be the best fair ever with several new and excitin’ events planned, along with a hillbilly parade, a golf tournament, a carnival, a circus and a Rat Rod Car Show.
The very first Hillbilly Fair was put on by Laurie businesses in 1964 as an “end of the season” party to show appreciation to tourists. The party was set up by Buster and Eula Laurie at Buster’s Bait and Tackle Shop and featured free food, drinks and dancing.
View Full Schedule For This Year's Hillbilly Fair
Along the way, new events have been added (and subtracted) and the fair has grown to encompass 27 acres at the Laurie Park and hundreds of fairgoers. This year, new fair chairman Vicky Gustafson will take the helm in coordinating fair events. Laurie Events and Parks Director Susann Huff has been involved with the fair for 25 years and she said lookin’ back over the years, the 25th Anniversary Hillbilly Fair stands out to her the most because a famous hillbilly, Ellie Mae Clampet (the late Donna Douglas), from The Beverly Hillbillies attended. The worst memory was cleanin’ up after a watermelon eatin’ contest and her best recollections about all the fairs have always been the parade.
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
Lake Shots photo
Huff will continue to oversee the fair, the finances and the park grounds. “It was time for some new blood and Vicky and her volunteers did such a great job last year that I asked her to be the fair chairman,” Huff said. Volunteers are needed and welcome and it’s a great way to be a blessin’ to your community and make new friends.
Golf tournament
One of the new changes in 2016 is the 1st Annual Hillbilly Fair Golf Tournament. The four-person scramble starts at noon with check in and the tournament starts 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Indian Rock Golf Course in Laurie. There will be a cash payout that depends on the number of teams entered. Contests include closest to the pin, long drive and a side game of poker, with the best hand winning half the pot. The cost is $280 per team, which includes a pizza buffet dinner and two carts per team. Contact Hugh Smith at 573 216-2108 for more information.
The circus is coming to town!
Also new this year, fourth generation circus performers with the Los Moralitos Circus will thrill the young’uns’ with heart stoppin’ tricks at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. There will be clowns, an aerial show by Lyra on a giant hoop, tight rope stunts, a hanging man on straps and the ultimate spectacle, the ‘Wheel of Death’ featuring two riders betwixt a 27 foot wheel!
1st Rat Rod Car Show at the Lake
The very first ever Rat Rod Car Show will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday next to the Little Beer Garden. (There is a little and big beer garden.) Born in the 1950’s, Rat Rod Car Show’s consist of anything you can do to an old rusted car. A mess of em’ have nice shiny motors with terrible bodies. “If you tell me it looks nice… it will be an insult,” Rat Rod Car Show Organizer Buck Burkhart said. Shiny chrome and billet don’t mean diddley squat here.
Download Registration Form For The Rat Rod Car Show
Back in the holler, gear heads wanted to go fast and look good, but didn’t have the ease of gittin' parts directly from online. From Model A’s to Model T Ford’s, they are chopped, dropped and best of all raced real fast. Parts are thrown in here and there, all catty-wompus and most are legal and insured. The show will showcase cars from 1920’s to the 1950’s, including Volkswagens, coon dog carryin’ pickups, cars and more. Three trophies will be awarded. This is a unique car show,” Buck said. “You don’t ever see just a Rat Rod Show alone and this is a first at the Lake.”
Carnival rides
Discounted wrist bands for 10 thrilling Show Me Amusement Carnival rides will be available for $18 from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and for $20 from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. Individual full-priced ride tickets are available during the rest of the fair.
Parade
The 2016 Hillbilly Fair Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Central Bank of Lake of the Ozarks, and go yonder north on Highway 5 to Fair Grounds Road. Entries should be pre-registered and begin hookin’-up at 8 a.m. on Missouri Boulevard, behind Central Bank. Three school marching bands will be in the parade. Parade awards, in multiple categories, will be awarded and everyone is invited to participate.
