When October comes around, the region of The Ozarks, MO, pulses with festive energy. Streets fill with costumed children, glowing decorations appear, and community members gather to celebrate Halloween in spirited style. One of the most joyful expressions of this season is the parade and festival format—where creativity, community spirit, and local participation come alive.
In the heart of this season, parades in and near The Ozarks invite families to step outside—to line the sidewalks together, to cheer the floats and dancers, and to join in the tradition of community celebration. Whether it’s a neighborhood procession or a larger festival event, the sense of togetherness is compelling.
This article explores where these parades and festivals are happening, how families can get involved, how local businesses play a part, and how you can prepare to make the outing a memorable one.
Where the Parades and Festivals Are Happening
In the Springfield and surrounding regions of The Ozarks, MO, there are a variety of Halloween-styled parades and festivals. For example, in the Rountree Neighborhood in Springfield, there is an annual Halloween parade, typically held on October 31st, which draws residents, children in costume, floats, and decorations. This parade often starts around Weller Avenue and involves trick-or-treating and a community display.
Another example takes place at the Ozark Community Center in Ozark, Missouri (in Christian County), which hosts its “Festival of Frights” in late October. This event, while more of a festival than a street parade, includes Halloween fun with trick-or-treating, games, inflatables, and more.
These examples illustrate that the scope can vary—from neighborhood parades to larger festival settings—but each allows families to gather, participate, and celebrate in the season.
How Families Can Join the Fun
For children and parents, these events provide a delicious mix of tradition and creativity. Parents can help children choose or design costumes—simple or elaborate—and then participate fully by lining the parade route, cheering on participants, or even marching alongside floats or decorated wagons. Many events encourage families to bring out strollers or wagons, decorate them, and participate in themed entries.
Kids often look forward to collecting candy, taking part in costume contests, or simply marching in line with other children. In the Rountree parade, for instance, kids often lead the procession carrying a flag and engaging with the crowd. Adults can join by still dressing up, helping younger children, or bringing snacks and blankets to enjoy the evening together. Together, families step into the spirit of Halloween — not just as spectators, but as participants too.
Some festivals (such as the Ozark Community Center event) offer inclusive experiences like inflatables and laser tag for kids, making the outing more than just watching a parade. This means younger children, siblings, and even extended family members can find something to enjoy.
How Local Businesses and Vendors Get Involved
Local businesses and vendors often play a central role in these Halloween parades and festivals around The Ozarks, MO. Shops may sponsor floats, set up booths with seasonal treats or crafts, or partner with community organizers to make the event happen. For example, in the Festival of Frights in Ozark, sponsors are invited to support the event and help cover costs for games, inflatables, and trick-or-treat supplies.
Vendors might set up stands offering concessions or seasonal items—hot cider, pumpkin-themed snacks, face-painting stations, or photo booths. These offerings both support the festival financially and allow local business-owners to engage directly with the community. In doing so, the parade becomes not just a parade, but a broader festival of commerce, community, and celebration.
Furthermore, local businesses may encourage their employees or nearby residents to decorate storefronts, dress up, or join in the parade route, thereby adding to the spectacle and enhancing the feeling of local participation. The business involvement helps give the event a richer texture, more inclusive reach, and a sustainable foundation.
What to Bring For the Outing
Preparing for a Halloween parade or festival takes more than just picking costumes. A few thoughtful items make the experience more comfortable and engaging. First, bring blankets or folding chairs so that families can sit comfortably along the parade route. An early arrival often means securing a good vantage point. Being prepared ensures children don’t get tired, and parents can relax.
Candy bags or trick-or-treat sacks are essential if the event involves on-route treat distribution or post-parade candy stations. Even if candy isn’t a major component of the parade itself, having bags ready means children can collect available candy or store small prize tokens.
