Fall Festivals in Missouri

Missouri hosts a multitude of festivals throughout the year, but when fall rolls around, the state turns it up a notch. Communities large and small celebrate the season with an abundance of music, art, history, thrills and frights, plus food and drink – amidst all the beauty autumn has to offer.

The Sound of the Season

Evolution Music Festival in St. Louis (Sept. 27-28) is more than just a music festival. Held in Forest Park, Evolution spotlights incredible national, regional and local performers, which attendees can enjoy while sampling the local culinary talent that is also on display.

Columbia’s Biscuits, Beats & Brews (Oct. 3-5) celebrates some of the best things about Columbia – great food, craft beer, a creative spirit, and, most importantly, a sense of community. Head to Cooper’s Landing to be part of this family friendly music and arts festival.

In an effort to preserve the rich tradition of bluegrass music in the Ozarks, the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association started the HOBA Blueglass Festival (Sept. 25-27). This year, the event’s 41^st year, there will be three days of performances in a lovely outdoor setting. Onsite camping and RV hookups are available.

Sweets, Treats and Eats

It’s not fall without a few apple treats. Sample apple in all of its forms at Weston Applefest (Oct. 4-5). From apple alley to an apple-themed parade, you’re sure to get your fix of this staple fall fruit. Don’t miss the apple butter demonstration or the famous apple dumplings.

If pumpkin is more to your taste, check out Shepherd of the Hills PumpkinFest (Sept. 20-Oct. 26). Between bites of pumpkin baked goods, make your own scarecrow, paint pumpkins, take advantage of the fun photo-ops, visit barnyard animals and trek across the treetop sky trail bridges.

Hosted in Springfield’s Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, the Japanese Fall Festival (Sept. 5-7) honors Springfield’s sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan. Check out the Japanese culture tent, sword fighting demonstration and the candlelight walk. Don’t miss the snack tent and tea café to try some delicious Japanese food.

Missouri and barbecue – it’s a combination that just makes sense. Beer, Bark & Bar-B-Que (Sept. 27) in St. Robert delivers mouthwatering barbecued meats and all the best sides in addition to a silent auction and live music. The money raised from this event supports cats and dogs at Loving Paws Adoption Center.

Timeless Traditions

Jesse James Festival (Sept. 13, 19-21) is a longstanding fall festival in Kearney, the birthplace of Jesse James. A barbecue cookoff, carnival, demolition derby, arts and crafts vendors, tractor pull, mud volleyball and a car show are all on the agenda.

Celebrating it’s 10^th anniversary, St. Charles Legends and Lanterns (select weekends in October) takes visitors on a journey through Halloween history. Historic characters, exhibits and experiences transform Main Street into a fun, atmospheric, and sometimes spooky destination.

Frohna’s Saxon Lutheran Fall Festival (Oct. 11) brings to mind a simpler time with demonstrations of activities common in the mid-1800s when German immigrants were establishing themselves in Missouri. Peruse the booths of local crafters and enjoy tasty food while you explore the Saxon Lutheran Memorial outdoor museum.

Explore more fall festivals and events in Missouri

Northeast Fall Festivals

Hannibal

• Hannibal Fall Frenzy Festival, Sept. 12 – 14
• Harvest Hootenanny, Sept. 19 – 20 
• 49^th Annual Folklife Festival, Oct. 18 – 19 
• Living Dead Windows, Oct. 25 
• Mark Twain’s Annual Birthday Bash, Nov. 29

Hermann

• Smokefest, Sept. 20
• Hermann Farm Heritage Festival, Sept. 27
• Hermann Harvest Festival, Sept. 27
• Oktoberfest 2025, Every weekend in October
• Annual Arts & Crafts Festival, Oct. 11 – 12
• Witches & Wine Festival, Oct. 16

Kimmswick

• Apple Butter Festival in Kimmswick, Oct. 25 – 26

Kirksville

• Whiskey and Turkey Festival, Sept. 6
• 50^th Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival, Sept. 27
• Oktoberfest, Oct. 4

New Haven

• New Haven Balloon Glow & Race, Sept. 26
• Missouri River Valley LOOP Scavenger Hunt, Sept. 26 – 28
• Scarecrow Festival and Pumpkin Glow, Oct. 17

Pacific

• Iron Horse Rodeo, Sept 26 – 27
• Monster Fest, Oct. 25

St. Charles

• Mosaics Fine Art Festival, Sept. 12 – 14  
• Oktoberfest, Sept. 26 – 28
• Legends & Lanterns, weekends in October

