Upcoming Events @ the Lake of the Ozarks: April

Lake of the Ozarks and its surrounding areas are home to many events throughout the spring and summer months.  Whether you are looking to hit the water or stay on land, there are all kinds of events to keep your family and friends entertained.  The lake is home to many attractions that always provide the best experiences and fun for all.  Below is a list of upcoming events that will be going on throughout the spring into to the summer.  If you see one that catches your eye, don't hesitate to pack a bag and make your way to the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri...where views are always spectacular and fun is always awaiting.

Jacob's Cave Swapping Days - April 5-8This festival is quite the set up, with miles of crafts, animals, goods and a variety of other products.  It is a great way to spend a nice afternoon, with lots to browse and watch.  The festival is on North Highway 5 between Gravois Mills and Versailles.

62nd Annual Dogwood Festival - April 19-22
Another great festival during the month of April! This popular event has all kinds of entertainment throughout the weekend, anything from pageants to golfing to parades.  Come out and enjoy more unique crafts and delicious food, along with other events such as the Miss Dogwood pageants, golfing tournament, fish fry, carnival, parade, craft booths and more! Don't miss this family friendly event, hosted within the city of Camdenton.

River Bottom Motocross Spring National - April 16-17
If you have a need for speed, consider heading out to Crybaby Campground for an off road motorcycle race.  The event will begin at 9AM and end at 6PM, the campground is 5.5 miles down D Road in Kaiser, Missouri. 

In Water Boat Show - April 20-22
Come out and enjoy the first boat show of the season on the Lake of the Ozarks.  This event, which is hosted by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, will feature a variety of boats such as cruisers, performance, and runabouts as well as personal water crafts.  The event will be going on all weekend.  The hours are: Friday, 1PM-7PM, Saturday, 10AM-7PM and Sunday, 10AM-4PM.

Midcoast Bike Run - April 28
If you have been looking for an opportunity to take your first ride of the season, look no further than the 28th of this month when Midcoast Bike Run hosts its annual poker run event.  With Harley Davidson as the starting line, this run includes stops at Surdyke Yamaha, Dog Days Bar and Grill, Seebold Sports, The Leatherman, Widdles Pub and Grill and the awards party hosted that night at 6PM at Bootleggers. All proceeds will help fund collegiate scholarships for local youth.   

Recent research conducted by the Tri County Lodging Association shows some interesting statistics regarding lake visitors.  1,790 interviews were conducted and 555 were considered converted vistitors which are visitors that requested information on Lake of the Ozarks and actually visited the lake between 7/1/2010 and 6/30/2011. Of those 43.8% were from Columbia, MO; 40.9% from Cedar Rapids, IA; 38.5% Milwakee, WI; 35.7% from Lincoln, NE; 23.2% Kansas City, MO; and 21.8% from St. Louis, MO.  87% of the visitors came from June through October and over 78% were adults without children.  73% of the visitors went shopping while at the lake; 40% went boating; 24%f went fishing, 16% played golf; 17% visited a State Park; and 14% went to a special event. 

Lake of the Ozarks Business Journal April, 2012 Vol. 8-Issue4