It’s opening weekend for the annual Haunted Grotto in this week’s MAIN EVENT, as well as the annual fall spruce up for the city of Poplar Bluff.
The Aad Grotto’s spooky annual tradition benefits the Three Rivers Shrine Club, which helps support Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The walk-through haunted house features different haunting scenes and has been held for the past nine years.
Shrine club members work all year on planning for this event, which typically draws in thousands of visitors, according to organizers.
It will be open at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and then Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29 and 30. Tickets are $10.
Buff up the Bluff will also be held Saturday. Residents 65 and older have until 4 p.m. Thursday to call in and schedule pick up of items they would like to dispose of. The city can be reached at 573-686-8622 to schedule this.
This event is open to residents of Poplar Bluff, who can drop of items this year at Henson’s Trash Transfer Station on the Industrial Park Bypass. Only leaf and limb disposal will be done at the city’s east side disposal site.
There is no cost for drop off, except for tires.
The following items will be accepted at Henson’s:
• Bulk metal items. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners must have the compressors removed or they will not be accepted.
• Bulky items, including furniture, carpeting and construction materials.
The following items will not be accepted:
• Asphalt shingles
• Trash from businesses or construction sites
• Paint
The city of Poplar Bluff also offers a monthly bulk curbside trash pickup for a fee.
Other upcoming events:
(New additions this week include Teen Hangout Night, Corning Harvest Festival, Tiger Fest, Book Buzz, Barktoberfest and Pumpkin Plunge.)
— PINKtober Lunch & Learn, 12-1 p.m. Oct. 14 WHERE Westwood Event Center COST Free, registration required. WHAT Hosted by Poplar Bluff Regional Medical center, a panel of experts will speak and answer questions, including radiation oncologist, general surgeon, oncology nurse navigator, imaging & diagnostics, primary care and more. Mammogram appointments can also be scheduled. Lunch is provided. For more information, visit PRRMC’s events page.
— Haunted Grotto, 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 and 30. WHERE Aad Grotto, 3102 Kennedy Drive COST Tickets are $10 WHAT Walk-through haunted house, proceeds benefit the Three Rivers Shrine Club and Shriners Hospitals.
— Teen Hangout Night Halloween Party, 7-10:30 p.m. Oct. 14 WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, main branch COST Free WHAT Games, costume contest, prizes and food sponsored by La Torcia Brick Oven Pizza at the library on Main Street. Open to ages 12-17.
— Broseley fall festival, Oct. 15. WHERE Broseley. COST Free. WHAT Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. at the Broseley Nutrition Center; parade at 10 a.m. starting at the high school, line up starts at 9 a.m.; live music starts at 10:30 a.m.; food and vendors throughout.
— Buff up the Bluff, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15 WHERE Items can be taken to Henson’s Transfer Station at the Industrial Park Bypass. Yard waste will be dropped off at the city’s leaf disposal site on the east side. COST Free, with exception of fee for tire drop off. WHAT This event is for residents of Poplar Bluff, proof of residency required. Everything from bulk metal items to furniture and carpet will be accepted.
— Historical Train Depot Quilt Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 WHERE Depot, 400 S. Main St. WHAT This fundraiser for depot restorations will show quilts with multiple prizes awarded, a silent auction and a raffle.
— Tiger Fest, 10 a.m. Oct. 15 WHERE Neelyville schools WHAT A parade kids off at 10 a.m. with activities following on the school grounds. A pet pageant will be held at 11:30 a.m. and costume contest at 12:30 p.m. The day also includes pumpkin contests, vendors and Mr. and Miss Tiger Fest at 1 p.m.
— Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth Father Daughter Ball, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 15 WHERE Black River Coliseum COST Tickets can be purchased online at eventbrite.com WHAT Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for receptions and announcements. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Transportation by limousine bus will be provided from the parking lot to the front door. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be provided as part of your admission. Each princess will receive a complimentary tiara, event t-shirt and a flower. Meal will be catered by Tasteful Creations. There will also be a gift shop and silent auction.
— Greenville Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29. WHERE Old Greenville Recreation Area. COST Free. WHAT Campers decorate and hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.
