A few weeks ago I sat down with St. James, MO. writer John Gibson. John’s professional background is in physics (he attended MIT), but he has a passion for writing and sharing the stories, legends, and lore from the Ozarks region.
I came across John on a subreddit in the Rolla, MO. area and learned a little about his writing and his love of the culture and history of the Ozarks area from an article he’d shared. While reading his remarks about the Ozarks, particularly the legend of the “Granny Woman” in Ozarks culture, I felt I already knew John even though we’d never met.
Since I grew up in Southern Illinois and some of my relatives came from Appalachia, I found several similarities between Ozarks and Appalachian culture in John’s remarks. And, in my interview with John, he goes into a little detail about the legends of mythical creatures in the Ozarks area, as well as how some of his fondest memories from childhood center around Ozarks cuisine.
Although John and I grew up several years apart and hundreds miles away from each other, when he described his memories of his grandma’s cooking I shared similar memories from my grandparents and great-grandparents. I hope our conversation reminds you that we all have a lot in common, and we’ll only recognize that if we take the time to speak with each other.
Fall themed events like chili cook offs and Halloween events like trick or treat and pumpkin events are happening over the next two weeks. This month is also a great time to visit outdoor markets like the Labadie Fall Market, Andy’s Night Market, and the final Market off Main event of the season in Union.
If you can’t get enough of spooky season, stay tuned for a special Halloween-themed event roundup, which will be published later this month.
As a reminder, always double check with event venues before heading out just in case an event gets canceled, rescheduled, or experiences weather delays.
Did I miss an event? Tag me on Facebook or Instagram and I can share the event in my stories.
Franklin & Gasconade Counties (plus neighboring communities)
Thursday, Oct. 8 Pumpkin Palooza is a fun event for all kids happening at New Haven Library at 4 p.m. Children will paint their own pumpkin, get creative with colors and designs, and take their masterpiece home. Register for the event.
Friday, Oct. 9 The final Market off Main of the season is happening from 4-7 p.m. in downtown Union. Shop from area makers, farmers, and producers, and find food from food vendors, or stop into one of the local small businesses before or after the market. Learn more.
Friday, Oct. 9 Andy’s Produce Too in Union is hosting another night market from 5-9 p.m. Expect food trucks, a seafood boil, vendors, live music, and fall themed food and fun. Get more details on Facebook.
Saturday, Oct. 10 Head to the lower parking lot at ECC for the monthly stargazing event from 6-8 p.m. Bring your stargazing equipment and chairs if you have them. Find out more on Facebook.
Saturday, Oct. 10 Join me at Red, White, and Brew Coffee Co. in Union from 9-11 a.m. for my next Coffee with The Socialite event. We’ll chat, sip on our favorite drinks, and support a local business. I’ll have an open tab of $50 available on a first come, first serve basis so you can have a coffee on me at the event. Learn more.
Saturday, Oct. 10 The 4th Annual Great Pumpkin Seed Hunt is happening at the St. Clair VFW from 6:30 – 11 p.m. Get more details.
Saturday, Oct. 10 St. Clare Catholic Church in St. Clair is hosting its annual Oktoberfest event from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. There will be a sandwich stand as well as a fried chicken dinner and a snack shack selling nachos and other small items. There will also be a DJ, beer garden, and more. Find out more.
Saturday, Oct. 10 The Labadie Fall Market is happening from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Front Street in Labadie. The town’s Chili Cook Off is also happening that day, there will be lots of vendors at the market, as well as local businesses open during the event. Learn more.
Saturday, Oct. 10 The Rosebud Country Music Festival is happening from 3-10 p.m. The amazing line up of seven musical artists hailing from Nashville, as well as a local and a band from New Jersey. Cost is $15 in advance and 13 years and younger are free. Get more info.
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Friday, Oct. 16 The New Haven 2026 Scarecrow Festival and Pumpkin Glow will be held from 5-9 p.m. Find out more.
Friday, Oct. 16 & Saturday, Oct. 17 The Rt. 66 Harvest Festival is happening at Liberty Field in Pacific. Expect live music, food, vendors, a kids zone, and more. Get more details.
Saturday, Oct. 17 The Ladies, Littles, and Lattes 3rd Annual Trick or Treat Trail is happening from noon – 3 p.m. Find out more.
Phelps County
Saturday, Oct. 10 Rolla’s monthly Cruise-In is happening this Saturday. This will be the final cruise-in of the year and will feature cars, food, and lots of fun. Get more info.
Saturday, Oct. 17 The It’s Fall Y’all Boutique Crawl is happening at a number of boutiques in Rolla and St. James. Learn more.
