Your weekend at the Lake — races, Aquapalooza, and a movie under the stars

It's a packed one. Movies at the Park is showing Zootopia tonight, Friday, 8:30 p.m. at Osage Beach City Park — bring a chair or blanket. The Ozarks Grand Prix runs Friday through Sunday at Ozarks International Raceway in Gravois Mills, if engines are more your speed.

Saturday adds two more: Aquapalooza 2026 runs noon–5 p.m. at Captain Ron's in Sunrise Beach, and the Camden County Museum in Linn Creek is hosting a Classic Car Show & Ice Cream Social from 6–8 p.m.

If you're heading out on the water this weekend, it's worth a once-over on your gear before you go — RuggedDiscovery.com has straightforward buyer's guides for boat and lake gear if anything needs replacing. (Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission if you use it, at no extra cost to you.)

Oasis Lake of the Ozarks hit another construction milestone this week — vertical work is now underway on Dragon Run, the amusement park's signature roller coaster. Still early, but it's the clearest sign yet of what the finished park is actually going to look like.

Restaurateur George Tucker — the name behind Tucker's Shuckers, Neon Taco, Malted Monkey, and Franky & Louie's — has an 18,000-square-foot, five-level entertainment complex on track to open on the Bagnell Dam Strip, between Neon Taco and the dam itself. The lower two levels bring two pools, three bars, swim-up service, and boat docks at the 0 Mile Marker with a Mediterranean/Greek concept. The middle levels house "Happies Social Club," a year-round dive bar with shuffleboard and duckpin bowling. The rooftop is a cocktail and appetizer bar overlooking the dam. Given Tucker's track record at the Lake, this is one worth watching.

You may remember Osage Beach's FreedomFest fireworks got postponed this July 4th after vendor AM Pyrotechnics backed out — the same company also left a Camdenton-area show at Lake Valley Golf Club out roughly $15,000 in prepaid costs. Here's the rest of the story: AM Pyrotechnics, based in Buffalo, MO, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in February — its second bankruptcy since 2014 — following a fatal fire at its facility last November that killed an employee. As of July 8, the Arkansas Attorney General's office confirmed an active investigation into the company is underway. Still unresolved as of this writing.

Camdenton High School grad Kam Durnin — who went on to Wichita State and then Mizzou — was selected by the Houston Astros in the 4th round (No. 121 overall) of the MLB Draft on July 11. The shortstop hit .329/.438/.570 with 9 home runs and 11 stolen bases this spring at Mizzou, after being named the 2025 Appalachian League Player of the Year. A hometown name worth watching.

The Tri-County YMCA of the Ozarks hosts its 9th annual Christmas in July 5K on Saturday, July 25, with the race starting at 7 a.m. Registration and details are at lakeymca.org or by calling 573-348-9230.

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