Festivals - Missouri Division of Tourism

MISSOURI DIVISION OF TOURISM
FESTIVALS IN MISSOURI
IT’S MORE THAN A FESTIVAL. IT’S A PARTY!
Missouri has festivals celebrating everything from pumpkins to barbecue, historic
sites to wildlife, musical entertainment to crafts, the Civil War to local history, and
wineries to just living life. Add the spectacle of midway rides, competitions, rodeos,
livestock shows, baby pageants, barbecue contests, and food—let’s not forget the
food—and you have exciting, inexpensive family fun and entertainment in every
region of the state. Most festivals last several days.
The summer season kicks off in Branson, with Silver Dollar City’s National Kids
Fest, mid June to mid July. KidsFest is loaded with outstanding family activities and
special shows: witness fantastic feats of skill; meet some of your favorite cartoon
characters; experience more than 30 rides and attractions, including the world
record breaking wood roller coaster, Outlaw Run. KidsFest is included with
admission to Silver Dollar City.
In early June, Sedalia presents the world famous Scott Joplin Festival. Nearly 100
hours of music, concerts, dances and dinner shows are presented at several free
and paid venues, all celebrating the life of one of the world’s best known ragtime
musicians and composers, Scott Joplin
Fair St. Louis
Route 66 Sum
merfest
If it’s down-home music you crave, get on down to the Old Time Music Ozark Heritage Festival, on the
square in West Plains, mid-June. Concerts and bands cover all types of music.
Work up an appetite in the hoedown and jig dancing contests. Celebrate the
unique culture of the Ozarks with artisans and crafters, storytellers, a mule
jumping contest, cooking demonstrations, and food.
In Rolla, the Route 66 Summerfest showcases the legacy of the “Mother Road.”
Thrill to the rumble of classic cars and motorcycles as they cruise along historic
Route 66. Backed by the sounds of classic “golden oldies” music, witness burn-out
contests and a street dance. Plus there are food stands, craft vendors, and lots of
fun games.
Fair Saint Louis, planned around the
Fourth of July, is held on the grounds
of the famous Gateway Arch. This
extravaganza is the largest festival in
Missouri. Throughout the family fun
event, you’ll be surrounded by great
concerts, air shows, activities for kids,
games and spectacular fireworks displays. Food and drink stands dot the
grounds, selling an extensive variety
of good eats. And it’s all free—well,
except for the food and drinks.
KidsFest
Across the state, in Kansas City that same July 4th
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weekend, KCRiverFest is another opportunity to celebrate with family entertainment, a long list of musical performances (rock,
country and ragtime), lots of food, and fantastic fireworks.
A must attend is the granddaddy of them all, the Missouri Stare Fair, usually in early August, in Sedalia. Missouri’s largest festival
and expo offers hours of fun for everyone: loads of competitions; free entertainment stages; a first-class midway; award-winning
livestock; a monster truck show; a truck and tractor pull; automobile races;
world-class horse shows, and food and drink galore. Concerts in the
grandstand include performances by world renowned acts. There is a large
camping area, accepting everything from tents to RVs.
At Jour de Fete, Ste. Genevieve–the oldest European settlement west of the
Mississippi River–is transformed into a gala gathering mid August. This
annual event, which celebrates the French history of the community,
features hundreds of artisans exhibiting their wares; activities include a
1700s French military encampment, entertainment, tours of historic sites,
and food and drink vendors.
Later in August, St. Charles presents the Festival of the Little Hills, the
city’s largest annual festival. Held along the banks of the Missouri River,
activities include more than 300 craft booths, demonstrations by artisans,
parades, live music, a special area for kids, and numerous food and
beverage stands.
Santa-Ca
li-Gon Days
Also late August, have a great time at St. Joseph’s annual “Trails West!”.
This arts festival fills the streets with visual, performance and culinary arts. This is a juried event; all works must be the
artist’s own original design. Three stages showcase all types of musical performances.
Later in August, Sikeston holds the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, the largest rodeo in the state. Professional cowboys and nationally
known musical performers keep the action going. The event includes the “Cowboy Up! Arts Festival,” where visitors meet the rodeo
clowns, enjoy the cowboy and western art, shop for crafts, and listen to a variety of music; and kids can ride a pony.
The last of August to early September, Santa-Cali-Gon Days is the largest festival in
Independence. The event celebrates the starting point of the Santa Fe,
California, and Oregon Trails. It includes: 400+ vendors; more than 100 food
booths; local and nationally known country and gospel performers; a carnival;
contests such as watermelon seed spitting, ice cream eating, and root beer
chugging; dancing; bingo; and other exciting activities.
