Live Music & On-The-Water Fun The Centerpieces of Aquapalooza 2019

AquaPalooza, the Lake of the Ozarks' one-day on-the-water music festival, returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill on Saturday, July 20. 

There's a reason AquaPalooza is the Lake of the Ozarks' largest family-friendly summer
concert event each year; it combines many of the best things about the area, like on-the-water fun, live music, boating, swimming and great food and drinks.

Now entering its 14th year, AquaPalooza brings out about 1,000 boats and roughly 10,000 people to Dog Days Bar & Grill, 1232 Jeffries Road in Osage Beach or by water at the 19 mile-marker, for a day of fun and musical entertainment.

"We're proud to have continued AquaPalooza throughout the years and our goal is to make it better every year," says Denny Benne, owner of Benne Media and one of the event's organizers.  "I think this year's lineup is one of the best we've ever had. As AquaPalooza
gains more and more national exposure, we're able to attract bigger bands. It's going to be a great event and I look forward to seeing everyone July 20."

Sponsored by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association and presented by Benne Media, AquaPalooza is open to the public and free to attend. The festivities get underway at 12 noon and run until 5 p.m. and include live music performed on Dog Days' outdoor stage by four different bands as well as games, contests along with prizes.

The musical lineup for 2019 includes Dirt Road Addiction, a country-rock band hailing from Sedalia, Mo.; Machine Gun Symphony, an '80s-themed hair metal cover band that counts AC/DC, Guns 'n Roses and Def Leppard among their influences; the Nashville-based Chris Weaver Band, whose sound combines southern rock, soul and bluesy country rock; and Superjam, a popular party band from St. Louis that plays the biggest hits from the '70s and '80s.

Although the action doesn't officially get started until noon, many boats start lining up in the water in front of Dog Days in the morning to claim optimal viewing points for the afternoon's concerts. Come time for the fun to begin, a large, colorful fleet of boats and floats and tubes dot the immediate vicinity of the stage area.

In addition to the music, games and contests, attendees of AquaPalooza also take advantage of Dog Days' two swimming pools, family-friendly areas, swim-up bars, delicious food and cold drinks, making for a full day of fun and entertainment at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Complete details for AquaPalooza 2019 and a list of sponsoring entities can be found at

FunLake.com/aquapalooza.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Live Music Takes Center Stage At The Lake Of The Ozarks This Summer

For great times and great bands, there's no better place than Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks this summer.

On any given day during the summer months, visitors will have no trouble finding live music at nearly any of the 200 restaurants and nightspots as well as the area's most popular resorts and entertainment complexes at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation. Many venues around the Lake of the Ozarks feature up-and-coming local musicians as well as bigger names in the business. What's better than enjoying some delicious food, refreshing beverages, stunning Lakeside scenery and toe-tapping tunes with friends or family?

For those hoping to catch some of their all-time favorite performers, two of the Lake of the Ozark's largest outdoor music venues host many of the biggest names in the recording industry during their summer concert series. These shows alone are worth planning a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.

Shawnee Bluff Vineyard, located off Highway 54 at 8 Tolwood Road between Eldon and Lake Ozark, features an outdoor wine garden and amphitheater set on 40 acres of rolling hills overlooking the winery's vineyard. Each summer Shawnee Bluff hosts a fine selection of country music's brightest stars. 

The month of June brings  Diamond Rio to the stage on Friday, June 14 to play their biggest hits "One More Time," "Meet in the Middle," and "Norma Jean Riley," which all spent time on the top of the country charts in the '90s. Saturday, June 29 sees  Craig Morgan, who has had 17 hits make the Billboard country charts, take to the Shawnee Bluff stage. 

July brings Missouri-born songstress Sara Evans to perform on Saturday, July 6 while Wynonna and The Big Noise, featuring Wynonna Judd - half of country music's biggest hit making mother-daughter duo, The Judds - will entertain crowds on Saturday, July 20. To close out the month, Trace Adkins brings his soulful country grooves to the vineyard on Friday, July 26. 