Two days of live foot-stompin’ music in the beer gardens
Live music will be a-playin’ on two stages on both Friday and Saturday! The live performers include; Davy Ray and Richard, Money for Nothin’ Music by J, Classic Rewind and JC and the King of Funk.
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
Lake Shots photo
Tug of War contest challenging strong men, women and kids
The Clary Concrete team was the 2015 Hillbilly Fair Tug of War champions and they are sending out a challenge to men all across the state of Missouri who think they have the guts enough to try an’ take their title.
“I am from Missouri – you have to ‘show me’ what you got and I don’t think you got what it takes to beat us,” Trey Clary challenged.
This whoop-‘up contest is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Teams of five will compete in a men’s, a coed and a kids division contest. The first place winner will git a cash prize and trophies will also be awarded. The cost is $40 per team. Call Hugh Smith at 573 216-2108 for information. And don’t ferget to come watch someone git a licken’!
View The Tug Of War Flyer & Registration Form
Enter early to reserve a spot in the Karaoke contest
Don’t miss some first class crooning at the Laurie Hillbilly Fair Karaoke Contest on Saturday. There is a small change in the karaoke contest this year, so listen up: only 10 contestants, in each of the three age groups will be allowed to compete on a first-come, first-serve basis. The age groups are 7 to 12, 13 to 17 and 18 and over. The cost to croon is $5 for ages 7 to 17 and $10 for 18 and over. Persons interested in pre-registerin’ for the singin’ contest may call Vicky Gustafson at 573 216-1460.
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
photo by Janet Dabbs
Contests for hillbilly young’uns
Do you have Ozark-borned young’uns? If ya do then dress ‘em in their Sunday go-to-meetin’ Hillbilly britches and enter them in one of the children’s contests on Saturday. The Lil’ Sprouts contest is open for young’uns under two, the Pea Pickers contest is for two ‘n three year-olds and the Mr. and Miss Hillbilly contest is for young’uns four through six. One his’n and one her’n from each age category will be selected to win a first-place trophy. Every young’un will receive a participation ribbon. There is no registration fee for these contests.
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
photo by Janet Dabbs
Hillbilly King and Queen Newlywed game
The Hillbilly Fair King and Queen candidates will compete for the coveted Hillbilly crown in a knee-slappin’ Newlywed Game on Saturday. Come on out an’ watch her git hotter than blue blazes when he answers questions he should know about their marriage with, "Huh? Beats the heck out of me!"
Plus games and contests for all ages!
- Back Seat Driver contest on Friday
- Chancy games on Friday and Saturday
- Boy Scout cake walk on Saturday
- Bingo on Friday and Saturday
- A raffle drawing on Saturday
- 50/50 Putting Challenge on Friday and Saturday
- Kiddie Tractor Pulls for on Saturday for young’uns four to 12 and 13 to 16
- A sanctioned horseshoe tournament
- Buck A Duck Contests for cash
- Cinderella Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
- Clowns, pony rides, a magician, face painting, balloon sculptures, free plants for kids
- A hillbilly skit by the Sunrise Beach Little Theater
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
Lake Shots photo
Hillbilly vendors and craftsmen
A mess of vendors will git a right proper scald on some vittles with temptin’ fair food we ain’t et in a coons age. Vittles like funnel cake, kettle korn, cotton candy and some finer-than-a-box-can-o’-snuff Mexican food, smoked barbeque, hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, fish. Ice cream, fresh squeezed lemonade and more will be available to cool ya off right nicely too.
Craftsman will be a-displayin’ their skills, includin’ a blacksmith, a woodcarver and a pottery maker. A passel of other vendors will bring everything but the kitchen sink to sell, includin’ sunglasses, jewelry, home décor, Old Tyme Photos and more. There is still room to sign up to be vendors. Interested persons may call the park office at 573-374-8776.
The 47th Annual Hillbilly Fair is comin’ agin’ to Laurie on Sept. 16–17!
The fair will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 (see full schedule here). The theme of this year’s fair is “Westside Hillbilly's.”
Lake Shots photo
