Southeastern Missouri state parks and historic sites host a variety of events

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 6, 2025 – Concerts and cave tours highlight some of the events planned for southeastern Missouri this spring.

• Saturday, May 10, at 1 p.m. – Public Meeting at Echo Bluff State Park.
  The public is invited to an open house-style meeting for Echo Bluff and Current River state parks and the Trails of Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will be on hand to provide information about these facilities and answer questions. The public is encouraged to share comments about the sites and their operations. The open house will be held in conjunction with an Echo Bluff lodge summer kickoff event. The public meeting booth will be behind the Betty Lea Lodge at Echo Bluff State Park located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.
   
• Sunday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Onondaga Cave Photo Tours at Onondaga Cave State Park.
  Amateur photographers are invited to join park team members on a photo tour of Onondaga Cave. Sponsored by the Onondaga Friends Association, these extended tours include extra time for photographs to be taken at specific locations along the tour route. Each tour begins at the visitor center located at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg. The tours last between two and two and a half hours. Cave tour fees apply. Conditions in the cave include limited lighting, concrete walkways, metal handrails, a cool 57 degrees year-round and near 100% humidity. Participants should dress warmly, wear closed-toe shoes and bring their own photography equipment. There is a maximum of 30 participants. Advance registration is preferred and can be completed by calling 573-522-1860.
   
• Summer Concert Series at Echo Bluff State Park.
  Join us at Echo Bluff State Park for our 2025 concert series. Bring a lawn chair, quilt or blanket and enjoy a free concert under the stars. All concerts take place in the amphitheater at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.
  • Friday, May 23, at 8 p.m. – Open Road Band.
    New to Echo Bluff’s summer concert series, the Open Road Band will open this year’s series with some old-time country music.
  • Saturday, May 24, at 8 p.m. – Kirk Pierce.
    A familiar favorite at Echo Bluff, Kirk Pierce will use his soothing, sultry voice to perform a mix of covers and original songs.
  • Sunday, May 25, at 8 p.m. – The Travelin’ Kind.
    The Travelin’ Kind is back in 2025, and members Trish and Mickey are sure to delight once again as they perform covers and original songs.
     
• Saturday, May 24, at 7 p.m. – Whitewater Bluegrass Band in Concert at Sam A. Baker State Park.
  Enjoy some great music and fun company from the Whitewater Bluegrass Band in this free concert at Sam A. Baker State Park. Whitewater is an upbeat band that plays new and traditional bluegrass and gospel music with a little humor included. The concert will be held at the park amphitheater, located behind the visitor center at 5580 State Highway 143 in Patterson. Seating is limited, so guests are encouraged to bring their own.
   
• Saturday, May 24, at 8:30 p.m. – Starry Sky Nights at Onondaga Cave State Park.
  The public is invited to meet in front of the visitor center at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg to view the unobstructed night sky. Visitors will learn about some of the objects that can be seen. Astronomy experts will demonstrate how to use telescopes to identify stars and planets. The program is subject to rescheduling due to poor viewing conditions. Register online at icampmo.com to receive updates about the program.

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.