Crawford & Dent Counties
Friday, Oct. 16 & Saturday, Oct. 17 The 64th Annual Cuba Fest is happening for two days and will include an arts & crafts show, a car cruise, live music, and food and drink tasting at various businesses throughout town. Get the festival schedule.
Saturday, Oct. 17 Head to the Crawford County Historical Society Museum in Cuba for the Chili Cook Off fundraiser that will help maintain the town’s murals. The event happens from 11-1 p.m. Find out more.
Have a public event coming up? Submit your event details like time, location, and cost to attend. Be sure to include your website and social media details so I can help spread the word about your event!
The next Coffee with The Socialite event is happening in less than two weeks, on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Red, White, and Brew Coffee Co. in Union. I hope to see you there from 9-11 a.m. If you can’t stay for the whole event, you’re always welcome to sit and chat for as long as your schedule allows.
The menu features drip coffee, lattes, smoothies, a wide selection of herbal teas, dirty sodas, yummy baked goods, and more. As a reminder, you’re welcome to stay and chat for the whole event, or stop in and say hi for as long as your schedule allows.
Also, if you want to come, but don’t have any wiggle room in your budget for a latte, don’t worry! I’m putting $50 on a tab at Red, White, and Brew, available on a first come, first serve basis, so you can have a coffee on me at the event!
More about the event:
I spend a lot of time online and the same question keeps getting shared: how can I meet people and make friends as an adult? I’ve asked that question too, so I decided to do something about it.
So what’s Coffee with The Socialite? It’s a chance for people to come together and support local businesses and meet new people.
Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for your bestie’s birthday or you’re in the mood to treat yourself to a little something special, you’ll likely find it at Ozarks Bittersweet, located at 105 N. Jefferson Street, in St. James.
The mother-daughter owned boutique features a diverse inventory of clothing for women, along with some items for kids, plus women’s accessories like jewelry and purses. Sourcing the clothes from markets in Las Vegas, owner Nancy Hughes, and her daughter Polly, make sure the apparel differs from what you may find in other area shops. Ozarks Bittersweet offers customers a truly curated shopping experience, while the clothing and other inventory reflects that cozy, small town charm you expect to find in a locally-owned lifestyle boutique.
The clothing selections at Ozarks Bittersweet range from casual wear to pieces that can be dressed up or down. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
The clothing items range from casual wear that’s perfect for coffee with a friend or running errands, to dresses, tops, bottoms, and other pieces that could be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Additionally, there’s a selection of items to make your home cozy and beautiful, with everything from scented candles, decorative throw pillows, artificial flower arrangements, lighting, and more. There are also paper goods such as greeting cards and specialty books on a variety of subjects – from making drinks to gardening and more.
From bracelets to rings and earrings, the jewelry at the boutique adds that perfect sparkle to your outfit. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz.
If you’re looking for something for the foodie in your life, or you need something to take to your next gathering, there’s also a selection of items like bottled sauces, vinegars, and olives, as well as dry baking mixes, nuts, and other snacks.
And, in addition to the unique finds, the boutique itself is a lovely retail space. Together with the artful displays throughout the store, there are numerous historical details inside the space that add to the beauty and overall aesthetic. The building is 125 years old and features lots of exposed brick and an arched entryway that’s indicative of the period when it was built.
The store also carries a variety of items for the home like dried flowers, scented candles, lighting and more. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz.
Prior to opening the store, Nancy owned another boutique for over 40 years, also called Ozarks Bittersweet, but that store was located in Anchorage, Alaska, where Nancy lived for over 50 years. When she decided to relocate back to her hometown, she found the vacant space and felt it was the ideal spot to open another boutique and continue the name.
The 2,500-square-foot store has two rooms indoors, along with an adjacent patio space that features vintage garden decor and plants, seasonally. The store opened in two phases, with part of the space opening by selling Christmas decor last season, while the store in its current version opened in May. Nancy shares that in the short time since it’s opened, the community has embraced the business to the point that she’s thinking about expanding into the adjacent building.
With a selection of sauces, vinegars, condiments, nuts, dried baking mixes, and more, Ozarks Bittersweet is the perfect place to pick up a hostess gift or items to take to your next dinner party. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz.
“We’ll carry more clothing, because that’s our biggest seller,” she says of the possible expansion.
Other items she’s considering for the next phase will include jewelry, Turkish rugs, and greeting cards.
Ozarks Bittersweet is located at 105 N. Jefferson Street, in St. James. Learn more about the business by following it on Facebook or Instagram.
*As we head into the holiday season, I want to highlight more small businesses and I hope to write a Shop Small Holiday Gift Guide that will feature some of the small local shops and businesses that carry gifts (and experiences) for everyone on your holiday gift list. If you’re a small business and want to be considered in the guide, or if you know a great boutique I should include in the guide, fill out the Submit an Event or Story form and I’ll get back to you.
