The Ozark Folk Center is a state park dedicated to keeping the traditional crafts and music of the Ozark hills alive — and visible. The Craft Village holds twenty or so working shops, each staffed by an artisan demonstrating a single trade: blacksmithing, broom-making, candle-dipping, basketry, weaving, lye-soap making, wood-turning, doll-making, and several more. The work is real — they make goods to sell — and the artisans talk freely about what they are doing. Plan on two or three hours to see it properly.
In the evening, the centre's auditorium hosts live music concerts most nights from April to October — traditional fiddle, banjo, mountain dulcimer, gospel quartets — performed by local and visiting Ozark musicians. The same site has a herb garden, a restaurant serving Ozark-style cooking, and a lodge for overnight stays. Buy a combined day-and-concert ticket for the best value.