Labor Day weekend has a different rhythm than any other holiday on the calendar. It is the last real exhale of summer, and this year the Ozarks is giving us plenty of reasons to spend all four days making the most of it. Here is exactly how to fill the weekend, Friday through Monday.
Friday, September 4: Ease Into It
Start the weekend slow. Head toward Table Rock Lake early and check into Big Cedar Lodge, which kicks off a full slate of Labor Day programming that runs through Monday, including a family bowling tournament and a patriotic paint and pour session. Even if you are not staying overnight, it is worth driving down just to soak in the atmosphere before the weekend gets busy.
If lake life is not your plan for the evening, southwest Missouri has no shortage of patios perfect for an easy outdoor dinner while the weather is still warm.
Saturday, September 5: The Big Day
This is the day to pack the whole weekend into one. A few ways to spend it:
Morning
Make a farmers market run before the heat sets in. The Greater Springfield Farmers Market, Farmers Market of the Ozarks, and C Street City Market are all open Saturday morning in Springfield, and Root 66 Farmers Market in Carthage is worth the drive if you want to make a morning of it. Load up on produce for a Labor Day cookout while everything is at its peak.
Afternoon
Head to Branson Airport for the Wings of Pride Air Show. This year it includes the Air Force Thunderbirds, and with the anniversary timing, expect it to be an especially big show. If flying jets are not your speed, Bennett Spring State Park is hosting a full day fly fishing school, a much slower way to spend an afternoon outdoors.
Prefer something closer to town, Wire Road Brewing Company has an outdoor beginner friendly yoga session Saturday morning with a beer included, which might be the most Ozarks way possible to start a weekend.
Evening
Branson Landing wraps its Free Summer Concert Series Saturday night, with the fountain show as the backdrop. It is the final concert of the season, so if you have been meaning to go, this is the weekend.
Sunday, September 6: Slow Down by the Water
After a full Saturday, let Sunday move at a gentler pace. Cherry Street Market is open Sunday morning in Springfield if you want a second pass at local produce.
In the afternoon, make your way to Table Rock Lake for the Labor Day Celebration at Chateau on the Lake. It is family friendly, includes barbecue and live entertainment, and ends with fireworks over the water, which might be the most beautiful way to close out a lake day all season.
If you are staying at Big Cedar Lodge, Sunday is also when their free Labor Day picnic takes place, complete with crafts, food, and fireworks of its own.
Monday, September 7: A Quiet Ending
Labor Day itself is a good day to let go of plans. If you want one more outing, Silver Dollar City wraps its Southern Gospel Picnic this weekend, and this is the final day to catch it before it disappears until next year.
Otherwise, let Monday be simple. A slower morning, a meal made from what you picked up at the market over the weekend, and a little time on the porch before the pace of September fully sets in. Not every day of a long weekend needs an event attached to it, and Monday is a good one to leave open.
