Article by Taylor Perkins

As the temperature begins to drop, the sweater and jeans come out and Springfield area seasonal festivities emerge. Springfield is full of inexpensive or free events to visit. Drury really emphasizes getting involved in the community and one of the best ways to do that is by going out and supporting the local businesses.

Below are just a handful of the many fall festivities around town:

Coffee and Crafts with SUB

Cost: Free

When: Friday September 15, 6-8 p.m.

Location: FSC Ballroom

Spend time with fellow Drury students while crafting over free coffee from Panera. For more information, contact a representative from SUB or check out the Facebook event at

https://www.facebook.com/events/364627237303236/

Rutledge-Wilson Farm Community Park:

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: 3825 W Farm Road 146, Springfield, MO 65802

At Rutledge-Wilson Farm, visitors have access to barns with large livestock, small animal coops (chickens, rabbits), a fishing pond and playgrounds among other activity centers around the property. If you are wanting to fish, bring some extra cash to rent fishing equipment. For more information, check out

http://www.parkboard.org/rutledge_wilson/

Campbell’s Maze Daze:

Cost: In person: adults and kids: $9, Online: $8

When: Open September 23-October 29, September Saturday/Sunday 12:00-7:00, October Friday-Sunday 5-11, noon-11pm, 12-7

Location: Carob Rd, Clever, MO 65631

Campbell’s Maze Daze offers a plethora of activities for students and families. There are corn mazes, pumpkin painting, hayrides, scavenger hunts and free baby pumpkins. Also in October, the general admission cost on Fridays and Saturdays includes a haunted hayride and karaoke. For more information, visit

https://campbellsmazedaze.com/admission.cfm

Springfield Jazz Festival:

Cost: Free

When: September 30

Location: 134 Park Central Square – Springfield, MO 65806

The Springfield Jazz Festival features Drury’s jazz band, as well as other university jazz bands, at the Park Central East Stage across from the Gillioz Theatre. Some of the other headliners include Blue Soul, Brandon Mezzelo Quartet and many others. This event also has a corresponding paid concert at the Gillioz Theatre that night. For more information, check out

https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2470/Jazz-Festival

Big Momma’s & Community Partnership of the Ozarks

Cost: varies based on items purchased

Location: 217 E Commercial St, Springfield, MO 65803

For the month of September, Big Momma’s has partnered with Community Partnership of the Ozarks to serve two different dishes on top of their normal menu. “The CPO Cooler” is a variation of the “C-Street Cooler” coffee drink. The other addition to the menu is “The Ozark Combo,” a sandwich and drink combo. Read up on the new menu at

Community Partnership of the Ozarks

G.A.M.E. Expo: (Gaming Arts Media and Entertainment)

Cost: $20 for weekend pass (pre-order), $30 for weekend pass (at the door), $15 Friday, $25 Saturday, $10 Sunday

When: October 6-8

Location: Springfield Expo Center

Participate in a variety of live action role play games, card games, costume contests and much more. There are extra fees for different booths and sections of the event so bring extra cash if you want to fully participate. For more information about rules and regulations for the event, as well as details on the booths, follow the link to

http://springfieldgame.com/.

Sculpture Walk Tour:

Cost: Free

When: Through February 2018

Location: Downtown

If you are interested in exploring locations around Springfield, this tour is for you. With 22 different sculptures around downtown, it is easy to explore the exhibits and other local shops. Art gives a community ideas to reflect on. The purpose of this tour is to bring a sense of unity to Springfield. This museum is not confined to the walls of a building, everyone has access to it. For more information, look up

http://www.sculpturewalkspringfield.org/home.html

The Trolley Bike:

Cost: Varies

Location: Starts and ends at Lost Signal Brewing Company-  610 W College St, Springfield, MO 65806

Requirements: Minimum of 8 and max of 14 people

Those who are 21+ can enjoy select alcoholic beverages while biking around with friends. The Trolley Bike offers both private tours and public tours. For private tours, they request that you book in advance. The public tour schedule is listed on their website https://thetrolleybike.com/. People under 21 can also join in on the fun of the bike tour while drinking nonalcoholic beverages. It is of the utmost importance that you bring your ID, they will check for those who are under/over 21 before boarding the trolley.

Wine and Whiskey Walk:

Cost: $45/day of event

When: September 15, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Location: Farmer’s Park 2144 E. Republic Rd., Springfield, MO

This is a “self-guided tour” that allows participants to sample over 100 wines and whiskeys, according to their website. Included in the price is a free glass that people get to take home at the end of the event.

If you know of any other events, tweet them at us! @drurymirror wants to hear about any upcoming fall festivities so that we can keep our faithful readers in the know.