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HALLSVILLE, MO. -- Thousands of people are visiting the Northern Boone County City of Hallsville for some family fun.

The 16th Annual Hallsville Heritage Days are taking place at The Hallsville Fairgrounds.

Richard Campbell of Hallsville’s Masonic Lodge 336 is one of the main cooks offering everything from hamburgers to hotdogs to bratwursts.

Campbell said, “We usually set us up a big tent out here and put a couple of tables in it.  People take turns coming in and working.  They give each other breaks.  It’s good fellowship.  We enjoy it.  A lot of us do it.”

Some vendors traveled from out of town to offer train and pony rides at the 3-day event.  Other entertainment is home grown, like a clogging performance and a barbeque competition.  The Hallsville Fairgrounds has a roller hockey rink, a multipurpose building for indoor activities and lots of space for outdoor fun.

Event Co-Organizer Katie Merrill said, “We have old-fashioned sack races, three-legged races and a watermelon eating contest.  All of those games are free and open to families to come and have fun together.”

Hallsville Heritage Days doesn’t have big carnival rides, monster trucks or even a demolition derby.  It does offer a lot of fun for a little bit of money.  The majority of events are free.

Event Co-Organizer Elaine George said, “We are a very low key fair.  We’re community oriented and family oriented.  We want our fair to be a place where people could come and relax and have a good time and not have to worry spending money every five minutes with their children.”

All you need is a few dollars for food and souvenirs, and you’re ready for some old-fashioned Hallsville fun.

Profits from the concession stand at Hallsville Heritage Days support an annual scholarship for one lucky senior at Hallsville High School.

The event takes place between now and Saturday night.