Wine & Food Celebration

Wine & Food Celebration is an annual food and wine event held in Springfield, Missouri, organized by Ozarks Public Television (OPT) to benefit educational children's programming — with all proceeds supporting the station's public broadcasting mission. The event has historically featured hundreds of wines alongside food from Springfield restaurants, craft beer, and specialty cocktails, drawing on the local culinary community each fall.

The Wine & Food Celebration is organized by Ozarks Public Television, a PBS member station licensed to Missouri State University and based at 901 S. National Ave in Springfield. The event functions as a fundraiser: every dollar raised supports OPT's children's programming services, including OPT PBS KIDS, which provides educational content to families across the Ozarks region. That charitable purpose has defined the event's identity since its founding.

Planning note: The 2025 Wine & Food Celebration has been canceled. Ozarks Public Television announced the decision citing difficulty securing sufficient vendor participation, with organizers acknowledging that staffing shortages and rising costs continue to affect Springfield's restaurant and beverage industry. The cancellation applies to 2025 only; OPT has stated it hopes to find ways to continue the event in future years. Prospective attendees should monitor OPT's social media channels and website at optv.org for updates, or contact the station directly at 417-836-3500 or [email protected].

Springfield sits in the Missouri Ozarks, a region better known for its outdoor character than for wine production, which means the Wine & Food Celebration has traditionally drawn wines from producers outside the immediate area rather than a single regional AVA. The event's strength has been its community focus — pairing local restaurant participation with a public-service mission — rather than a concentration on any particular wine style or appellation.