Find fall fun at Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites Lakes Region 

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, Oct. 17, 2024 – From fall festivals to bats, spiders and historical haunts, there’s lots to do during October at Missouri state parks and historic sites throughout the state.

Thursday, Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. – Public Meeting at Shepherd of the Hills State Park.
The public is invited to a town hall-style meeting for Shepherd of the Hills State Park, located at 4424 Sycamore Church Road in Branson. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will be on-hand to provide information about the park and answer questions. The public is encouraged to share comments about the park and its operations. Input from the public is important to Missouri State Parks. These public meetings, which are being held for all state parks and historic sites, help create two-way communication with the public. The meetings give representatives the opportunity to let people know the current statuses and future plans for the parks and sites, and they offer visitors the opportunity to comment on the facilities. The meeting will be held in the barn.

Friday, Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m. – Coffee Talk with the Superintendent at Roaring River State Park.
Join Roaring River State Park Superintendent Mike Busekrus in the basement of the CCC Lodge at 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville, Missouri, for coffee, cinnamon rolls and a conversation about the park. You’ll talk about all things Roaring River State Park: upcoming projects and events, favorite fly-tying patterns, fishing stories and more. So bring your favorite coffee cup, an appetite for good conversation and even your fly-tying gear if you wish.

Friday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. – Naturalist Station: Owls at Bennett Spring State Park.
Visit with the naturalists at the campground check station to learn all about owls, including how they not only survive but thrive as nighttime predators. This drop-in event is free and open to the public anytime between 2-3 p.m. at 26250 Highway 64A in Lebanon, Missouri.

Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19 starting at 7:30 p.m., Pomme de Terror at Pomme de Terre State Park.
Join in on the fun at the Pomme de Terror Halloween event in the Hermitage Area Campground at Pomme de Terre State Park. The event schedule is as follows:

• Friday, Oct. 18
  • 7:30 p.m. – Creepy Cool Program – Attend a program put on by a park naturalist at the amphitheater.
• Saturday, Oct. 19
  • Noon – Lunch with the Ranger – The camp store will have food available for purchase. Stop by and meet the park ranger and get a picture in his vehicle!
    1 p.m. – “Mad Scientist” Contest – Channel your inner mad scientist and create the best monster for a chance to win a prize. Craft supplies and entry forms will be available at the campground store: contest winners will be announced at the amphitheater during the costume contest.
  • 2 p.m. – Pumpkin Carving Contest – Bring your carved pumpkin to the amphitheater for judging. Impress our judges and compete for the title of scariest, funniest or most creative jack-o’-lantern. Entries cannot win in more than one category. Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded at the amphitheater immediately after judging. Pumpkins will not be provided for carving; participants must bring their own.
  • 3:30 p.m. – Costume Contest – Meet at the amphitheater, and then walk in our Halloween parade while our judges decide the scariest, funniest and most creative costumes for the following categories: 0-9 years, 10-17, 18 and older, group, and pet. Entrants cannot win in more than one category. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded immediately following the judging.
    4:30-6:30 p.m. – Trick-or-Treating – Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the campground. Campers are encouraged to provide candy for trick-or-treaters. Trick-or-treaters are reminded to bring something to hold their candy. They may also want to bring a flashlight.
    7:30 p.m. – Storyteller and Hot Chocolate – Enjoy hot chocolate while listening to stories told by a Missouri storyteller at the amphitheater.

Camp-o-Ween Decorating Contest – Decorate your campsite in the Hermitage Area Campground with the best Halloween décor you can find. Judging will take place throughout the weekend, and winners will be recognized at their campsites after trick-or-treating, with prizes going to the top three sites. Décor must remain on the participant’s site and not carry over into other sites, or into roadways, trails or other areas. Décor must be completely removed from the site prior to camper checkout. Camping guests on the Pittsburg side of the park are welcome to decorate their campsites; however, only guests on the Hermitage side are eligible to win the decorating contest.

Regular camping fees apply. The event itself is free and open to the public and does not require advance registration. Day-use visitors are welcome to participate in all activities except the campsite decorating contest.

