Events in Joplin today

This monthly meeting invites participants to take part in the conversation. It takes place at Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

This monthly class shows you how to make your own Swiffer-style cleaning pads. The fee is $5 per person and includes yarn, a pattern to take home, and a needle to borrow if needed. No crochet experience is required. Beginners and returning participants are welcome, and the class is open to all.

An open mic night invites singer-songwriters and poets of any age to share their work. Take the stage or settle in to enjoy performances and cheer on local creatives. It is a welcoming space to perform, listen, and support the talent in the community.

This teaser concert at The Main Event offers an early preview of Year 10 of North Heights Porchfest, the community music festival. Local music takes center stage, with beverages on hand and a nod to the changing season as the countdown begins. The performer lineup will be announced.

Every Friday night, RCL screens a mystery movie, with the title changing each week. Picks span cult favorites, overlooked classics, comedies, and thrillers. Anyone who wants a sneak peek can sign up for free on the website to see the reveal early. The VHS lounge remains open late as a comfortable place to relax, enjoy a drink, and spend time with friends in a laid-back, late-night setting. Centered on community and cinema, this weekly gathering offers Joplin a place to unwind after hours. A Day Pass is $5.

Taking place at Carthage Municipal Park, this pet-friendly race features 1K and 5K distances, with the option to participate on your own or alongside a pet. Finishers are acknowledged, top performers in each age group are awarded, and there are special honors for dog and handler teams. Vendors will offer pet treats and other goods, and gift certificates are included. All net proceeds benefit the Carthage Humane Society. Additional race details are provided on the event flyer.

This fifth annual charity event supports Hope 4 You with a community meet at Frank Fletcher SuperStore in Joplin, Missouri, followed by a driver meeting and a convoy to Southern Missouri Offroading Ranch in Seymour, or a scenic backroads drive for those who prefer a relaxed route. The superstore gathering features vendors, a food truck, a junior Jeepers obstacle course, face painting, a duck pond game with a $5 donation for a chance at a prize, a silent auction, and raffles. Registration is open. A $40 registration includes one event T-shirt and entry for a driver and one passenger at the superstore, plus the option to join guided off-roading at SMORR, with SMORR fees paid separately. Attendees ages 17 and under are free. If not registered, entry at the superstore is a $20 donation per person, with ages 17 and under free. Additional event T-shirts are available for $20. SMORR admission is separate and collected on site by cash or check only, set at $40 for a driver and Jeep and $15 per passenger ages 13 and up. Camping at SMORR is available by reservation. The event is open to the public, and vendor and sponsor opportunities are available.

The Annual Four States Invitational returns soon. Check back for more details as the event approaches.

Take a scenic backroads cruise that supports the 5th Annual Rock Stars Event and benefits Hope 4 You in Joplin, MO, an organization that helps people who are uninsured or underinsured receive mammograms. The route is stock friendly and led by Lori and Dave Ewbank, planned for roughly three hours, beginning after the activities at Fletcher Superstore. Registration is $40 per Jeep and includes an event T shirt, plus admission to the Rock Stars Event for the driver and one passenger. Additional shirts are $20. Before the drive, the gathering at Fletcher Superstore offers vendors, raffles, a food truck, a silent auction, a pick a duck prize game, face painting, and a junior jeeper obstacle course. This event is open to the public.

Open to the entire community, this Family Weekend event at MSSU showcases a cruise car show, a vendor market, food trucks, dancers, and live music, with free admission. The market is located inside the Billingsly Student Center.

The streets will be closed for a family-friendly celebration featuring inflatable bounce attractions, face painting, games, a flower bar, food trucks, live music, and boutiques. Admission is free, and the bounce houses are complimentary. For vendor information, email booking@roxyjoplin.com.

The Second City brings Laughing for All the Wrong Reasons, a new comedy revue honoring almost seven decades of renowned sketch and improvisation. Performed by the acclaimed Second City Touring Company, it blends classic favorites with fresh satire, original songs, and interactive moments with the crowd, all delivered at a brisk pace with sharp, irreverent humor that feels both classic and current. The ensemble has been a launching pad for talents such as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Keegan-Michael Key, and Bill Murray. Presented at Connect2Culture as part of the Cornell Series, this comedy and improv performance offers tickets at $50 plus fees. Intended for mature audiences, and content may be adult in nature.