Community performances, events and classes for December

DECEMBER 2025 PERFORMANCES

December 4

• Woodwind Night • 6:00pm • Bud Walton Black Box Theater, MSSU • Free
• Who Brought the Humbug? with Rhythm Street Movement • 7:00pm (doors 6:30pm) • Cornell Complex, Beshore Hall • $50–$55
• The Erwins – Live in Concert • 7:00pm (doors 6:00pm) • Neosho High School • Adults $25, Kids ≤10 $10
• The Best Dang Christmas Pageant of Joplin (Dec 4–6) • 7:30pm • Dream Theatre Co. • $15
• A Christmas Carol (Dec 4–7) • 7:00pm • Ozark Christian College Chapel • Adults $15, Kids ≤12 $6
• Christmas Belles (Dec 4–7 & 11–14; Sun 1:00pm) • 6:30pm • Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage • $12–$32
• Not a Creature was Stirring Not Even a Moose (Dec 4–7 & 11–14; Sun 2:30pm) • 7:00pm • Stained Glass Theatre Joplin • Adults $12, Kids 4–14 $5

December 6

• A Seasonal Choral Flourish • 2:00pm & 7:30pm • St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church • Free
• A Christmas Carol (matinee) • 2:00pm • Ozark Christian College Chapel • Adults $15, Kids ≤12 $6

December 7

• John Fullbright House Concert • 2:00pm (doors 1:30pm) • The Coda Concert House • Suggested $50 donation
• Ozark Festival Orchestra Hometown Christmas Concert • 3:00pm • Monett High School • Adults $10, Kids free

December 11–14

• Christmas Belles • 6:30pm (Sun 1:00pm) • Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage • $12–$32
• Not a Creature was Stirring Not Even a Moose • 7:00pm (Sun 2:30pm) • Stained Glass Theatre Joplin • Adults $12, Kids 4–14 $5

December 13

• Regional Music Spotlight: Blister Soul • 1:00pm (doors 12:30pm) • The Coda Concert House • Suggested $10 donation
• Light Has Come Christmas Concert • 6:00pm • College Heights Christian Church • Free (donations appreciated)
• Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas • 7:00pm (doors 6:30pm) • Cornell Complex, Beshore Hall • $50–$55

December 14

• MSSU Choral Society Holiday Concert • 3:00pm • First Community Church • Free (donations appreciated)
• Four State Symphonic Winds Winter Concert • 7:00pm • Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, Pittsburg KS • Free

December 16

• Ben Miller’s Songwriter Night feat. Travis Linville & Randall Shreve • 7:00pm (doors 6:30pm) • The Coda Concert House • Suggested $30 donation

December 19

• David Smith’s An Evening in Kringle City • 6:30pm (doors 6:00pm) • Cornell Complex, Beshore Hall • Kids $10–$12.50, Adults $20–$25
• A Swingin’ Christmas: JOMO Jazz & Ashley King • 7:00pm • Joplin Avenue Coffee Company • Advance $15, Door $20

December 27

• Storyteller Sessions (21+) • 7:00pm • Joplin Avenue Coffee Company • Free
• Joplin Improv: Yule Be Laughing • 8:00pm • Joplin Avenue Coffee Company • Free (PG-13)

 

EVENTS

November 11, 2025 – January 5, 2026

• PhotoSpiva 2026 Call for Entry • Ongoing • Online submission • $40 entry fee

November 22 – December 11

• LEGO Ornament Contest (Ages 5+) • Drop-off Dec 2–11 • Joplin History & Mineral Museum • Free

December 1

• Festive Holiday Craft Workshop for Adults • 6:00–8:00pm • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • $15

December 2–11

• Gingerbread House Contest (Ages 3+) • Drop-off period • Joplin History & Mineral Museum • Free
• Golf Ball Decorating Contest (Ages 8+) • Drop-off period • Joplin History & Mineral Museum • $3 per ball

December 4–31

• Holiday Tree Trail • All month • Mercy Park • Free

December 4

• Holiday Open House • 5:00–8:00pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • Free
• Holiday Tree Trail Kickoff • 6:00pm • Mercy Park • Free

December 5–6

• Holiday Makers Market • Fri 5–8pm, Sat 10am–3pm • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • Free

December 5

• First Friday WineShare (21+) • 6:00–8:00pm • The Boutique Marketplace • Free (bring drink)