The fall in Missouri provides plenty of opportunities for those searching for
festivals. In St. Louis, get your groove on at the Big Muddy Blues Festival, early
September. The party is two full days of local and national blues, soul and R&B
performers, playing and swinging in the streets of the Laclede’s Landing entertainment district. With three stages, featuring more than 30 performances, this
has become the region’s oldest and most popular blues event.
Roots ‘n Blue
s ‘n BBQ
In September, the small town of Conway plays host to the Starvy Creek Bluegrass
Festival. A lineup of country and bluegrass talent performs nearly 30 total hours of
music.
One of the largest fall events in central Missouri is in September, when Columbia hosts the Roots ‘n Blues ‘n BBQ Festival. The
downtown area is bustling with two days of music, food and fun. In addition to well-known acts on three stages, the festival features
a barbecue contest sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and a half marathon.
The Riverside Riverfest, in September, in Riverside include a parade, live entertainment, a 5K run, an inflatable carnival area for the
kids, and craft vendors. Live music from well-known acts and fireworks over the Missouri River close out a weekend of fun for the
whole family.
If Jesse James, bank robberies and the old west pique your interest, then the Liberty Fall Festival is for you. Highlights include a
reenactment of the daring 1866 robbery of the Clay County Savings Bank, which was attributed to outlaw Jesse James and his
gang. Taking place in the downtown area, you will find arts and crafts vendors, pedal-car races, carnival rides and a parade.
For the many fans of Walt Disney and his famous mouse, Marceline’s September festival, Toonfest, is a chance to get to know the
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hometown of the animation pioneer. Activities include a parade, live entertainment, an
international cartoonists symposium, and the International Cartoon Show. Youngsters are
encouraged to come in costume (think princesses and pirates) and enjoy their place in the
parade and a tea party.
October includes the Olde Tyme Apple Festival, a tradition in Versailles. Crowds flock for
activities such as a car cruise, live music, a 5K run, and a plethora of crafts and vendors. If
all that fun doesn’t wear you out, grab your clubs – and two friends – for the three-person
scramble golf tourney at Rolling Hills Country Club.
Waynesville’s headline festival in October is bound to make visitors a little jumpy.
Frogtober Fest celebrates all things froggy. Consider W.H. Croaker, the large rock along
Route 66 that’s been painted to look like a frog and has become somewhat of a local icon,
the unofficial master of ceremonies. Food vendors, including those selling deep-fried frog
legs, abound. Be sure to participate in the frog race, where sending a small, plastic frog down
Roubidoux Creek could win you cash prizes.
Silver Dollar City, in Branson, often called the Home of American Craftsmanship, welcomes
more than 125 visiting, world-class craftsmen and Best of Missouri Hands juried artists
during National Harvest Festival, which runs mid September to late October. They
demonstrate, display and sell their unique products.
As the mercury falls in October, things heat-up in Malden at Hot Chili–Cool Cars, the town’s
biggest event of the year. In addition to antique cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles, they
have arts and crafts, games for the kids, concerts, a beauty pageant and great food . . . and
don’t miss the chili cook-off, with cash prizes.
Toonfest
One of the last festivals of the calendar year is St. Joseph’s Pony Express PumpkinFest. One
of the highlights of PumpkinFest occurs with the simple flip of a switch, lighting of Great Pumpkin Mountain; more than 800 carved,
electrically lit pumpkins come to life. During the festival, there’s a costume parade for children, live entertainment, a petting zoo, and
craft booths.
November thru December marks what the Good Morning America TV program
called: “One of the top five holiday events in the U.S.,” and many magazines
consider the country’s best lighting and holiday festival. An Old Time Christmas, at
Silver Dollar City in Branson, includes more than four million lights, a holiday light
parade, a five-story special effects Christmas tree, fun family shows (including It’s
a Wonderful Life and the acclaimed A Dickens’ Christmas Carol), and festive food
and a winter wonderland.
CONTACTS
Yes, there are many more festivals throughout the year in Missouri . . . almost
every weekend. To find more, visit Missouri’s official travel website, VisitMO.com.
Come to Missouri and have fun. Missouri . . . Enjoy the Show.
Stephen Foutes
stephen.foutes@ded.mo.gov
573.751.3208
Missouri Division of Tourism
301 W. High Street, Room 290
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Lori Simms
lori.simms@ded.mo.gov
573.526.8027
Missouri Division of Tourism
301 W. High Street, Room 290
Jefferson City, MO 65102