Five Fun Wintertime Events Near Joplin | Landers Chevrolet Cadillac of Joplin

January 04, 2019

With the holidays in the rearview mirror and spring still a ways off, it’s time to figure out how to fill the remainder of the winter months with fun until the daffodils start peeking through the soil. Luckily for us here in Southwest Missouri, there’s plenty of things to do outside in the winter if you’re willing to bundle up and go looking. Seen below are our suggestions for five fun things to do in the winter near Joplin. And if you need a great new or used car to get you there in style, safety and comfort, stop in today at Landers Chevrolet Cadillac! With our great selection, honest hometown deals, and commitment to customer service and satisfaction after the sale, we’re willing to do what it takes to make you a customer — and a friend — for life.

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The Festival of Eagles
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, January 26
Veterans Memorial Park, 774 Ozark St., Stella
Though the majestic bald eagle had been pushed to the brink of extinction just a few decades ago, conservation efforts have allowed the beloved symbol of the United States to come back in a big way. January is a great time to see pairs nesting in Southwest Missouri for the winter, and the annual Festival of Eagles in Stella does it up right. Now in its 12th year, the event is hosted by the Missouri Master Naturalists, the city of Stella, and the Missouri Department of Conservation, and features bald-eagle themed activities, talks by bald eagle experts, and plentiful opportunities to observe of few of the 25 nesting pairs that call the area home in the winter. In addition to some king-size birdwatching, the event will feature a quilt show, an eagle art contest, booths, vendors, a warming station if you get too chilly, and more. Bundle up, bring your binoculars, and prepare to be wowed by one of nature’s most beautiful creatures.

First Annual Empire Market Chili Cook-off
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, January 26
931 E. 4th Street, Joplin
There’s something about the wintertime that makes your soul cry out for a steaming hot bowl of chili, isn’t there? Spicy, veggie, chicken, beef or wild game, beans or no-bean, it’s rare we ever meet a chili we don’t like. Coming up is a chance to sample the chili of some of Joplin’s most talented home chefs: the First Annual Empire Market Chili Cookoff! Hosted by Empire Market, the competition is open to all (entries must be received by Jan. 19, so get a move on!), with awards given for first, second and third place, as well as a People’s Choice Award and the All-Market Chili Award. Entry to the tasting hall is just five bucks, and grants you tasting privileges from every pot in the room, plus a vote in the People’s Choice Category. Best of all, all proceeds go to support the Downtown Joplin Alliance. Visit the event page on Facebook for more details.

African-American Trailblazers
1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3
George Washington Carver National Monument
5646 Carver Road, Diamond, MO
One of the true crown jewels of southwest Missouri, the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond not only celebrates the history and legacy of one of America’s greatest innovators, inventors and leaders, it also hosts an incredible variety of events throughout the year. The beginning of African-American History Month in February is a great time to visit, and they’ve got a program that will kick off February just right: a presentation on African-American trailblazers who, like Carver, have left an indelible mark on American history. From the invention of the light bulb filament to the creation of Ragtime music to the compassion and innovation that brought us of the world’s first blood bank, African-American trailblazers have helped shape who we are as a nation, and this is a great time to learn about a few that might not be so familiar. Note: Due to the government shutdown, this event may be postponed or cancelled. Visit the George Washington Carver National Monument website closer to the event date at www.nps.gov/gwca for more details.

An ice-skating road trip to Bentonville, Ark.
Lawrence Plaza
214 NE A Street, Bentonville
Though roller skating is fine, there’s just something magical about putting on a set of skates and gliding smoothly across the ice. People have been ice-skating outdoors in the winter months for hundreds of years, and if you’re willing to make an hour’s drive south to Bentonville, one of our favorite places to skate is at the outdoor rink at Lawrence Plaza. A concrete splash pad for the kids in the summertime, in the winter months, Lawrence Plaza becomes the area’s only outdoor skater’s paradise: 7,000 square feet of smooth, frozen H20 where you can glide, pirouette and dance to your heart’s content. As a bonus, there’s plenty to do and see in Bentonville once you’ve worked up an appetite for something else, including food, shopping, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Walmart Museum and the nearby Scott Family Amazeum for kids. The rink is open until January 21. Admission is $3, with skate rental $2 for all ages. They have hot chocolate for sale, and even have safety frames you can push along ahead of you for support until you feel steady on your skates.

Wonders of the Night Sky
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9
George Washington Carver National Monument
5646 Carver Road, Diamond, MO
With the humidity low and the night sky clear and dark, the winter months are a very good time to check out the wonders of space through a telescope. Another of the stellar (har-har-har) events put on by the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond thoughout the year, the Wonders of the Night Sky Astronomy Program will help you get up close and personal with the moon, planets, stars and constellations. Highlights of the event will include a presentation on how to navigate using only the stars, the story of how stars form, and the effects of light pollution on our ability to behold the wonders of the night sky. The brief indoor presentation will be followed by an outdoor constellation tour by rangers from the George Washington Carver National Monument and trained astronomers on hand to answer any questions. Note: Due to the government shutdown, this event may be postponed or cancelled. Visit the George Washington Carver National Monument website closer to the event date at www.nps.gov/gwca for more details.

See? There’s plenty of fun and adventure to be found in the winter near Joplin, even when it feels like a deep freeze outside. So get you coat, scarf and gloves, and get out there! And if you need a great new or used car, truck, van or SUV to help you get there, come see us at Landers Chevrolet Cadillac of Joplin! We have models for every price range. Some of them even have heated seats, which is a definite plus right now! Stop in today for a test drive, or check out our big selection online today.

4630 E. 32nd Street Joplin MO 64804