St. Louis

• Oktoberfest at Six Flags St. Louis, Aug. 31 – Sept. 22
• Bellefontaine Fall History Tours, Select dates in September, October and November
• Saint Louis Art Fair, Sept. 5 – 7
• Confluence Music Festival, Sept. 5 – 7
• Art Outside, Sept. 5 – 7
• Oktoberfest at Grant’s Farm, Sept. 5 – 7, 12 – 14
• Music at the Intersection, Sept. 12 – 14
• Greentree Festival, Sept. 12 – 14
• St. Louis Renaissance Festival, Sept. 13 – Oct. 26
• Fright Fest, Sept. 13 – Nov. 2
• The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race, Sept. 19 – 20
• Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival, Sept. 20
• Frizz Fest, Sept. 20
• Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration, Sept. 20, 27
• Evolution Music Festival, Sept. 27 – 28
• Fright at the Museum, Oct. 1 – 26
• Halloween Nights at Grant’s Farm, Oct. 2 – 30
• St. Louis Bourbon Festival, Oct. 3
• Grove Fest, Oct. 4
• Chuseok Korean Harvest Festival, Oct. 4
• Historic Shaw Art Fair, Oct. 4 – 5
• St. Louis VegFest, Oct. 5
• Brew in the Lou, Oct. 11
• Wolf Fest, Oct. 18
• Circus of Life, Oct. 24 – 26
• Sips, Souls and Strolls, Nov. 7
• Laumeier After Dark, Nov. 8
• Flyover Comedy Festival

Union

• Boo Bash!, Oct. 24

Washington

• Music at the Market, Sept. 11 – Oct. 9
• Sunset on the Riverfront, Sept. 25
• Fall Festival of the Arts & Crafts, Sept. 26 – 28
• Pumpkin Palooza, Oct. 25

Northwest Fall Festivals

Boonville

• 62^nd Annual Steam Engine Show – Back to the Farm Reunion, Sept. 4 – 7
• Sippin’, Strollin’, Rockin’ & Rollin’, Oct. 18

Chillicothe

• Chautauqua in the Park, Sept. 6 – 7
• Fall Festival, Sept. 28
• BooFest in Downtown Chillicothe, Oct. 31

Kansas City

• Art Westport, Sept. 5 – 7
• GloWild: Time Traveler, Sept. 5 – Dec. 30
• Deaf Cultural Festival, Sept. 13
• Halloween Haunt at Worlds of Fun, Sept. 13 – Nov. 1
• Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 19 – 21
• Night at the Tower, Sept. 27
• Oktoberfest Live, Sept. 27
• 18^th & Vine Arts Festival, Sept. 26 – 28
• KC Oktoberfest, Oct. 3 – 4
• Chicano Art Festival, Oct. 5
• Brew at the Zoo, Oct. 11
• Waldo Fall Fest, Oct. 11
• Dia De Los Muertos, Nov. 2
• Buck O’Neil Birthday Bash, Nov. 15

Kearney

• Jesse James Festival, Sept. 13 and Sept. 19 – 21

Kingsville

• Dark Forest, Oct. 17-18, 23-25, 31-Nov. 1

Liberty

• Liberty Fall Festival, Sept. 26 – 28
• Witches’ Brew, Oct. 2

Platte City

• Main Street Fall Festival, Sept. 25

Weston

• Weston Applefest, Oct. 4 – 5

Central Fall Festivals

Arrow Rock

• Friends of Arrow Rock Sip and Stroll, Sept. 27
• 57^th Annual Heritage Festival, Oct. 11 – 12
• Spooktacular, Oct. 25

Clinton

• Piccadilly, Sept. 16
• Northern Cherokee Nation Powwow, Sept. 18 – 21
• Henry County Rodeo, Sept. 19 – 20
• Red Star Intertribal Gourd Dance Society, Oct. 11
• Main Street Wine Stroll, Oct. 18

Cole Camp

• Cole Camp Fair, Sept. 4 – 6
• Cole Camp Oktoberfest, Sept. 27
• Antique Farm Show, Sept. 27
• Cole Camp Pumpkin Fest, Oct. 25

Columbia

• Arcade District’s Zipper Fest, Sept. 13
• Annual Heritage Festival & Craft Show, Sept. 20 – 21
• Biscuits, Beats & Brews, Oct. 3 – 5

Crocker

• Crocker Railroad Days, Sept. 5 – 6

Dixon

• Dixon Cow Days Festival, Sept. 19 – 21
• Kickapoo Trace Muzzleloaders Mountain Man Experience, Sept. 27

Hartsburg

• Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 11 – 12

Jefferson City

• Show-Me State Airshow, Sept. 13 – 14
• Oktoberfest in Old Munichburg, Sept. 27
• Porchfest JCMO, Oct. 5

Kingdom City

• Central Missouri Renaissance Festival, Oct. 18 – 19

Lake of the Ozarks Area

• Lake of the Ozarks Food Truck Festival, Sept. 13
• Fall Harbor Hop, Oct. 11
• Alhonna Fall Classic Buddy Bass Tournament, Nov. 1 – 2