September offers a little bit more of a musical mix with Clint Black, one of the best-selling country music artists of all time, playing on Saturday, Sept. 7 followed by a performance by an up-and-coming Missouri-born country star, Tyler Farr, on Friday, Sept. 13. Southern rock giants38 Special closes out September with a high-energy rock show on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

The Shawnee Bluff Vineyard concert series concludes with a performance by Grammy-winners  The Oak Ridge Boys on Friday, October 11.

All of the shows at Shawnee Bluff Vineyard are billed as being all-ages shows. Doors open at 5 p.m. with live music being performed by local musicians on the patio from 5-7 p.m. to start the evening. Headliners take the stage at 8 p.m. during each concert, with professional fireworks displays to follow most performances at the close of the evening. Depending on the show, tickets start at $39 per person. For more details on the performers, or to order tickets, either call  573-365-1100 or visit   www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com/concerts/.

Shawnee Bluff's second location, Shawnee Bluff Winery, located on the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, features live music every weekend throughout the year. For more information on both locations - the Vineyard and the Winery - as well as a full events calendar, visit  www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com.

Ozarks Amphitheater, located at  2629 North Business Route 5 near Camdenton, is the Lake of the Ozarks' largest outdoor music venue. Voted the best large outdoor music venue in the state by readers of Missouri Magazine, Ozark Amphitheater's fifth annual summer concert series starts off with a bang with the Outlaws and Renegades Tour on Friday, June 7. The Outlaws and Renegades Tour features Travis Tritt, who has seven platinum-selling albums and two Grammys to his name, the legendary Charlie Daniels Band, best known for his  Grammy-winning smash hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and up-and-coming southern rockers The Cadillac Three. On Sunday, June 9, Ozarks Amphitheater hosts the Missouri Symphony Orchestra for a "Hot Summer Nights" community concert called "Strike Up the Band." Nashville-based country music band Old Dominion, whose most recent album "Happy Endings" landed as the number one album on the Billboard Country charts, plays the amphitheater on Saturday, June 22 along with special guests Granger Smith and Murphy's Ford. St. Louis-born rapper Nelly, who won a Grammy in 2004 and whose first two albums reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts, plays with fellow St. Louisian Chingy on Friday, June 28. And, on Saturday, June 29, award-winning country music star Gary Allan takes to the amphitheater's stage.

In July, Ozarks Amphitheater hosts the Grammy-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, best known for their hit "Fishin' in the Dark," and the southern rock sounds of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, famous for their hits "Jackie Blue" and "If You Want to Get to Heaven," on Saturday, July 6. Five Finger Death Punch, one of the most successful heavy metal rock bands of the 2000s, plays on Tuesday, July 16. August heats up as award-winning rapper Wiz Khalifa entertains the crowds at Ozarks Amphitheater on Friday, Aug. 2. The much anticipated Crossover Christian Music Festival returns Friday through Monday, Sept. 20-23. There are more concerts to be announced, so it's recommended that visitors keep an eye on the Ozarks Amphitheater website, www.OzarksAmp.com, or Facebook page.

For most shows at the amphitheater, doors open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Depending on the artist, tickets for each show run from $20 per person general admission up to $600 for VIP table seating.  For more information on the 10,000-seat Ozarks Amphitheater, or to order tickets for the upcoming concert series, please call 573-346-0000 or visit www.OzarksAmp.com . 

The Horny Toad Entertainment Complex at Camden on the Lake Resort, 2359 Bittersweet Road in Lake Ozark. The Horny Toad has been a summertime live music staple at the Lake of the Ozarks for years and has hosted big names such as Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Quiet Riot and Bret Michaels in the past. This summer, the Horny Toad features local and regional favorites on their lakeside outdoor stage every weekend beginning Friday, May 17. For more details on the calendar of events at the Horny Toad, visit www.HToads.com or call 573-365-5620.

