JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 7, 2025 – Summer is in full swing, and central Missouri’s state parks and historic sites have activities planned to fill your days with fun.

  • Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20 – Christmas in July at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park.
    'Tis this season … kind of, anyway. For those of you who love the holiday season but don’t like the cold weather, come join the crew at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park to celebrate Christmas in July.

    Event Schedule:
    • Friday, July 18
      • Bring your Christmas decorations and transform your site into a Christmas village for a chance to win a fun prize. Check-in starts at 2 p.m.
    • Saturday, July 19
      • 10 a.m. – Ugly sweater fashion show: Stop in the park’s cultural center and show us your ugliest Christmas sweater or other Christmas apparel.
      • Noon – Christmas treats and crafts: Make some Christmas crafts and treats in the cultural center.
      • Noon – Campsite judging: Park staff members will anonymously go through the campground and cast votes for the campsite decorating contest. In the evening, park visitors will also have a chance to vote for their favorite site. Prizes will be awarded for the top two sites.
      • 6:30 p.m. – Come listen to a storyteller weave Native American Christmas tales in the day-use area.
      • 9 p.m. – Lighting of the tree: Watch as the Van Meter staff light the park Christmas tree in the campground.
      • 9-10 p.m. – Drive through the Christmas town: Visitors will be encouraged to drive through the campground loop to see the decorated campsites.
    • Sunday, July 20
      • Campsite decorating contest winners announced: Contest winners will be informed in person at their campsites before 10 a.m.
      • Pack up the Christmas decorations and return to the real world. Check out by 10 a.m.

Regular camping fees apply. Guests are encouraged to reserve a site in advance; however, the event itself is free and does not require registration. For more information, call the park office at 660-886-7537. Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park is located at 32146 N. Highway 122 in Miami, Missouri.

  • Saturday, July 19, at 7 p.m. – Backyard Concert: Sadie Hawkins Day String Band at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.
    Backyard concerts are back for 2025 with live music on the Lohman lawn. These are free, family-friendly, bring-your-own-chair events, so grab your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic suppers for an evening of music that captures Missouri’s musical traditions past and present. Another familiar favorite, this band uses traditional instrumental melodies and homegrown vocal harmonies to share old folk, country standards and more. The concerts will be held at the Lohman Building Lawn, 100 Jefferson St. in Jefferson City. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved inside the Lohman Building.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Guitar standing on green grass with words to the right “Backyard Concert Series at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.”

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