Ava and the annual MFTHBA World Show
Accommodation in Ava
The MFTHBA World Show and Celebration is an annual reason to plan a trip to Ava; workshops by the Ava Art Guild and cultural and nature-related topics offer other areas of interest. If you are looking for a hotel in Ava, first decide whether your dates depend on the event or whether you want to plan your trip around other themes.
Which dates could shape your trip?
The Ava Art Guild holds monthly workshops from March to November, on the second Saturday of each month. Participation is free and open to everyone. Presenters and workshop details may change. If a particular date or topic is important to your trip, check the information for the relevant workshop.
The MFTHBA World Show and Celebration takes place every year in the week of Labor Day in Ava; the exact dates may vary from year to year. The event features competitions in the Performance, Model, Versatility, Ranch Sorting, and Ranch Horse classes. Versatility classes may include Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, English, Reining, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, and Ranch Horse classes; the possible selection may change with the show program. For planning purposes, this means the workshops follow a monthly schedule from March to November, while the show follows an annual schedule around the week of Labor Day. Check the exact dates if you are planning your trip around the show.
Cultural topics and natural features
The Douglas County Museum displays antiques and assists researchers with genealogy inquiries. If you are researching your family history, this museum service is a focused place to start. Saint Leo Church is a church in the vicinity of Ava.
Bryant Creek State Park covers more than 2,900 acres and has nearly 2 miles of shoreline along Bryant Creek. Two hiking trails run through the northern part of the park. Other landscape features include four side valleys that pass through untouched forest and by sandstone outcrops. You can organize nature-related interests around the features that appeal to you: water, hiking trails, or the combination of forest and sandstone.
Getting to the venue
To travel from Springfield to the MFTHBA World Headquarters and Showgrounds, take U.S. 60 East to the Missouri 5 exit (Mansfield/Ava), then head south on Missouri 5. This route provides specific directions if your trip is connected to the event. Road conditions and signage may change; check them before you leave. This gives you a route to include in your plans, in addition to the event dates.
For the broader travel overview: Douglas.
