JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 23, 2023 – Check out these activities at state parks and historic sites in the St. Louis Region.

  • Wednesday, Oct. 25: Creepy Crawlies at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Bats, spiders and snakes…oh my! Learn about these Halloween critters and why they might not actually be so creepy. Guests will even have the chance to meet Wilbur, the friendly snake. Creepy Crawlies is free, but registration is required and space is limited. To register visit icampmo.com or call 636-464-2976. Participants should meet at 6 p.m. in the Visitor Center.  Mastodon State Historic Site is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
     
  • Friday, Oct. 27: Halloween Night Hike at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Celebrate Halloween by taking a family-friendly night hike! Interpreters will cover some non-spooky Halloween topics. Participants are invited to wear a non-scary, family-friendly Halloween costume. Costume or not, come dressed for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Registration is required and space is limited. To register, visit icampmo.com/ or call 636-464-2976. Participants should meet at 6 p.m. at the start of the Spring Branch Trail, located in the picnic area at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial. The trail is a 0.8-mile loop featuring an accessible, packed gravel surface.
     
  • Campsite decorated with a ghost made of fake spider web and jack-o'-lantern
    Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28: A Spooky Camping Weekend at St. Joe State Park
    Campers, join the park in celebrating the fall season with a Halloween weekend event. Decorate your camper and off-road vehicle and parade around during this spooky weekend. The schedule is as follows:
    • 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27
      Interpretive program in Campground 1.
    • 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
      Special event starting in Campground 1.
    • 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
      Trick-or-treating in Campground 1.
       
  • Saturday, Oct. 28: Public Halloween Event at St. Francois State Park
    Everyone is invited to partake in some Halloween fun at the St. Francois State Park campground located at 8920 U.S. Highway 67N in Bonne Terre.
    The evening schedule follows:
    • 5-6 p.m.– Costume Contest. The costume contest photo booth will run from 5-6 p.m. at the campground amphitheater stage. Stop by to have your picture taken to be entered into the contest. There will be five age groups: 0-3 years old, 4-7 years old, 8-12 years old, 13 years and older, and best group costume. Please keep costumes family-friendly. Winners will be announced and prizes will be delivered to the winners’ campsites. If a winner is not camping, they will be notified by phone.
    • 6:30-8 p.m. – Trick-or-Treating. Trick-or-treating is open to the general public and will take place in the park campground. Driving through the campground will not be permitted during these hours. Participating campsites will be given a Halloween placard to post. Campers are responsible for providing the candy for trick-or-treaters.
    • 8 p.m. – Best Decorated Campsite Award presented. Registered campers may participate in a Halloween-themed campsite decorating contest. Campsites will be judged during the trick-or-treating.
       
  • Saturday, Oct. 28: Rural Heritage Day at Felix Vallé State Historic Site
    Celebrate the wide array of history from 1750-1950 with the team members at Felix Vallé State Historic Site during the site’s annual Rural Heritage Day. Demonstrators will be on-site showcasing crafts and trades, such as historical cooking, rope making, spinning, leatherworking, musketry, smithing, small animal care, woodworking and much more. At noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., Native American storyteller Marc Chibitty will perform in authentic regalia in the backyard of the Vallé House. In addition, the lower level of the house will be open for self-guided tours all day. This free family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Felix Vallé State Historic Site is located at the corner of Second and Merchant streets in Ste. Genevieve.
     
  • Saturday, Oct. 28: Explorer Hour at Mastodon State Historic Site
    Become a Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites Explorer! This program is a great way to learn about nature and Missouri’s past. Interpreters will lead a hike along the 0.8-mile Spring Branch Trail and will have hands-on activities to help you launch your Explorer patch journey. This free program is open to all ages and will take place outdoors from 2-3 p.m.. Participants are encouraged to bring water and dress for the weather. The program will begin at the historic site’s picnic shelter, located at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial. Advance registration is encouraged and can be done at icampmo.com or by calling 636-464-2976.
     
  • Saturday, Oct. 28: Halloween Hootenanny at Washington State Park
    Come out to Washington State Park for the park’s Halloween Hootenanny event. Join interpretive team members for a spooky hike, a Halloween craft, a campsite decorating contest, and trick-or-treating in the campground. The event is free and open to the public. Trick-or-treating and the campsite-decorating contest are sponsored by the Friends of Washington State Park. The park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.
    The day’s schedule is as follows:
    • 2 p.m. – Spooky Hike. During an interpretive hike, you’ll discover spooky creatures and learn about the important roles they play in the wild. The hike will be approximately 1 mile and will begin at the campground amphitheater.
    • 4 p.m. – Halloween Craft. Create a stress ball and decorate it with one of our Halloween themes: bats, jack-o’-lanterns or ghosts! Meet at the campground amphitheater.
    • 6:30-8 p.m. – Trick-or-Treating. Come dressed in your best family-friendly costume and trick or treat your way through the campground.
       
  • Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29: Babler’s Halloween Weekend at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park
    Join park team members in celebrating Halloween over the weekend! Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park is located at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood, Missouri. The weekend schedule is as follows:
    • Saturday, Oct. 28
      • 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center – Crawling Creepers. Join an interpreter for a spine-tingling time as you learn about Babler’s secretive, creepy and crawly residents.
      • 2 p.m. at the Visitor Center – Slither Me Timbers. Slither on over to meet one of Babler’s resident snakes and learn about how they are beneficial to you.
      • 4 – 8 p.m. at the Visitor Center – Babler’s Howl-oween. Take part in trick-or-treating.
      • 8 p.m. at the Campground – Camper Judging. Any camper who wants to participate in the Halloween decorating contest will be rated by a panel of judges. The winner will be announced later that night.
    • Sunday, Oct. 29
      • 10 a.m. at the Visitor Center – Batty Business. Join an interpreter in learning about Missouri’s only flying mammals. 

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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