AUXVASSE - If winter weather has you feeling alone and blue, why not come in from the cold, crack open a peanut and play a round of pinochle with friends?
Feb. 17-22 is the 60th annual Loafer's Week in Auxvasse.
"Loafer's Week is held every year in late winter so everyone can get together and visit," explained Donal Knipp, organizer and longtime participant. "Loafers Week began as a one-day event 60 years ago at the grain elevator and has grown to a week-long celebration."
Attendees may play card games, dominoes and other board games. Free coffee, iced tea and peanuts will be available all week for everyone that attends. This all takes place at the Auxvasse Community Hall on Main Street beginning at 8 a.m. each day.
"People attend each year from all over Central Missouri," Knipp said. "Loafer's Week has become a reunion for a lot of people that were born and raised in the Auxvasse community and then moved away due to their jobs."
To highlight the town's history, he plans to hang old photographs of Auxvasse on the walls and distribute pamphlets about local history.
"I don't know if Loafer's Week will go on another 60 years, but I hope it does," Knipp said.
The challenge, he said, is getting the younger generations interested and participating - especially because Loafer's Week largely takes place on weekdays, when most younger folks are either at school or work. During last year's event, Knipp's young relatives had Monday off due to Presidents Day, so he brought them along to help serve lunch.
"Everyone that comes enjoys it and wants to help with it," he said. "All of my nieces and nephews came and helped; they loved it."
Lunch will be served each day at 11 a.m., each time prepared by a different organization. This year, all meals are priced at $8. Part of the proceeds goes back to the community center, and participating nonprofits get to keep the rest.
Feb. 17: The Knipp family will serve spaghetti, green beans, garlic bread, dessert and a drink. (Knipp said he plans to donate all proceeds back to the community center.)
Feb. 18: Callaway Bank will serve fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, a roll, dessert and a drink.
Feb. 19: Sons of Confederate Veterans will serve pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, dessert and a drink.
Feb. 20: Auxvasse Community Center will serve turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, slaw, dessert and a drink.
Feb. 21: The Mexico Go Gitters will serve pork loin, brown potatoes, green beans, a roll, dessert and a drink
Feb. 22: Auxvasse Lions Club will serve its famed all-you-can-eat pancakes along with bacon, sausage, orange juice, milk and coffee from 8 a.m.-noon.
Purchasing a meal buys entry into a drawing for $50 cash gifts donated by United Security Bank.
The Auxvasse Lions Club will also be holding a 50/50 raffle all week with the proceeds going to the hall. The winning names will be drawn and gifts given Feb. 22. You do not have to be present to win.
For more information, call Knipp at 573-386-5175.