Consider bringing snacks or bottled water, especially if the event lasts an hour or more. While vendors may provide items, being self-sufficient means fewer interruptions. A small flashlight or glow accessory is helpful when events happen in the early evening or after dark—both for visibility and fun. Finally, dress in layers. The season may bring cool breezes in the evening, so comfortable outerwear ensures everyone stays cozy.
Tips for Choosing the Right Parade or Festival
When selecting which parade or festival to attend around The Ozarks, MO, it helps to consider the scale, timing, and family-friendliness of the event. If you have young children, a daytime or early-evening festival like the Ozark Community Center’s event may be ideal. It offers a controlled environment, games, trick-or-treating, and any parade elements.
If you prefer a more traditional walking parade with floats, costumes, and neighborhood participation, then the Rountree Neighborhood parade in Springfield may be appealing. It carries the energy of a community rich in costumes and involvement, offering a route that invites participation rather than just spectating.
Also, check whether registration or pre-entry is required. Some events allow children or family groups to enter a costume contest or decorate a wagon in advance. Checking local event calendars, neighborhood association websites, or social-media pages ahead of time will help determine logistics, route changes, or weather contingencies.
Capturing Memories During the Event
One of the great joys of community Halloween parades is the chance to capture memories—photos, videos, and spontaneous smiles. Bring a camera or ensure your phone is charged so you can photograph your children in costume, the floats, the crowd reaction, and any standout moments (such as winners in costume contests). Later, you might create a small photo album or social-media snapshot capturing “what we did this year.”
Encourage children to pick one thing they want to remember—maybe meeting a particular character, riding an inflatable, or picking a favorite treat. After the event, talking with them about their favorite moment helps reinforce the memory and gives you a chance to mark the year. Families who attend annually often look back and notice costume trends, growth of children, and how the parade itself evolves.
If permitted, ask local vendors or business float-owners for their business names so you can support them later—say by visiting their shop or posting a thank-you. This helps children understand the broader community connection, and underscores that parades aren’t just for fun—they’re about local engagement and support.
Being a Respectful Parade Participant
While enthusiasm is high, it’s helpful to remember that community parades in The Ozarks, MO, represent shared public space and safety matters. Arrive early enough to secure a space and avoid blocking crosswalks or driveways. If you bring chairs or blankets, place them neatly back or off the sidewalk when the parade begins so that the moving elements (floats, walkers, performers) have room.
Encourage children to stay on the curb or sidewalk area and not step into the street unless clearly directed. If handing out candy or participating in a float, make sure you follow the event’s rules or guidelines—sometimes there are restrictions on candy distribution or how floats must move. Showing courtesy to other families, spectators and event organizers ensures a smoother experience and helps the event continue in future years.
Finally, treat the event as a community gathering: cheer for all participants, smile at younger entrants, and respect the local businesses and sponsors who made it possible. Your positive participation adds to the festive atmosphere and helps cement the parade as a worthwhile annual tradition.
Halloween parades and festivals around The Ozarks, MO, weave together community spirit, creativity, and family participation in ways that uplift all involved. From the neighborhood procession in Rountree to the festival-style event at the Ozark Community Center, these gatherings offer much more than costumes—they offer connection. Families don a costume, join the crowd, walk the route, or sit together and watch the floats glide by. Local businesses set up their stands, sponsor floats, or decorate storefronts to contribute to the shared celebration.
Prepared properly—with chairs, candy bags, cameras, and warm layers—your outing can become a cherished memory. By choosing the right event, arriving early, and participating respectfully, families and children find themselves immersed in a vibrant slice of Halloween fun. And by supporting local businesses and smiling for the nearby floats, everyone benefits.
As the lights dim on the last float and the sound of laughter fades, what remains is a sense of belonging. The parade becomes more than an event—it becomes a gathering of the community in The Ozarks, MO, where families, friends, and neighbors come together just once a year to celebrate creativity, costume, and collective joy.
Sources: ozarkmissouri.com, news-leader.com, sgfneighborhoodnews.com, howtophotographyourlife.com, nearestlaundry.com
Header Image Source: ozarkmissouri.com
