Park Partners Plant Sale

Parks partner groups offer plants and other items for sale at Springfield Botanical Gardens. This is a smaller event than usual, due to COVID prevention. All ages, free admission.

Earth Fair & Movie Night

Free screening of "Over the Hedge", a family movie with an environmental message. Come early for tree activities and takeaways. Movie begins at dusk at the Peace Through People Pavilion at Springfield Botanical Gardens.

Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street

It’s Springfield’s springtime tradition! The largest fine arts festival in southwest Missouri, featuring original art from more than 100 juried artists from across the country. Includes live music, dance and theater on multiple stages, food vendors and socially distanced art activities for all ages. Face coverings and social distancing required, with limited timed entries. Advanced tickets recommended, visit Springfieldarts.org/Artsfest. Proceeds benefit Springfield Regional Arts Council.

Summer Junior Golf Pass

Junior Golf Pass holders enjoy unlimited golf every day all summer, noon to close, at Horton Smith, Bill & Payne Stewart and Rivercut. Available to ages 17 and under, with approval of a Park Board Golf Course Pro. Does not include range balls, carts or amenities. Details at ParkBoardGolf.org.

Frisco Highline Trail IronHorse Gravel Grind

Bike the Frisco Highline Trail and scenic backroads of Polk and Dade Counties in this annual race. Three distances available: the 26-mile Grinder, the 43-mile Grinder and the 84-mile Grindest. All rides start and finish at Willard Trailhead. Gravel-worthy bikes recommended. Bring your own water, food and supplies. Registration includes a post-race meal. Proceeds benefit the Frisco Highline. Learn more at OzarkGreenways.org.

Gigs in the Garden Concerts

Enjoy live music at the Peace Through People Pavilion. Bring your own lawnchairs or blankets. Concerts may move indoors if it rains. Presented by Friends of the Garden and Springfield Sister Cities Association, and sponsored by Central Bank and Central Trust.

Wednesday Concerts at Noon at Founders Park

Enjoy free half-hour lunchtime concerts Wednesdays at Founders Park, in partnership with Downtown Springfield CID. Bring your lunch and enjoy area performers on stage at the site where Springfield was founded. Performance schedule at ParkBoard.org/Founders.

First Fridays at Founders Park

Visit Founders Park during Downtown Springfield’s First Friday ArtWalk May-July for live music and live art, in a festive, socially-distanced atmosphere.

Bike, Walk & Wheel Week

Which mode of active transportation will you choose to get out of the house, go to the store, visit a park or explore a trail? Plan to use an active mode at least once that week, whether it's biking, walking, rolling, taking the bus or any combination. Tag photos with #BikeWalkWheelWeekSGF and #OzarkGreenways to be entered into prize drawings. Learn more at OzarkGreenways.org.

Bark in the Park

A fun and relaxing day in Phelps Grove Park with your family and beloved canine. Enjoy live music, interactive crafts, and enjoy activities at the Canine Vendor Village. Cruse Dog Park t-shirts and concessions available. Vendors must register by May 14. Proceeds benefit Cruse Dog Park.

Outdoor Pools open

Fassnight, Grant Beach, Silver Springs and McGee-McGregor outdoor pools are open Memorial Day weekend through mid-August. Enjoy discount Splash & Sizzle admission daily after 5:30 p.m., and all day on holidays and special weekends (select locations.) Pool maintenance (closed) days are staggered throughout the week. Check ParkBoard.org/Aquatics for schedule. Summer schedule also includes Chesterfield and Doling indoor aquatics admission for outdoor pool prices, Mon.-Thurs. only.

Southwest Missouri Senior Games

Olympic-style events for athletes age 50 years and up. Events include Archery, Golf, Pickleball and Track and Field. Some events offered previous years not available this year due to COVID prevention. Games may serve as preparation for the Missouri State Senior Games and the National Senior Games. Register by May 14 at ParkBoard.org/SeniorGames, some games may allow onsite registration.

6th Annual Tennis Under the Lights

Play tennis at night at Lafayette Park! Tennis courts will be all aglow with lights everywhere. Participants shine with glow necklaces and bracelets! Grab your family and friends and get on the court with music, snacks and fun. All equipment is provided. Presented by USTA.

Movies at Founders Park

A contemporary version of the drive-in theater at Springfield’s founding site. Enjoy new release and classic movies in an outdoor setting. A mix of family favorites and action thrillers, rated G, PG, or PG-13. Concessions available, bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. No movies the weekend of July 2-3. Movie titles and details at ParkBoard.org/Movies

40th Annual Kids’ Fishing Fun Day

A day of learning and fishing in our stocked pond. Kids may catch and keep up to three fish, or catch and release unlimited fish! Take your picture at our photo station. Bring your own bait and gear, limited fishing pole rentals available. Space is limited. Register by May 31 at ParkBoard.org. No event day registration. Rain date June 12.

Run for Fun Club

Hop into summer with free kid-friendly creative exercise activities, promoting healthy lifestyles and getting kids running. The Run for Fun Club takes place every Saturday in June and July at Westport School-Park. Water and snacks provided. Register by May 31 at ParkBoard.org/RunForFun.

Summer Solstice Art Fair

The Moon City Creative District, in partnership with the Park Board, presents this white-tent, juried art show at Lafayette Park. Features 20 regional artists: jewelers, potters, wood turners, printmakers, painters, fiber artists, and more. Join us for fine art, food vendors and live music with a distinctly neighborhood feel. Info at mooncitycreativedistrict.com

Timmons Hall Brown Bag Lunch Series

The Brown Bag Lunch Series honors local, regional and national history makers through the topics of education, agency, entrepreneurship and reconciliation. Each series features a brief spotlight on a history maker, opening up a wider conversation. Registration required by two days before, and don’t forget to bring your lunch!

Butterfly Festival

Celebrate gardening, nature and butterflies. Visit the Roston Native Butterfly House and Caterpillar Petting Zoo. Enter the pollinator costume contest, enjoy magic shows, visit vendors, and more. Presented by Friends of the Garden. Children may pick up a packet of take-home crafts, presented by Young Sprouts in the Garden. Free admission to Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden.

Go Skateboarding Day

Grab your board and celebrate Go Skateboarding Day, established in 2004 by the International Association of Skateboard Companies, with thousands of participants all over the world. Free admission to all skateboarders, beginners to pros (sorry, no bikes, scooters or rollerblades during the event.) Contests throughout the day, with prizes and all-around shredding! Capacity may be limited.

Timmons Hall Day

Enjoy a tour of Timmons Hall and Silver Springs Park, and a presentation by Bob Kendrick, Executive Director of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Concessions available onsite. Register by June 18.

Racquet, White and Blue

Play tennis at Tom Watkins Park! Grab your family and friends and join the celebration on court with music, snacks and having fun playing tennis. All equipment is provided. Presented by USTA.

National Teddy Bear Picnic

Bring your favorite stuffed bear or toy and celebrate National Teddy Bear Picnic Day! Pack a picnic lunch and blanket or purchase lunch from Park Concessions. Event includes craft, games, story time, a teddy bear parade and frozen treat. Free, but registration is required for a timeslot below at ParkBoard.org by July 5.

National Night Out

An annual community-building campaign promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, making our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. Visit with local police officers, firefighters and park rangers, and enjoy tennis and other games and special activities. A kick-off to individual Neighborhood Nights Out.

17th Annual Kid’Athlon

Kids swim, bike, and run their way to victory, taking home medals, t-shirts, goodies and the pride of finishing a triathlon! Event distances are customized per age group. Registration required by Aug. 5.