Summer fun heats up in northeast Missouri state parks

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 26, 2025 – The summer fun heats up in northeast Missouri as several state parks and historic sites plan activities for the whole family!

• Saturday, July 5, 9-11 p.m. - Dark Sky Program at Thousand Hills State Park.
  Thousand Hills State Park, located at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville, will host a dark sky program. Join the park team and representatives from Truman State University at the Point Shelter to explore the stars and sky above. Telescopes will be set up, but everyone is welcome to bring their own, along with chairs, blankets and binoculars.
   
• Sunday, July 6, at 10 a.m. and Friday, July 18, at 7 p.m. – Petroglyph Tour at Thousand Hills State Park.
  Thousand Hills State Park is home to a collection of rock carvings, or petroglyphs, made by ancestors of today’s Native Americans. Explore the petroglyphs with park staff to learn more about this unique piece of history. Tours take place at the petroglyph shelter, located next to the beach at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville.
   
• Friday July 11 – Sunday, July 13 – Christmas in July at Crowder State Park.
  Starting Friday, bring your Christmas decorations and transform your site into a Christmas wonderland for a chance to win fun prizes. Saturday’s schedule is as follows:
  • 8 a.m. – Christmas scavenger hunt: Join the park team at the campground amphitheater for a scavenger hunt of Christmas items. Wear your Christmas shirt or other Christmas apparel.
  • Noon – Christmas treats and crafts: Join the park team at the park office to make Christmas treats and crafts.
  • Noon – Campsite judging: Judges will anonymously go through the campground and decide on winners. Park visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite decorated site.
    3 p.m. – Christmas Olympics: Gather at the amphitheater for Christmas games.
  • 6:30 p.m. – Christmas family trivia program: The campsite decorating contest winners will be announced at the amphitheater prior to a fun game of Christmas trivia. Compete against your camping neighbors to see who knows their Christmas trivia.
    
    On Sunday, campers will pack up their Christmas décor and return to reality. Crowder State Park is located at 76 NW Highway 128 in Trenton.
     
• Friday, July 11, at 7 p.m. – Reptile Program at Thousand Hills State Park.
  Join the team at Thousand Hills State Park to learn why reptiles are important and which ones can be found at the park. You may have the chance to meet live animals! The program is scheduled to take place in the amphitheater in Campground 1 at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville. You do not have to be a camper to attend. Events may be canceled or moved inside if there is inclement weather.
   
• Saturday, July 12, at 5 p.m. – Public Meeting at Crowder State Park.
  The public is invited to a town hall-style meeting for Crowder State Park at the campground amphitheater at 76 NW Highway 128 in Trenton. 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.
   
• Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to noon – Art in the Park at Thousand Hills State Park.
  Connect with nature through a variety of art activities at Thousand Hills State Park, 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville. Activities will be available at the tables between the day-use area playground and the Oak Trail trailhead. Park team members and volunteers will be on hand to help. There will be activities for all ages. Registration is not required.
   
• Saturday, July 19, at 10 a.m. – Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Public Meeting at Mark Twain State Park.
  The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ben Sapp Memorial Trail, a new hiking trail at Mark Twain State Park. The ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. the new trailhead, near the fish cleaning station off Highway 107 in Florida. Immediately following the ceremony, there will be a town hall-style public meeting for Mark Twain State Park, Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site and Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site. Representatives from Missouri State Parks will be on hand to provide information about these facilities; the public will be encouraged to share comments and questions about the facilities and their operations. The meeting will take place at the fish cleaning station. Mark Twain State Park is located at 37352 Shrine Road in Florida.
   
• Saturday, July 19, at 10 a.m. – Marvelous Mammals at Thousand Hills State Park.
  Mammals can be found all around us. Join the park team at the amphitheater to get a closer look at some of the marvelous mammals of Thousand Hills! The park is located at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit Missouri State Parks Upcoming 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.