The California Area Chamber of Commerce met for its regular monthly board meeting last Thursday, discussing some early planning for this year's Ozark Ham & Turkey Festival.
A number of early details have been hammered out, with more to come at the festival committee's next planning meeting May 3.
For now, some staples that are set to return include the Eagles' usual events, such as a dine-in and carry-out breakfast and a barbecue contest.
As for differences, the festival's car show will take place on the Moniteau County Fairgrounds this time around. Festival committee members said they are hoping to move more festival activities down to the south end of High Street, closer to the post office and California Progress, Inc.'s future Latham Memorial Family Park.
Also happening in conjunction with the fair will be a number of events planned by the Oak Street Business District, starting Thursday and extending through the day of the festival Sept. 18; these events will be a part of "Oaktoberfest," an Oak Street Business District event series first brought to the community in 2020.
The board also discussed a pair of other Chamber events, one just passed and another coming this summer. The Chamber's Easter egg hunt went well, board members agreed, with helping hands from Chamber members making for a successful day. With that event in the rearview, the Chamber's annual golf tournament is in the works; tee-off is set for 8:30 a.m. June 9.
Other items taken care of at Thursday's meeting included additional scholarship funds for this year's recipients; an additional $1,675 in donations to the Chamber's scholarship fund was submitted from Chamber members along with dues renewals, Chamber Executive Secretary Sandra Ratcliff said. The board approved adding $1,500 of that amount to the standing $2,000 it had approved for scholarships for this year.
The California Area Chamber of Commerce's next regular meeting will take place at 8 a.m. May 13.