December 6

• Webb City Farmers Market • 9:00am–Noon • Webb City Farmers Market • Free
• 8th Annual Holiday Market • 10:00am–2:00pm • Joplin Empire Market • Free
• Ozark Christmas Tree Revival • 10:00am–3:00pm • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • Trees/wreaths $5–$65
• Comics, Cocoa & Candy Canes: Compass Academy Holiday Party • 2:00–4:30pm • MSSU Cornell Auditorium • Free (registration required)

December 7

• Art Supply Swap Meet • 6:00–8:00pm • Royale Cinema Lounge • Free

December 11

• Joplin Writers’ Guild • 6:00pm • Joplin Public Library • Free (first meeting)

December 13

• Webb City Farmers Market • 9:00am–Noon • Webb City Farmers Market • Free
• Holiday Makers Workshop for Kids (Ages 4+) • 9:30–11:30am • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • $15
• 8th Annual Holiday Market • 10:00am–2:00pm • Joplin Empire Market • Free
• Holiday Open House • 10:00am–3:00pm • Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center • Free (20% off store)
• Joplin History & Mineral Museum Christmas Open House • 10:00am–3:00pm • Joplin History & Mineral Museum • Free

December 20

• Webb City Farmers Market • 9:00am–Noon • Webb City Farmers Market • Free
• 8th Annual Holiday Market • 10:00am–2:00pm • Joplin Empire Market • Free
• Tea & Scandals: An Afternoon Tea with a Twist • Noon & 3:00pm • 405 S Moffet Ave • $40

December 21

• Winter Solstice Hike • 2:00pm • Wildcat Glades • Free (registration required)

December 22

• Downtown Window Decorating Competition Awards • 2:30–3:30pm • Joplin City Hall • Free

December 23

• Winter Wonder Workshop for Kids (Ages 6–12) • 1:00–5:00pm • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • $35/child

December 24

• Tinsel & Tidings Christmas Eve Market • 10:00am–2:00pm • Joplin Empire Market • Free

December 27

• Webb City Farmers Market • 9:00am–Noon • Webb City Farmers Market • Free
• Joplin Empire Market • 10:00am–2:00pm • Joplin Empire Market • Free

 

CLASSES

December 3

• Mini Makers (Ages 2–5) • 10:15–11:15am • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $10

December 5

• Studio 55: Open Studio (Ages 55+) • 2:00–4:00pm • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $10 suggested donation
• Impasto Oil Painting with Tricia Courtney • 2:30–5:30pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $20 (bring supplies)

December 6

• Gingerbread Houses with Terri Conklin • 10:30am–Noon • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $25
• Family Fun Painting Class (Ages 8+) • 10:30am–1:00pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $30

December 7

• Portrait Painting & Drawing with Kim Kissel • 2:00–4:00pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $30 (bring supplies)

December 9

• Fused Glass Christmas Tealights with Jane McCaulley (Ages 8+) • 3:30–5:30pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $35
• Mini Makers: Tuesday Edition (Ages 2–5) • 4:15–5:15pm • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $10

December 10

• Preschool Nature Connections: Owl in the Christmas Tree (Ages 3–7) • 10:00am • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • Free

December 11

• Impasto Oil Painting with Tricia Courtney • 2:30–5:30pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $20 (bring supplies)

December 12

• Watercolor Painting with Joan Allen (Ages 8+) • 10:00am–Noon & 1:00–3:00pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $18–$30

December 13

• Tiny Worlds in Watercolor: Snow Globe Cards with Rachel (Ages 18+) • 11:00am–1:30pm • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $25
• Preschool Nature Connections: Owl in the Christmas Tree (Ages 3–7) • 1:00pm • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • Free
• Paint Pouring with Mary Parks (Ages 9+) • 6:00pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $40
• Kids Night at the Studio: Holiday Edition (Ages 6–12) • 6:45–9:00pm • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $25 (drop-off)

December 14

• Portrait Painting & Drawing with Kim Kissel • 2:00–4:00pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $30 (bring supplies)

December 19

• Impasto Oil Painting with Tricia Courtney • 2:30–5:30pm • Local Color Art Gallery & Studio • $20 (bring supplies)
• Nature Explorers (Ages 7–14) • 6:00–7:00pm • Wildcat Glades Education Cottage • Free

December 20

• Whimsical Sculpted Paint Brushes with Brooks-Elizabeth (Ages 8+) • 10:30am–1:30pm • Cornell Complex, Spiva Center • $40