John Boy set for Wilder Days

There are a pair of headlining acts ready to entertain fans attending the 2026 Wilder Days Friday-Saturday, Sep. 25-26 in Mansfield.
Coming from Hollywood this year is actor Richard Thomas, who is known for his role as John Boy on “The Waltons” and for portraying Charles “Pa” Ingalls in the made-for-TV movie, “Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder.”
Thomas will headline the Seventh Annual Wilder Days benefit dinner on Friday, Sep. 25 at Mansfield High School as doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets cost $85 per person for the dinner. Meet and greet tickets will be made available for table and/or event sponsors.
All proceeds benefit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum.
Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/d/mo--mansfield/all-events/
For more information, call 417-924-3625.
Also on Friday night, the group, DEK of Hearts, will be entertaining the crowd from the gazebo on the square in downtown Mansfield. Their concert is slated from 7:30-9 p.m.
The group was scheduled for the 2025 Wilder Days event, but had to cancel once they were selected for Season 28 of “The Voice” on NBC.
Once on the show, the trio earned a four-chair turn before finishing as a top three finalist.
This year, DEK of Hearts was invited to play at the famous Grand Ole Opry back in May.
Their appearance in Mansfield is being sponsored by HomePride Bank.
Last week, it was also announced that the Isaac Kenneth Band, from Seymour, will be performing from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 26.