An Incredible Festival Weekend
CORE is a happening place. Something interesting and fun is always going on at one of our recovery centers or residences. But when so many entertaining activities happen outside of our facilities, in a single weekend, that’s worth writing about! Such happened last month when Hollister and Branson kicked off the fall festival season with competing events. CORE took part in both and had a blast!
State of the Ozarks Fest
In mid-September, the bellwethers of fall were upon us. The evening air became crisp, the pumpkins were ripening, and Friday night football was in full swing. On Saturday, September 16th, the weather was perfect for the State of the Ozarks Fest in Hollister!
This festival lived up to its billing – a one-day celebration bringing community together in a heightened street fair filled to the brim with food, art, craftsmanship, and uproarious fun, all tied to the history and culture of our land.
CORE’s tent was right next to our friends at Queen City Beard & Mustache Federation, who kindly brought us to this event. Our Second Milers handed out literature and talked to interested parties about recovery issues. We also held a free raffle for two beautiful, new bicycles.
We wish to thank our friends at QCBMF for sponsoring CORE at this festival. The federation’s mission is to grow hair and communities, and to support charities. Judging by the public’s response to our tent, all we can say is “Mission Accomplished!”
A crowd of thousands of people turned out to enjoy the more than 100 vendors and the many activities. One festival highlight was the Queen City Beard & Mustache Competition. While several of our CORE people wanted to enter the competition, they quickly learned that it takes more than facial fluff to be in a mustache competition. The winning peach fuzz has to have style and panache!
MCRSP Recovery Jamboree
On the same day as the SOTO Fest, our Second Milers also were across town in Branson, at a festival sponsored by the Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers.
The Recovery Jamboree is an outdoor, family event featuring free food, family fun and games, live entertainment, food distribution, and recovery resources. This annual festival brings together recovery providers from all across the Tri Lakes Area for a day of fun and of making valuable connections.
For our participation, CORE offered putt putt golf for the kids. Happy children laughed and giggled as they took turns putting colorful golf balls on the golf mini-green. Parents and friends offered spirited encouragement, and the youngsters’ faces lit up with joy with every successful shot.
The children were motivated by the thrill of victory, to be sure, but at CORE’s putt putt contest there was much more at stake – prizes! Every winning shot earned a reward. Happily, every child who showed the temerity to play successfully sank the putt and took home the prize of their choice.
While the children putted, our Second Milers handed out more literature. We held another, free raffle for new bicycles for Recovery Jamboree participants, too.
We at CORE give a shout-out and a big thank you to MCRSP for inviting CORE to this treasured event!