Aquapalooza, The Lake's largest family boating and concert event on the water returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill on July 20th. This year's one day line-up includes regional favorites Dirt Road Addiction, Machine Gun Symphony, Chris Weaver Band and Super Jam; All starting at 12 p.m. noon and going until 5 p.m. Visit www.funlake.com/aquapalooza for more information. Aquapalooza is a Benne Media production. 

And that's not all! To find more live music taking place around the Lake this summer, visitors should head to the event calendar at www.FunLake.com or check the websites or Facebook pages of their favorite restaurants, bars and other venues.

For those looking to make a vacation out of their concert experiences, there is a wide selection of accommodations available at the Lake of the Ozarks. Visitors can choose from full-service luxury resorts, family-owned resorts, charming bed and breakfasts, rustic cabins, campgrounds and RV parks, spacious vacation rental homes and condominiums, as well as hotels and motels.

For more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and lodging and dining options available at the Lake, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Lake of the Ozarks Music Scene In Full Swing This Summer

On any given weekend during the summer, visitors to Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks will find a wide array of musical performances taking place around the area. Many of the Lake's resorts and 200 eateries and night spots showcase local musicians as well as some more renowned acts, because what's a trip to the Lake without a little music and sunshine? It doesn't matter what genre a visitor is looking for, whether it be rock and roll, blues, country or bluegrass, the Lake of the Ozarks always strikes the perfect chord.  Below is a highlight of some of the musical acts coming to four of the Lake's larger outdoor stages this summer. H. TOAD'S AT CAMDEN ON THE LAKE RESORT, LAKE OZARK H. Toad's Bar and Grill at Camden on the Lake Resort, Spa and Yacht Club features live music on two separate stages, one indoors and one outdoors, every weekend. In the past, H. Toad's entertainment complex has featured well known acts like Cheap Trick, Molly Hatchet, Nelly, Dr. Zhivagas, the American Hitman Band, as well as many popular local bands. Over Memorial Day Weekend, H. Toad's hosts Contagious, dubbed one of the best party bands in the Midwest, for three consecutive nights on their outdoor stage, May 27-29. This summer, H.Toad's, which was just voted the "Best Entertainment on the Water" by readers of Lake Lifestyles Magazine, will host at least four live performances every weekend. The event schedule is too packed to list all of the bands performing, so for a complete calendar of upcoming shows, please visit www.HToads.com. OZARKS AMPHITHEATER, CAMDENTON This 10,000-seat open-air music venue celebrated its grand reopening in mid-June 2015 with its first annual summer concert series featuring many big name bands, including the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Guess Who, Tracy Lawrence, Warrant and others.  This summer, the owners and operators, who also have experience at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver, Col., have more in store for music lovers as they kick off their second annual concert series Memorial Day Weekend with a show headlined by GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum-selling recording artist Aaron Lewis on Sunday, May 29. The show will open with Andrew Stratman and CristiAna, with a special appearance by the Army National Guard. On Saturday, June 11, one of the most influential bands of the '90s, the Gin Blossoms, and their signature "jangle pop" sound will be on full display. The amphitheater hosts two of country music's biggest names in July and August. The Country Music Award-winning Eli Young Band headlines on Saturday, July 23. Nationally renowned Parmalee bring their North Carolina-based Southern country-rock music to the Ozarks stage on Saturday, Aug. 6. The 2016 summer series hits a crescendo as the legendary "Motor City Madman" Ted Nugent and special guests Head East wrap up the party on Saturday, Aug. 12. For tickets and more information on the upcoming performers and/or the venue, please visit www.OzarksAmp.com, or call 573-346-0000. PICKLEHEAD'S ROADHOUSE, SUNRISE BEACH Picklehead's Road House is one of the Lake of the Ozarks' newest music venues and immediately put its stamp on the local music scene last year as it hosted Head East, Bret Michaels and 38 Special, and more. Picklehead's boasts a four-story entertainment complex complete with a large outdoor stage, multiple dining options and a zip line.  