Saturday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. – Fall Leaf Craft at Bennett Spring State Park.
Fall is underway, and you’re invited to celebrate the season by making a colorful leaf craft. Meet at the nature center located at 26250 Highway 64A outside Lebanon, Missouri, to get instructions on leaf collection before heading out to gather leaves on the Oak-Hickory Trail.

Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26 at 7 p.m. – Throwback Program: MoDNR and MDC Film Strips at Roaring River State Park.
Come celebrate the history of beautiful Roaring River State Park! Film strips from the 1940s through 1960s from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ and Department of Conservation’s film collections will be shown Oct. 12 and 19. The series will end on Oct. 26 with an evening of storytelling presented by historian Todd Wilkinson, who will spin legends from writings of noted Ozark folklorist Vance Randolph and Roaring River’s own “Mountain Maid,” Jean Wallace. Seating is limited at the amphitheater, so participants are encouraged to arrive early or bring a chair. Roaring River State Park is located at 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville, Missouri.

Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. – Historical Haunts at the Homestead at Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site.
Come out to Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site located at 7850 N. State Highway V in Ash Grove, Missouri, for the annual Historical Haunts at the Homestead. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at the picnic shelter with an hourlong storytelling program presented by Christine Peoples of Meet and Greet Ministries. Christine will tell stories of heroes striving toward American freedoms under the cover of the night. From 7-8 p.m., guests can stroll the lantern-lit walkway to the historic cemeteries and the Boone home for more tales of the past. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience the homestead at night! All activities take place outdoors, so dress for the weather. Bringing lawn chairs and flashlights is also encouraged.

Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. – CCC Pop-up Exhibit and Walking Tour at Roaring River State Park.
The Civilian Conservation Corps built the foundation of Roaring River State Park. From 1933-1939, the men of CCC Company 1713 spent their days building trails, erecting park structures and learning the tools of the trade. Discover the history of the CCC and their legacy at the park. A walking tour begins at the CCC Lodge at 9:30 a.m. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and bring water for this one-hour walk. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., inside the basement of the CCC Lodge, visitors can take part in a scavenger hunt and earn a prize for completing the activity. Roaring River State Park is located at 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville, Missouri.

Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Garden Workday at Roaring River State Park.
Join us in helping to restore and maintain the Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center’s native plants garden. Wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty. Bring garden gloves, snacks, water, sun protection, lunch and a garden kneeler if you’d like. All tools will be provided. Volunteers are not required to stay the entire day. Registration is not required, but returning volunteers are asked to sign up in the Missouri State Parks volunteer system. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form, which can be completed and signed at the nature center. Roaring River State Park is located at 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville, Missouri.

Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Halloween Bash at Stockton State Park.
Stockton State Park, in conjunction with Stockton State Park Marina, is hosting a day of competitions during its Halloween Bash this year. The activities take place at 19100 S. Highway 215 in Dadeville, Missouri.

• The day’s schedule is as follows:
  • 10 a.m. – noon – Archery Contest – Participants aged 13-17 should meet at the South Shelter. They may bring their own compound bow, although some will be available for use at the park. This is a friendly competition. Advanced registration is required and there is a limit of 20 participants. Register at Missouri State Parks - Session Details (usedirect.com).
  • 1-3 p.m. – Games, Activities and Art Contest – Several games and activities will be held in the grassy areas near the showerhouse in the East Campground. These include cornhole, face painting and a doughnut-eating contest.
  • 6:45 p.m. – Dutch Oven Cooking Contest – Participants cook using their own equipment and ingredients at their campsites or in any of the day-use areas of the park. The food must be cooked in the park and fires can only be in designated areas. There will be a youth division (under 18 years of age) and an adult division (18 and older) with a sweet category and a savory category in each division. Prizes for the top three will be awarded in each category per division.
  • 7:45 p.m. – Pumpkin Decorating Contest- A pumpkin decorating contest will be held in the campground. Bring your own decorated pumpkins to the judging table near the check station by 7:45 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the top three pumpkins.
  • 8:30 p.m. – Campsite Decorating Contest – Participants are encouraged to decorate their campsite for Halloween and hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. Judges will base their decisions on theme, originality, lights and attention to detail. Prizes will be awarded to the top three campsites.

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.