Main Event

In this week’s MAIN EVENT is an area celebration returning for the seventh year.

Dexter will hold its Grille It Up on Friday and Saturday with special guests, a cook off sponsored by the St. Louis BBQ Society, a car show, events and more.

It will be held at East Park, with activities starting at 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

Friday will include:

• “Smoky and the Bandit” tribute, with re-enactments of scenes from the movie, 5-9 p.m.

• Mud volleyball rematch, Dexter police and Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department vs. Missouri State Highway Patrol, 5 p.m.

• Youth mud volleyball, 5:30 p.m.

• Cornhole tournament, 6 p.m.

• Bed races, 6:15 p.m., near soccer fields

Saturday will include (8 a.m.-4 p.m.):

• Adult mud volleyball, 10 a.m.

• Barbecue cook-off

• Car show, awards announced at 2 p.m.

• Food trucks, craft vendors, a bounce house and more

Other upcoming events include:

­— 13th Annual Super Kids Camp, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays July 6-28. WHERE Historic Wheatley School. COST Free. WHAT Super Kids Camp focuses on continuing education and provides age-specific activities for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. For more information, please contact 573-776-5073.

— Art for Animals Gallery Opening, 5-8 p.m. July 7. WHERE Margaret Harwell Art Museum. COST Free. WHAT All are welcome to view artworks donated by local artists for the Animal Welfare Alliance’s upcoming online auction, July 14-28. All proceeds from the will go to the and it AWA and its No-Kill Shelter. Refreshments will be provided. More information about the auction is available by clicking the “Art for Animals” tab at awasemo.org.

— 2023 Grille It Up, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. July 7 and 8 a.m.-4p.m. July 8. WHERE East Park, Dexter. COST Free entrance. Team registration fees are: volleyball, $50; cornhole, $20; SLBS Cook-Off, $225: mud volleyball, $120. WHAT A weekend event of food, vendors, car shows, hot air balloons and tournaments. More information and all event times are available at dexterpark-rec.com or the Dexter Parks & Recreation page on Facebook.

— Nerf Wars for Adults, 6:30 p.m. July 7. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT A Nerf battle in the library after hours for ages 18 and up. All supplies provided. Participants are urged to wear comfy clothes they can move in.

— Karaoke Night at The Camp with Shane & Co., 7-11 p.m. July 7. WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello. COST Free. WHAT Karoake open to all.

— Brandon Bates performs, 7-10 p.m. July 8 WHERE Jake’s Loch Loma Lounge

— The Band Trippp at The Camp, 7:30-11:30 p.m. July 8. WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello. COST $8. WHAT A blues, bluegrass and rock trio named the 2021 Arkansas Country Music Awards “Young Artists of the Year,” winners of the 2023 Belmont Songwriter’s Showcase and being six-time “Best Local Band” in Northeast Arkansas.

— Crochet College, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. July 10. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT A class teaching basic crochet stitches with the option to start an easy project. Yarn and hooks are provided. Open to ages 7 and up, no registration required. The class will also meet July 24.

— Adult Crafting, 4 p.m. July 11. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT Turn old books into something that shows off your love of the written word. Open to ages 18+.

— FRSHWATR Worship Night, 7-9 p.m. July 14. WHERE Historic Rodgers Theatre. COST Free. WHAT A night of worship for all people. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the night beginning at 7 p.m. Expect to be uplifted and encouraged with other believers from across the community. All concession stand proceeds go to supporting the Rodgers Theatre. All ages are welcome.

— St. Jude Summer Bash, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 15 WHERE Lemonade House Grille WHAT The fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital will include a cruise in, bounce house, lemon squeeze-off, face painting, dunking booth and more.

— Lego Challenge, 10:30 a.m.-noon July 17. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT Come to the library to build and create. Drop in at the Main Branch to do one of their Lego challenges or create your own.

— Storytime, 10:30 a.m. July 18 WHERE Poplar Bluff library, main campus

— Hannibal-LaGrange University alumni luncheon, 11:30 a.m. July 18 WHERE Bread+Butter COST Lunch is $22. WHAT Open to alumni and friends, to meet new president Dr. Robert Matz and receive a campus update. To make a reservation: 573-629-3126.

— Storytime, 2 p.m. July 20 WHERE Poplar Bluff library, Ridgel branch

— Ladies Day Out, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. WHERE First Church of God WHAT Organized by John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, this event includes information for women veterans. This year’s focus is Whole Health Wellness. Information: 573-778-4126.

— Book Buzz Club, 6 p.m. July 20 WHERE The Wine Rack WHAT A read-what-you-want book club, this month’s theme is Traveling Through the Pictures. Hosted by the Poplar Bluff library.

— Battle of the Bulls, 7 p.m. July 22. WHERE Ray Clinton Park. COST Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 8 and under. WHAT The Three Rivers College Rodeo Team and Farm Credit Southeast Missouri present an action-packed evening of bull riding. Bounce houses and food trucks will also be on site. Further information will be made available for bull riders who wish to participate. More information is available on the event’s Facebook page and trcc.edu.

— Prevention Summit, 10 a.m. July 24 WHERE Westwood Center COST Free WHAT Organized by Missouri Highlands Health Care, this event is a chance to learn more about how to prevent illness. Speakers from MHHC, Butler County Health Department, FCC and Butler County Community Resource Council. Lunch provided by FCC.

— Crochet College, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. July 24. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT A class teaching basic crochet stitches with the option to start an easy project. Yarn and hooks are provided. Open to ages 7 and up, no registration required.

— Storytime, 10:30 a.m. July 25 WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch.

— Storytime, 2 p.m. July 27 WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Ridgel Branch.

— Lunch & Learn: Diabetic Foot Ulcers & Revolutionary Wound Care, noon July 28. WHERE Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce. COST Free. WHAT Dr. Maxine Theriot will present on diabetic wound care topics, including wound assessment, innovative approaches to foot ulcers, multidisciplinary care and self-management strategies. Luncheon is provided. More information, free tickets and online attendance options are available through the event’s Facebook page.

— Art for Animals closing reception, 6-8 p.m. July 28 WHERE Margaret Harwell Art Museum COST Free WHAT Includes the close of the benefit auction for the Animal Welfare Alliance and conclusion of the month-long show.

— Bootheel Battlegrounds 3 Dog Show, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. July 29 WHERE Black River Coliseum (additional information unavailable)

— Kids Day at the Museum: Cock-a-Doodle Moo Petting Zoo, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 29. WHERE Stars and Stripes Museum and Library. COST Free. WHAT Why are animals important during wartime? Learn why at the museum, and meet the animals of Cock-a-Doodle Moo Mobile Petting Zoo.

— Canning 101, 10:30 a.m. July 29. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT Learn how to can with Terri Jennings. Canning is a rewarding way to preserve and enjoy peak flavors all year long. Learn more about this popular technique and get started on your canning adventure.

— 3v3 Live Soccer Tour, noon-6 p.m. July 29 WHERE Whiteley Park

Don’t see your event? Let us know what you’ve got coming up and we’ll add it. Just email dailyamericanrepublic@darnews.com.