Thursday shortlist: Socktober, free Pink Out soccer, Empty Bowls, and horror authors
Free Socktober storytime at Midtown, MSU Pink Out soccer at Allison South, Empty Bowls at Panera Campbell, and Alma Katsu with Saratoga Schaefer at the Library Center.
Thursday, October 1
Thursday opens with Socktober at Midtown, then a free Pink Out soccer afternoon, an Empty Bowls stop on Campbell for kids' weekend meals, and a free horror-author night at Hatch.
Socktober Storytime at Midtown Carnegie
Thursday, October 1 · 10-10:30am · free · infants-age 6
Midtown Carnegie Branch Library · Children's Department · 397 E Central St
Celebrate Socktober with a short Racing to Read storytime - and bring new packages of socks for Ambassadors for Children to pass to foster kids and teens. All sizes welcome; donation bins stay out through October 31 at every branch and the Mobile Library.
Best for: caregivers with littles who want a free Midtown morning plus an easy way to help.
Skip if: you need a later start - this one wraps by 10:30am (other branches run Socktober slots later in the week).
MSU Women's Soccer Pink Out vs Jax State
Thursday, October 1 · 1:30pm · free admission
Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium
Missouri State hosts Jacksonville State in its Conference USA home opener - free to get in, Pink Out promotion, and ESPN+ if you cannot make the stands. Prefer the university's Sep 30 game notes (1:30pm CT); some older calendars still show a later kickoff, so confirm before you leave.
Best for: a free campus afternoon when you want outdoors without hunting tickets.
Skip if: you need a guaranteed evening start - kickoff is afternoon per the latest MSU release.
Empty Bowls at Panera Campbell
Thursday, October 1 · 3-7pm · purchase a handcrafted bowl
Panera Bread · 4100 S Campbell Ave
Ozarks Food Harvest's in-person Empty Bowls day - shop local artists' bowls (including Woodturners of Southwest Missouri pieces) to fund the Weekend Backpack Program for nearly 1,800 kids across 15 counties. First 250 bowl buyers get free soup and bread from Panera while supplies last. Online shopping ran Sep 24-30; Thursday is the in-person exclusive collection.
Best for: anyone who wants a keepsake that feeds kids' weekend backpacks.
Skip if: you already bought online and do not need the in-person shelf - the Panera window is the live browse day.
Terrifying Tales Reimagined at the Library Center
Thursday, October 1 · 7-8pm · free · adults
Library Center · Hatch Auditorium · 4653 S Campbell Ave
New York Times bestselling Alma Katsu and USA Today bestselling Saratoga Schaefer talk modern horror retellings - Katsu's Incarnate (a Dorian Gray story through influencers and deepfakes) and Schaefer's A Thousand Monstrous Forms (a sapphic Bluebeard). Books for purchase and signing. An Oh, the Horror! event sponsored by Friends of the Library.
Best for: a free sit-down author night when you want October atmosphere without a ticket hunt.
Skip if: you want a kids program - this Hatch slot is listed for adults.