JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 25, 2023 – If you’re looking for something fun to do, check out the events at Missouri state parks and historic sites. There are programs throughout the state and there’s something for virtually everyone! For the week of Sept. 1-7, the following programs will be going on:

  • Friday, Sept. 1: Night Sky Event – Eyes on the Sky at Thousand Hills State Park
    Come out to the park from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and explore the sky. Join park team members, Truman State University faculty and Adair County Public Library representatives to look through telescopes and learn about the sky above you. Several telescopes will be set up, but feel free to bring telescopes, chairs and binoculars. The park is located at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville.
     
  • Friday, Sept. 1 and Saturday, Sept. 2: It’s your history! at Bennett Spring State Park
    To celebrate Archaeology Month, a presentation of the history of what is now Bennett Spring State Park will start at 1 p.m. in the nature center. Visitors will be able to see items from the park’s collection. The park is located at 26250 Highway 64A near Lebanon.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 2: Sweets, Sunsets and S’mores at Washington State Park
    Starting at 2 p.m. at the Petroglyph Site, visitors can tour the petroglyphs and learn about the Mississippian-era carvings, culture and community who created them. A short walk on a covered walkway features interpretive panels highlighting the cultural features. At 4 p.m. at the Big River Day-Use Area, create leaf rubbings with Missouri’s native plants in all the colors of the sunset. End the day at 7 p.m. at the Campground Amphitheater by creating your own s’more and taking a guided hike to view the sunset. The park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 2, Sunday, Sept. 3 and Monday, Sept. 4: Summer Concert Series at Echo Bluff State Park
  • Come out to Echo Bluff State Park during Labor Day Weekend for a toe-tapping good time. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a free concert. Starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, Brandy Lee, a singer-songwriter from Mountain View, Missouri, will perform original songs and country staples. Starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, Country Revival will take the stage to play classic country music. The final concert of the season will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4, with the Baker Family. This local band tours the country, winning awards and spreading traditional bluegrass along the way. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 2: Nights at the Campground: The “Bat” Man at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park
  • The final Nights of the Campground series will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2., at the large shelter house. The park naturalist will present fascinating information on bats. Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park is located at 32146 N. Highway 122 in Miami.
     
  • Sunday, Sept. 3: Petroglyph Tour at Thousand Hills State Park 
  • Thousand Hills State Park is home to a collection of petroglyphs, or rock carvings, made by ancestors of today’s American Indians. At 10 a.m., visitors can explore the petroglyphs with a guided tour by a park team member. Meet at the petroglyph shelter located next to the beach. The park is located at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville.
     
  • Wednesday, Sept. 6: Landing After Hours: The History of Body Art in Missouri at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site
  • Since ancient times, humans have expressed themselves through body art, from body paint with clays and natural dyes, to permanent ink tattoos to the process of scarification. Join Carrie Hammond, chief interpreter for the Missouri State Museum, to learn about the methods, reasons behind and future of one of the most significant forms of self-expression. She’ll include an introduction to Missouri’s first tattoo shop, which is still in operation. The Landing After Hours program is held the first Wednesday of each month at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, located at 100 Jefferson St. in Jefferson City. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. Parking is available in the lot next to the Lohman Building. In addition to being held in person, this program will also be livestreamed on the Missouri State Museum’s Facebook page.
     
  • Wednesdays, Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27: Community Fly Tying Demonstration with Bennett Spring State Park
    Starting at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Bennett Spring Church of God annex building, volunteers Danny Goldsmith and Donald Ohler will provide instruction on tying a basic fishing fly and will give participants an opportunity to visit, share stories and see the art of fly tying with experienced anglers. Please feel free to bring your own equipment and supplies. This demonstration is presented by the Friends of Bennett Spring State Park and is open to all ages. The church annex building is located directly across from the park office, behind the park restaurant at 26332 Highway 64A in Lebanon.
     
  • Wednesday, Sept. 6: Stream Team Clean Up at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Help protect our local waterways! Volunteers will clean up litter found in and around Rock Creek. If it’s too cold to work in the creek, focus will shift to trails surrounding the creek. Participants should wear durable, closed-toe shoes and be prepared to get wet! All equipment will be provided. Children five and older are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and is limited to 20 volunteers. Call the site office at 636-464-2976 for more information or to register. Meet at the playground in the picnic area at 4:30 p.m. The park is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
     
  • Thursday, Sept. 7: Layers of Time – Missouri Unearthed at Mastodon State Historic Site
  • Celebrate Missouri Archaeology Month all month long! Families with children in grades three through five are invited to find out how archaeologists know how old something is, what the different layers of soil tell us and what layers of time have been unearthed in our state. Through hands-on activities, guests can learn about archaeological dating techniques such as stratigraphy, dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. Registration is required and space is limited. To register or for more information, call the site office at 636-464-2976. Participants should meet at 6 p.m. at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
     
  • Thursday, Sept. 7: Toddler Storytime at the Park, Knob Noster State Park
    Knob Noster State Park will host Toddler Storytime at the Park for preschool-aged children. This Thursday, the topic will be migration. Participants should meet at the park’s visitor center at 10 a.m. The park is located at 873 SE 10 in Knob Noster.

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.

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