Picklehead's summer season gets underway with a jam-packed Memorial Day Weekend as they host Members Only on Friday, May 27; a double-bill featuring Madd Hoss Jackson followed by Blackberry Smoke on Saturday, May 28; and, on Sunday, May 29, Drew Baldridge headlines a free, all-ages show beginning at 8 p.m. In mid-June, the MidCoast BikeFest rolls into town. This weekend will be packed with custom motorcycles, contests and live music, including Shannon Curfman of Kid Rock as well as local heavyweights Shaman's Harvest on June 17. On June 18, attendees can look forward to performances by Adairs Run followed by the Bellamy Brothers. The weekend will also feature several special guests, including emcee "Goat," as well as bartenders from the famous Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, South Dakota. To celebrate America's Independence Day, Picklehead's will host two double-bills on Friday and Saturday.  Lenny Cooper and Colt Ford will entertain audiences on Saturday, July 2, and, on July 3, Brushville and Backroad Anthem close out the weekend with a free, all-ages show. For aficionados of one of America's most beloved musical genres, the blues, Picklehead's will be the place to be on Saturday, July 23. The 2016 Blues Festival features the Norman Jackson Band, Steve Smith and the Sneakers, E.D. Anderson, Steepwater Band and Davy Knowles. Music begins at 1 p.m. To view Picklehead's complete event schedule, or to order tickets and get more information on the venue, visit www.PickleheadsRoadHouse.com. SHAWNEE BLUFF VINEYARD, ELDON Shawnee Bluff Vineyard is situated on 40 scenic acres of rolling pastures lined with rows of grapevines and is a year-around destination for Lake visitors wanting to sample some of the area's best wines. But, during the summer months, many flock to the Vineyard not just for the fruits of its labor, but for its musical performances.  Shawnee Bluff's annual outdoor concert series has been both a highlight and staple at the Lake of the Ozarks for years and always brings in some of the biggest names in country and classic rock for select weekends throughout the season. The 2016 summer series features the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, famous for their monster hit, "Fishing in the Dark," on June 3. Country music sweetheart Lorrie Morgan graces the stage on July 15. The multi-award-winning country star Mickey Gilley plays his famous hits on August 19, and the legendary Charlie Daniels Band returns to the Vineyard on August 26. The summer series concludes with two shows in September, featuring the raucous rockabilly sounds of Reverend Horton Heat on September 10 and the sweet harmonies of The Oak Ridge Boys on September 23.  Aside from these notable acts, Shawnee Bluff Vineyard also features local artists every Sunday throughout the summer and their second location, Shawnee Bluff Winery in Lake Ozark, features live music every weekend throughout the year. For more information on both locations - the Vineyard and the Winery - as well as a full events calendar, visit www.ShawneeBluffWinery.com. For a complete list of concerts and other family-friendly events taking place at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation, please call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) at 1-800-FUN-Lake. Or, visit the CVB's award-winning website at www.FunLake.com. Visitors can also find a wealth of information about the different lodging facilities, 200 restaurants and bars and other Lake-area attractions on the CVB's website as well.

