The hustle and bustle in Joplin never ends, and this week is no exception. A wide range of activities and events are planned for downtown Joplin, from poetry readings to plays to blacksmith demonstrations.
See what’s happening in Joplin this week.
October 16th: Downtown Poetry Readings and Open Mic, at Joplin Avenue Coffee Company (506 S Joplin Ave) from 6 to 8 p.m. Poetry reading and open mic event! Open mic registration will begin at 6 p.m. Featured Readers begins at 6:15 p.m. An open mic reading will be held at 7 p.m. This event is held on the third Monday of each month at the same location and time. It is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Julie Ramon, julieramon0802@gmail.com.
October 17th: young artist club (ages 8-12), 4:15-5:15 p.m., Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). The Joplin Public Library’s Young Artist Club allows aspiring young artists to learn about and explore a variety of artists, art styles, and techniques. Each program includes a brief staff-led presentation, followed by a related art activity. Registration required. Register by calling (417) 623-7953 or emailing childrens@childs@joplinpubliclibrary.org. It is free and open to the public.
October 17th: bingo night (ages 18 and older) from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). Bingo tournament at the library at night! Play Bingo and compete for prizes during this fun and free event. It is free and open to the public.
October 18th: Reading aloud for school age (ages 5-8), 4:15-4:45 p.m., Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). Story time for lower grade elementary school students! Visit the Joplin Public Library to explore books and stories as you read, sing, talk, and play. It is free and open to the public.
October 18th and 19th: Kindergarten reading and play time (ages 3-5), 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m., Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). Join the Children’s Department at the Joplin Public Library for preschool read-alouds on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sing, read, and play! It is free and open to the public.
October 19th: pumpkin painting (ages 5-12), 5:30-6:30 p.m., Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). Paint your own artificial mini pumpkin in the children’s department at the Joplin Public Library! Then, take the pumpkin home and decorate it for the holidays, or leave it at the library for a Halloween display. To do. We will provide several aprons, but we recommend that you wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Distribution will be limited to the first 30 people. It is free and open to the public.
October 19th: 3rd Thursday, in downtown Joplin from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Joplin’s premier cultural event, the Third Thursday of the Month, is back. On the third Thursday of every month from March to October, thousands of people gather on Main Street in downtown Joplin to enjoy local artisans, music, entertainment, and food. It is free and open to the public.
October 19th-21st: guys and dolls, 7:30 p.m. (Saturday, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) at Missouri Southern State University’s Bud Walton Black Box Theater (3950 E Newman Rd). The Department of Music and Theater in the School of Performing Arts at Missouri Southern State University is proud of its fall musical, “Guys and Dolls.” Guys and Dolls is a quirky romantic comedy set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the town’s biggest craps game while the authorities have him by the neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Adelaide, a nightclub performer, laments that they have been engaged for 14 years. Nathan enlists the help of fellow gambler Skye Masterson, who ends up pursuing hard-nosed missionary Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls takes audiences from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even the sewers of New York City, but in the end everyone ends up in their own place. Tickets can be purchased online. Tickets: General Admission $15, Seniors/Student/Military $10.
October 20th: toddler reading and playing (ages 0-2), 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. at the Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). Join the Joplin Public Library’s Children’s Department on Friday mornings for story time for young children as they sing, read, talk, and play together. It is free and open to the public.
October 20th: ghost glade: Nature’s Superheroes, 6 to 9 p.m. at Wildcat Glades (301 Riviera Dr). This is a seasonal event sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center and Wildcat Glades Nature Group. Learn about the wildlife superpowers and villains that call Wildcat Park home at this free, fun, family-friendly event. After your spooky hike, meet some real-life heroes at Education Cottage. Registration required. Register online. It is free and open to the public.
October 20th to 22nd: school of rock, 7 p.m. (Sunday, 2 p.m.), McCauley Catholic High School (930 Pearl Ave). St. Peter’s Middle School will host School of Rock, featuring St. Mary’s Elementary School and Dr. Stephen Gilbreth playing Dewey Finn. The musical, based on the hit movie, tells the story of Dewey Finn, a failed rock star who decides to earn some extra money by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. So he turned his straight A-class students into his band, a chopping guitar, slapping bass, electrifying rock band. But can he get them to participate in the Battle of the Bands without his parents or school principal finding out?Tickets: $5.
October 21st: Blacksmith demonstration, 11 a.m., Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St). A live demonstration of metalworking by Monty from Laughing Dragon Forge with his Makerspace staff at the Joplin Public Library. All ages are welcome. It is free and open to the public.
October 21st: Saturday STEAM club (ages 5-12) at the Joplin Public Library (1901 E 20th St) from 1 to 2 p.m. Experience her high-tech and low-tech STEAM activities with this hands-on program for kids. Children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. It is free and open to the public.
October 21st: joplin book exchange (18+) at ZINC Coffee (1825 S Main St) from 2-3 p.m. Join Zink Her Coffee at the Joplin Public Library for this month’s book swap. Bring your books, talk about them, and enjoy Zink’s delicious coffee and drinks! It is free and open to the public. You can purchase food and drinks.
October 21st: ghost glade: Nature’s Superheroes, at Wildcat Glades (301 Riviera Dr), 4:30-8 p.m. This is a seasonal event sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center and Wildcat Glades Nature Group. Learn about the wildlife superpowers and villains that call Wildcat Park home at this free, fun, family-friendly event. After your spooky hike, meet some real-life heroes at Education Cottage. Registration required. Register online. It is free and open to the public.
October 21st: international moonlit night observation, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at George Washington Carver National Monument, 5646 Carver Rd, Diamond, MO. International Observe the Moon Night is an annual worldwide program that encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of the moon. Join rangers from George Washington Carver National Monument for an outdoor presentation with interactive activities. This program will be held indoors in case of inclement weather. It is free and open to the public.
October 21st: S’mores & Pool Night Market, 7 p.m. at Joplin Empire Market (931 E 4th St). Joplin Empire Market’s next night market event is dedicated to all things cozy fall (and, of course, spooky Halloween vibes). Make your own amazing s’mores with our s’mores bar. Listen to live music. Play pumpkin tic-tac-toe or giant Jenga. Paint the pumpkin. Enjoy apple cider and hot chocolate or an assortment of seasonal cocktails at Market Bar. Shop at Harvest Moon Marketplace, home to the area’s best vendors. And eat something delicious. The festival will be held outdoors in the Empire Market Festival Courtyard (weather permitting). It is free and open to the public. You can purchase food, drinks, and other items.
October 21st and 22nd: Movie: Becoming Helen Keller, 1 p.m., at the George Washington Carver National Monument, 5646 Carver Rd, Diamond, MO. Helen Keller, the deaf and blind woman who used her celebrity and resourcefulness to champion women’s rights, joins rangers at George Washington’s Carver National Monument to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Join her in a PBS documentary that looks back at her complicated life. , people with disabilities, and people living in poverty. It is free and open to the public.
October 22nd: open mic comedy night, 9pm (sign up 8:30pm) at Blackthorn Pizza & Pub (510 S Joplin Ave). Join Joplin Comedy to try out the latest stand-up routines or watch local comedians perform while enjoying delicious pizza from Blackthorn Pizza & Pub. Age restriction: 18+, until 10pm. ages 21 and older from 10 p.m. until close. It is free and open to the public.