Southeastern Missouri state parks and historic sites offer fall fun
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 17, 2024 – October at Missouri state parks and historic sites provides something for everyone from nature journaling to Halloween storytelling. There’s bound to be something to fit your interest.
Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. – Nature Journaling: Skulls and Bones at Echo Bluff State Park.
Nature journaling is gaining popularity as a way to get out and explore nature and the beauty it offers. Participants should meet at the Bluff Top Pavilion at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence, Missouri. Just in time for fall, participants will look at skulls and bones in a “down to the bare bones” workshop. Here they will gain a better understanding of the basic structure of animals, which will help when drawing and sketching live animals. To register, contact Connie at 573-751-1224 or at connie.weber@dnr.mo.gov.
Saturday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. – Public Meeting at Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site.
The public is invited to a townhall-style informational meeting for the Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site and Elephant Rocks State Park. 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 facilities and their operations. The informational meeting will be followed by Elephant Rocks State Park’s conceptual development planning open house at approximately 6 p.m. As the long-range plan for the park is updated, the public is encouraged to learn more about the planning process, ask questions, and provide input regarding future park use and development. A 30-day comment period will begin Oct. 19, with a survey available online at mostateparks.com/CDP. The event will conclude with a Halloween movie starting at 7 p.m. All activities will take place at the Large Shelter at Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site at 118 E. Maple in Pilot Knob, Missouri.
Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. – Halloween Storytelling Program at Onondaga Cave State Park.
Come to the campground amphitheater for an evening of storytelling with Raelene Croster as she shares family-friendly Halloween tales. Croster has more than 10 years of storytelling experience and has performed at a variety of venues, including schools, libraries, parks and senior residential facilities. In addition to storytelling, she has also given interpretive programs at places like George Washington Carver National Monument and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Onondaga Cave State Park is located at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg, Missouri.
Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Civil War Encampment at Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site.
Come to Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site to experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier. Members of the Turner Brigade will be on-site portraying units of the Missouri volunteers and civilians of the Civil War period. Visitors will be able to walk through the encampment and see a variety of events and scenarios, including infantry doing drills as soldiers go about their daily activities. They will also get to interact with soldiers and civilians. Throughout the event, guests will gain a better understanding of what life in Missouri was like during the Civil War. Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site is located at 312 Dawson Road, New Madrid, Missouri.
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2-8 p.m. – Halloween in the Park at Echo Bluff State Park.
Are you ready to have a batty good time? Fly on out to the park and enjoy a variety of activities. Pick up a bat scavenger hunt sheet from the Betty Lea Lodge or the check station for a prize when completed. Camper and cabin decorating contest forms can be picked up from the front desk of the lodge or at the check station. Prizes will be awarded for the top three campsites and top three cabin doors. Join in a spooky and crazy animal changing hike at 2 p.m. Meet at the “Steps to Nowhere” for this transforming hike. Trick-or-treating will begin at 5 p.m., departing from the Union Hill Carpenter Cemetery, just south of the campground. Guests from the cabins who would like to hand out candy can set up in the field across from the check station. Campers in the walk-ins can hand out candy at their car, trunk-or-treat style. Other campers can hand out candy from their sites. At the end of the night, we will share stories, myths, legends, folktales and old wives’ tales around a campfire across from the check station. Are they fact or fiction? You be the judge! Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence, Missouri.
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.