AquaPalooza Returns July 18, 2015

AquaPalooza, the Lake's largest family-friendly boating and floating event, returns to Dog Days Bar & Grill at the Lake of the Ozarks on Saturday, July 18, 2015. One of the most popular summertime happenings at the Lake, AquaPalooza,  brings in thousands of people to Dog Days Bar and Grill for a free event, which is equal parts concert-on-the-water and boating party. The festivities run from noon until 5:00 pm and feature live music, games, prizes and much more. The music begins around noon, but on Saturday morning, spectators in boats and floats begin lining the cove outside of Dog Days, which is located at the 19 mile marker by water and 1232 Jefferies Road in Osage Beach by land, creating a colorful and  festive flotilla in front of the waterside stage to get the best vantage point of the live musical entertainment. Dog Days features a swimming area, boat slip rentals, as well as an impressive selection of delicious dining options and frozen concoctions, making it a one-stop-shop for an enjoyable day on and around the water. "There is nothing else like this at the Lake," said Tim Jacobsen, executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau. "It's a really cool event at a great venue and it's totally free to come watch the different bands. It's awesome to see how many people come out to enjoy AquaPalooza."  Jacobsen credits Dog Days' General Manager Luke Hagedorn, along with local community members, including fire, law enforcement and ambulance services, for coming together to ensure the enjoyment and safety of all attendees.  "Dog Days Bar and Grill always does such a great job to make sure it remains a safe and fun event for everyone," he added. Event organizers always go out of their way to book entertaining and energetic bands to make a fun and memorable day on the water. The 2015 lineup includes several fan favorites from across the state spanning a variety of genres. Members Only (pictured to the right) hails from Springfield, Mo. and plays chart-topping hits from the '80s. State Line Drive is an infectious country-pop band from Kansas City. Disco Dick and the Mirrorballs, also from Kansas City, will keep the crowd in a frenzy with up-tempo, funky disco hits. And, Double Vision, a Foreigner tribute band who also calls Kansas City home, will play all the classic songs from one of the best-selling bands of all time. But, the party doesn't stop there. The live music continues inside on Dog Days' interior stage as Pearl Nation plays from 5:00 -9:00 pm, followed by an unabridged encore performance by Members Only from 10:00 pm until 1:00 am. AquaPalooza is a Benne Media production and this year's title sponsor is Budweiser. Additional sponsors include the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, Hy-Vee, First State Bank Mortgage and Elite Roofing. As part of the Benne Media group, the Lake's Classic Hits station, Cool 102.7 FM, will broadcast the concerts live on air, in their entirety, and Mix 92.7 FM and KS 95.1 FM will be making live updates throughout the event. For more information about AquaPalooza and to register for a Yamaha VX Deluxe Wave Runner to be given away right before the last band takes the stage, go to the website at www.FunLake.com/AquaPalooza.  For those looking to schedule a full weekend around AquaPalooza, the Lake of the Ozarks offers many different attractions and lodging options to fit all budgets and travel plans. From large, full-service resorts to smaller, family-owned resorts, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and RV parks, to chain hotels and independent motels, the Lake has it all. Many of the Lake's lodging properties also offer different discount packages, "shop and stay" packages as well as "stay and play" packages throughout the summer. For a complete list of lodging options, please visit the lodging page at www.FunLake.com.

Lake Event Photos: July 2013

Summer is now almost halfway over, and we have been out shooting photos at a couple of Lake of the Ozarks' favorite events, The 6th Annual Support Our Troops Poker Run and the increasingly popular, Aquapalooza 2013.

The Support Our Troops Poker Run, now in its sixth year has grown to include over 120 boats with over 500 people from all over the United States. As a poker run for charity, the Support Our Troops Poker Run has raised over $70,000 for charities that directly benefit soldiers and their families. Numbers for the 2013 event aren't in quite yet, but judging from the photos, this year was very successful. View the set of 50 photos taken from on the water at http://bit.ly/1c3j9Hn

Aquapalooza, the Lake's biggest family boating and live music event, came back to Dog Days bigger and better than ever before. 2013 featured the young up and coming musician Nic Cowan, The Brian Collins Band, The Devonshires and from Kansas City, Rock Paper Scissors. Great live music and family fun on the water is what Aquapalooza is all about, and 2013 did not disappoint. We shot hundreds of photos of the musicians, fans, families and scenery over the 5 hour event, and have narrowed it down to the best 160 of them. Enjoy the images here: http://bit.ly/143lOQE