— AWA Wag’n Train, 1 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29. WHERE Animal Welfare Alliance No-Kill Shelter. COST Free. WHAT A volunteer-based training class for shelter dogs. Participants will select a dog from the approved list at the shelter to work with over the four weeks. Obedience lessons will focus on the commands sit, down and stay, plus leash manner and limiting jumping. More information is available on the AWA Facebook page.
— 6th Annual Rodgers Banquet, 6 p.m. Oct. 20 WHERE Black River Coliseum COST $30 in advance, $40 at the door WHAT Dinner catered by Tasteful Creations, entertainment provided by the Millstones, live and silent auction available. Proceeds support the restoration of the Historic Rodgers Theatre.
— Book Buzz Club: Chills & Thrills, 6 p.m. Oct. 20 WHERE The Wine Rack WHAT Book club visitors are invited to read what they want, with the October theme of chills and thrills.
— Corning Harvest Festival, all day Oct. 22 WHERE Wynn Park WHAT The annual event will include arts and craft booths, a carnival, car show, barbecue cook-off, food and 5K. Car show judging 10 a.m.-2 p.m., awards start at 3 p.m. Registration for the 5K starts at 8 a.m., run starts at 9 a.m., at park elementary. Lineup of live entertainment starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m.
— Poplar Bluff Fall Classic, 2-6 p.m. Oct. 22 WHERE Black River Coliseum WHAT Hosted by the Poplar Bluff Fire Department, this is a firefighters challenge competition open to firefighters all over Southeast Missouri to raise funds for the Walter Weaver Memorial Scholarship. The WWMS will provide funding to send candidates through the firefighter certification program at Three Rivers College Fire Training Center.
— Cork & Fork: A Taste of Italy, 6-10 p.m. Oct. 22. WHERE Dinner at the Church of the Holy Cross followed by music in the Margaret Harwell Art Museum Sculpture Garden. COST $40 per person or $35 for Friends of the Museum. WHAT MHAM’s annual dinner and social gathering. This year’s fare is catered by Tasteful Creations and live music will be performed by The Millstones. Tickets are available about Whitworth’s Gift Chest Jewelers and MHAM.
— Fall showcase by Three Rivers College Music Department, 7 p.m. Oct. 25 WHERE Tinnin Fine Arts Center COST Free WHAT TRC Music Department vocal and instrumental students perform diverse solos and ensembles and a “mini-musical” performance by the premier student musical theater ensemble.
— Pumpkin Plunge, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 WHERE Black River Coliseum Aquatic and Fitness Center COST $5 per person WHAT Participants will be able to jump into the pool for a pumpkin that they will then be able to decorate on the pool deck. Goodie bags of candy will be available for all participants.
— 2nd Annual M.I.L.L.I.E Fest, 11 a.m. Oct. 29 WHERE Parking lot of the Black River Coliseum WHAT Food trucks, bounce houses, face painting and live music. Proceeds help support the M.I.L.L.I.E Foundation.
— Murder Mystery Dinner, 7 p.m. Oct. 29. WHERE Holiday Inn. COST $50 per person. WHAT The Three Rivers Endowment Trust will host a Murder Mystery Dinner this fall to benefit their partnership with the Boys & Girls Club. Presented by The Bank of Missouri, “The Death of Dr. Pepper,” includes the performance and buffet-style dinner by Tasteful Creations.
— Barktoberfest, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 29 WHERE Lucy’s Dog Park, Dexter WHAT Hosted by Southern Bank and K9 Biz, this event benefits Lucy’s dog Park. It will include games, treats, a dog costume contest, coloring contest, on-site adoptions by the animal shelter, grilled hot dogs, a bake sale and 50/50 raffles.
— Halloween Spooktacular at The Camp, 1-5 p.m. Oct. 29 WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello WHAT Free admission to Halloween event.
— Live music from Black Gardner & The Farmers, 1-3 p.m. Oct. 30 WHERE The Dirt Shack, 508 Vine St. WHAT Music includes covers from the 60s to modern tunes.
Don’t see your event? Let us know what you’ve got coming up and we’ll add it. Just email dailyamericanrepublic@gmail.com.