JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 4, 2026 – Central Missouri state parks and historic sites are hosting a wide variety of educational and recreational activities this month.
• Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Mother’s Day Tea at the Landing at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.
Break out your long gloves and fancy hats for our third annual old-fashioned tea party to celebrate Missouri's mothers! Enjoy specialty teas and tea party foods as Jefferson Landing team members recount the history of Mother's Day. The charming Lohman's Landing will serve as the backdrop for this event. After refreshments, indulge in a game of croquet, spend a few minutes at the shadow puppet theater, or stroll around the landing. Space is limited for this event. Online registration is required at icampmo.com, and there is a $10 registration fee. The event will be held at Lohman Building lawn, 100 Jefferson St. in Jefferson City.
• Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m. – Nature Bingo at Arrow Rock State Historic Site.
Join the historic site’s interpreter at the picnic shelter to play nature bingo! It’s just like regular bingo but with nature-themed clues. Winners will receive small prizes. The event is free and open to the public. Arrow Rock State Historic Site is located at 39521 Visitor Center Drive in Arrow Rock, with the GPS coordinates for the shelter being 39.06788, -92.94221.
• Friday, May 22, and 29, at 8 p.m. – Friday Night Fireside Chat at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park.
Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park’s Friday Night Fireside Chats are back! Each Friday night from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, visitors can meet the park team in an informal gathering around a campfire. Join them to hear stories and songs, make s’mores and learn more about the park. Participation is free and open to registered campers and day-use visitors alike. Activities are subject to cancelation or change due to inclement weather. Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park is located at 32146 N. Highway 122 in Miami.
• Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. – Spider Sniff at Arrow Rock State Historic Site.
Join site team members in the campground for a free spider sniff program. You will learn all about spiders and how to sniff them out. You will also have an opportunity to join the Spider Sniff Society. There's no need to register -- just bring a flashlight or other light source. The event will take place at the campground at Arrow Rock State Historic Site at 39521 Visitor Center Drive in Arrow Rock.
• Saturday, May 23, and 30, at 8 p.m. – Nights at the Campground at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park.
Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park’s Nights at the Campground series is back for the season. Each Saturday night from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the park team will present an interpretive program in the campground with different topics weekly. Participation is free and open to campers and day-use visitors alike. Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park is located at 32146 N. Highway 122 in Miami.
• Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Santa Fe Trail Reenactment at Arrow Rock State Historic Site.
Join the team for a Santa Fe Trail reenactment on the lawn of the J. Huston Tavern. Visitors will see demonstrations of 19th-century camp activities, performed by Arrow Rock Stock and Trading Co., and children will enjoy interactive activities related to that time period. The event is free and open to the public. The event will take place at 305 Main St. in Arrow Rock.
The primary source of funding for the state park system is half of the dedicated constitutional tax of one-tenth-of-one-percent Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax. The tax provides about three-fourths of the division's budget for operation and development of state parks. All additional funding for Missouri's Division of State Parks comes from revenues generated in the state park system and some federal funds. 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’s Division of State Parks is part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
