Hootin an Hollarin started it's long and illustrious history in 1961, when a bunch of local folks decided that if they didn't start paying attention to the heritage of the Ozarks, it was going to slip away down memory lane.

Since that beginning, Hootin an Hollarin has had a special focus on old time ways and celebrating with family and friends. The court square at Gainesville, Missouri becomes home to the three day event each September, starting the third Thursday of the month.

The traditional demonstrations of crafts and pioneer ways, parades, queens, music and dancing continues today. Over the years, other events have been added to the festival schedule and are quickly becoming known as part of the tradition, like pet shows, bed races and outhouse racing. Hootin an Hollarin is always fun for the young and the young at heart.

Festival participants will find a wide variety of merchandise for sale from handmade quilts and dolls, to woodcrafts and baskets. The streets on the courthouse square are blanketed with displays from local craftsmen and folks from faraway places.

Young ladies from the county dressed in pioneer finery make their appearance on the stage and give a brief talk on the festival theme. Traditionally, they tell a tale of humorous hillbilly history. Judges select the queen based on her poise, personality and appearance.

Crafters and special guests will demonstrate their talents and show some almost forgotten skills of yesteryear.

Quilts were once a necessity of life. Today they have become a popular art form, and a collector's dream. The quilt show offers several categories to enter and the talents of the creators are breathtaking.

The aroma of food from the festival eateries is inviting. With beans & cornbread, funnel cakes, BBQ, roasted corn on the cob, hamburgers, specialty coffees & drinks, and snow cones you'll find something for every palate.

Each year the schedule is prepared to accommodate as many events as possible. The highlights of the festival include:

Thursday: Crafts show starts. Spotlight on the talents of the area youth, the queen pageant, music and square dancing are in the evening.

Friday: Craft show and quilt show all day. The costume parade is in the afternoon followed by the Cedar Pete & Little Miss Addie Lee contest, kids games, bed races, and music and square dancing in the evening.

Saturday: Craft and quilt shows. Outhouse races, horseshoe pitching, turkey shoot, pet show, pie contest, citizen of the year, the big parade, calling contests, kids games, music and square dancing.

Hootin an Hollarin could best be described as a people festival. Over the years the fun-filled days have become a "homecoming" of sorts for area folks. It is a time to celebrate the days of our past and the generations of family and friends to come.

Imagine seeing people dressed in their night clothes, running furiously down the street, pushing a bed on wheels, with someone on board! That's what you'll see at the bed races. But the laughter doesn't stop there, the Outhouse races are just as much fun. Team members must guide the outhouse down the raceway to finish line. They must have someone inside!

Each day of the festival you will enjoy the wonderful sounds of gospel, country, bluegrass and folk music. Special guests are scheduled to perform throughout the day and each evening of the festival. Everyone is invited to do their own "pickin and grinning" under a shade tree or in the gazebo (when available).

The "Singing in the Gazebo" will take you back in time to the days when you could hear grand pappy's voice as he sang his favorite gospel tunes at the ol' brush arbor.

The sound of feet on the wooden square dance platforms fills the air each evening of the festival. Several platforms have been added over the years, but squares always seem to spill over into the street. Join in the square dancing or just sit and watch for a spell. It's a hand clappin' toe tappin' good time.

There is something for everyone to do at Hootin an Hollarin. Local school and civic groups offer a variety of games at booths set up around the square. Friday and Saturday afternoons there are old fashioned games for kids that have included a turtle race, marble shoot, rubber band guns, and other games of skill. Saturday morning is host to the horseshow pitching contest and the turkey shoot. Calling contests are also a favorite – hog, cow and husbands!

Costume Parade
The costume parade held on Friday afternoon is open to kids of all ages. These are categories for all ages, old & new costumes, and small & large groups. Old fashioned, hillbilly and pioneer costumes are favored but other themes are permissible. To be in the costume parade just show up early to register!

Big Parade
A big parade of floats, antique cars, bands, wagons, drum and bugle corps, horses, clowns, queens, costumes and more fills the streets on Saturday afternoon.