We maintain an ever-expanding photo library of nearly all of the Lake's big events as well as Lake of the Ozarks seasonal scenic beauty, attractions and activities. To view the broad catalog of our event photos, simply visit http://funlake.zenfolio.com/lotoevents - If you happen to find a photo that you would love to have your own copy of, we will be happy to supply you with a password to download the original, high resolution file. Just send us an email at photos@funlake.com with the specific image information (Event, Date and Photo Number) and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Aquapalooza 2013

Get ready for Aquapalooza, the single largest one-day family boating event and on-the-water concert at Lake of the Ozarks on Saturday, July 20, 2013 from Noon to 5 pm. Best of all... it's FREE!

Presented by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, the Lake of the Ozarks CVB, Budweiser, and the Benne Media Group, Aquapalooza is hosted by Dog Days Bar and Grill on Jeffries Road in Osage Beach at the 19 Mile Marker. Aquapalooza is an afternoon of family-friendly fun and music on the water. This year's event will feature up-and-coming musicians Nic Cowan and the Brian Collins Band, the classic rock of The Devonshires and, from Kansas City, the acoustic vocal trio Rock Paper Scissors. For information, photos and links to performing artists' websites, visit www.funlake.com/aquapalooza

Another Weekend of Great Events on the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip

LAKE OF THE OZARKS BLUES & BBQ WEEKEND

See amateur and professional chefs try to "smoke" the competition and enjoy cool blues music during the second annual Lake of the Ozarks Blues and BBQ Weekend, May 17-18, on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark. This Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event is open to the public and features a barbeque cook-off, live blues music, a vendor village, and all-you-can-eat barbeque for $5. On Saturday, visitors can catch a shuttle to and from the Blues & BBQ festivities to the nearby Oma and Noma Heritage Festival activities to enjoy even more great music and great Lake-area fun. For more information about the event or about how to enter the cook-off, contact Jon Hartenstein at 573-480-9866 or visit www.lakebbq.com.

OMA AND NOMA HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Travel back in time during the Oma and Noma Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 18, on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark. This festival celebrates Oma and Noma Degraffenreid, the two ladies who were the first to travel across Bagnell Dam when it opened in 1931. The festival features arts and crafts, vintage automobiles, Ozark storytellers, pageants, Bagnell Dam tours, a dog show and much more. There are a couple new features to this year's festival, including live music that progresses through the decades as the day goes on featuring blues, bluegrass and Ozark folk music in the morning, live jazz from the '30s and '40s in the afternoon, and classics from the '50s, '60s and '70s in the evening. And,
since this year's event is held in conjunction with the Blues & BBQ Weekend, visitors will be able to catch a shuttle to and from both events. To find out about all things Oma and Noma, visit www.omanomaheritagefestival.com

Louise Harrison's Liverpool Legends Take the Lake Stage

Their equipment has been unloaded and the Main Street Music Hall stage in Osage Beach is being set for what has become our favorite annual Spring performances at The Lake. This marks the 5th year that Louise Harrison's Liverpool Legends have brought their show to Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks. 

For those that don't know who she is, Louise Harrison is the sister of the late George Harrison. Louise hand-picked every member of the Liverpool Legends to pay tribute to her famous brother's band, The Beatles. The band has been playing to sold out crowds around the world and headlining their own production in Branson, Missouri since 2006. Every aspect of the Liverpool Legends show perfectly replicates The Beatles look and sound as they play favorite songs that span the entire Beatles catalog. Aside from seeing Paul McCartney or Ringo Star in concert, this is as close to the real Beatles experience as one can get. 

Limited tickets are still available for both shows, Friday March 8th and Saturday, March 9th. Call us at 573-348-1599 to reserve your seats. We are honored to have Liverpool Legends return for their 5th consecutive year and look forward to them coming back for many years to come. If you can't catch the shows this year, mark your calendar for the first weekend of March 2014, as we have every intention of bringing Liverpool Legends back for their 6th annual performance at Lake of the Ozarks.