Lebanon

• Case Celebration in the Ozarks, Sept. 6
• Whimsical Wonders Craft & Oddities Expo, Sept. 26 – 28
• Cackle Hatchery Annual Chicken Festival, Oct. 4 – 5
• K.I.S.S. Crops Scrapbooking Event, Oct. 9 – 12
• Trick-or-Treat on Commercial Street, Oct. 31
• Crackle Hatchery’s Annual Chicken Festival, Oct. 3-4

Lincoln

• Lincoln Fly-In, Sept. 13
• Lincoln Frightfully Fun Family Night, Oct. 31

Moberly

• Junk Junktion, Sept. 20

St. Robert

• Extremicon, Sept. 26 – 28
• Beer, Bark & Bar-B-Que, Sept. 27
• Route 66 Card Show, Nov. 1

Stover

• Rock Island Festival, Oct. 11

Versailles

• Versailles Olde Tyme Apple Festival, Oct. 4 – 5

Warsaw

• Warsaw Heritage Day, Oct. 18 – 19
• Warsaw Halloween Hoopla, Oct. 31

Warrensburg

• Burg Fest, Oct. 10 – 11

Waynesville

• Patriot Day, Sept. 13
• Route 66 Hogs & Frogs Fest, Sept. 26 – 28
• Haunted River Float, Select Saturdays and Sundays in October
• Pumpkin Fest, Oct. 25

Southeast

Altenburg

• East Perry Community Fair, Sept. 19 – 20

Cape Girardeau

• TransAmerican Endurance Race Display, Sept. 8
• USS LST Ship Memorial, Sept. 24-29
• Riverfront Fall Festival, Oct. 25

Frohna

• Saxon Lutheran Fall Festival, Oct. 11

New Madrid

• Music on the Mississippi, Sept. 20

Perryville

• Bikers on the Square for Veterans, Sept. 19 – 20

Sikeston

• Sikeston Wine Festival, Sept. 6
• American Legion Cotton Carnival, Sept. 23 – 27
• Oktoberfest, Oct. 4

St. James

• Grape & Fall Festival, Sept. 4 – 6

West Plains

• Annual Juried Fall Art Show, Sept. 5 – 27
• Ozarks Studies Symposium, Sept. 18 – 20
• HOBA Bluegrass Festival, Sept. 25 – 27
• Dolly and Porter Stroll, Oct. 2
• Fall Art, Artisan and Craft Show, Oct. 4 – 5
• Harlin Museum Ozark Heritage Show and Broadfoot Display, Oct. 4 – Nov. 22
• OzFaire Renaissance Festival, Oct. 11 – 12
• Ozark Heritage Festival, Oct. 17 – 18
• The Harvest Market, Oct. 18
• Scare on the Square, Oct. 31
• Whiskey & Bourbon Fest, Nov. 21

Southwest

Branson

• Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City, Sept. 12 – Oct. 26
• Shepherd’s Craft Fair, Sept. 12 – 14
• PumpkinFest and Pumpkins Aglow at Shepherd of the Hills, Sept. 20 – Oct. 26
• Sycamore Creek Fall Roundup, Weekends in October and Nov. 1-2

Brighton

• Gardener’s Orchard Fall Festival, Aug. 30 – Nov. 1

Carthage

• Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Sept. 27
• Precious Moments Reunion, Oct. 8 – 11
• Maple Leaf Festival, Oct. 10 – 18

Fair Grove

• Fair Grove Heritage Reunion, Sept. 27 – 28

Galena

• Bridge Fest, Sept. 27

Ridgedale

• Cedar Fest at Big Cedar Lodge, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25

Seymour

• Seymour Apple Festival, Sept. 11 – 13

Springfield

• Japanese Fall Festival, Sept. 5 – 7
• Celebrate Springfield Kickoff Event, Sept. 7
• 11th Annual Food Truck Festival, Sept. 13
• Mother’s Oktoberfest, Sept. 20
• Cider Days, Sept. 20 – 21
• Ozark Fall Farmfest, Oct. 3 – 5
• 51st Annual Ozark Fall Craft Fair, Oct. 3 – 5
• Harvest Fest, Weekends in October
• SGF CultureFest, Oct. 11
• Pets and Pumpkins Family Festival, Oct. 18

Stockton

• Black Walnut Festival, Sept. 25 – 27

Mansfield

• Wilder Days, Sept. 26 – 27

Marionville

• Marionville Apple Fest, Sept. 19 – 20

Mount Vernon

• Apple Butter Makin’ Days, Oct. 10 – 12

Nixa

• Rosebud’s Cottage Fall Festival, Sept. 6
• Cassidy Station Fall Market, Sept. 27

Republic

• Republic Pumpkin Daze, Oct. 3 – 4