The scent of barbecue, the sounds of bluegrass, jazz and blues, and the sight of fireworks over the Mississippi and Missouri rivers – these are just a few of the experiences you’ll find this summer in the Show-Me State. Check out the sampling of upcoming festivals and events in each region of the state.
Americana Classics
Meet Mark Twain’s most famous characters during National Tom Sawyer Days, June 28 and July 2-6, in Hannibal. Highlights include the National Fence Painting Competition, Tom and Becky contest, frog jump competition, live music and Fourth of July fireworks over the Mississippi River.
Head to Liberty for LibertyFest, an epic Fourth of July celebration held on July 3. The event charges per car, and once you’re in, all the family activities are free – face painting, glitter tattoos, balloon artists, inflatables and more. The celebration ends with live music and a fireworks show. Bring your chairs, yard games, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks as the community commemorates the birth of American independence.
Celebrating Culture
Learn about Missouri’s first European settlers at Ste. Genevieve’s French Heritage Festival. Set among 18th-century architecture in the town’s historic district on June 14 – storytelling, living history demonstrations, games and French dance give guests a glimpse of frontier life in the 1700s.
Attend Celebration of Nations, a vibrant experience that showcases the culture of the Rolla community on Sept. 20. It features a parade with flags representing different countries, marching bands, dignitaries and the ever-popular Missouri S&T camels. The parade is followed by a festival with international foods, arts, crafts and cultural displays.
One-of-a-Kind Events
Book tickets for Farm to Table in Washington, a distinctive experience held in the middle of Main Street in front of the Farmers’ Market in historic downtown. The elegant event takes place on Sept. 4 and provides views of the setting sun while guests enjoy a 4-course meal prepared with locally sourced food by local chefs.
Race a zucchini at the Zucchini Car Races in Cole Camp! The community brings a different meaning to the phrase, “playing with your food.” Besides the basic standards, contestants are free to use their creativity to decorate and create the winning racer. For those who aren’t as interested in the racing portion, there is still plenty of zucchini-based fun to go around. Other prizes are awarded for the best zucchini dish and the biggest zucchini.
From Henhouse to Pasture — Agricultural Festivals
What started as an event to support the community during difficult times has now become a time-honored favorite – Dixon Cow Days (Attendees still get two chances to win a cow!) will take place Sept. 19-21 and includes an array of activities the entire family will enjoy. Featuring craft and food vendors, live music, a petting zoo, car show, cow-calling contests and so much more, it’s an udder-ly a-moo-zing time in this small community offering big fun!
The Crane Broiler Festival in Crane will take place August 21-23. The annual celebration honors the town’s poultry farming heritage. The small community initially produced 50,000 broilers in 1948, and that number grew to 4,500,000 by 1955! Today, attendees can savor the festival’s signature BBQ chicken dinners, enjoy a variety of craft and vendor booths, find amusement on carnival rides and cheer on performers as they take the stage. Additionally, there’s a parade, car show and the Miss Slick Chick Beauty Pageant.
Northeast Events
Hannibal
- Juneteenth Balloons A-Glow, June 21
- National Tom Sawyer Days, June 28, July 2-6
- Hannibal BBQ Fest, July 18-19
- Wild and Wacky Art Adventure, Aug. 2
- Big River Steampunk Festival, Aug. 29- Sept. 1
- Harvest Hootenanny, Sept. 19-20
- Music Under the Stars, select dates June- Aug.
Hermann
- Hermann Mo Plein Air, June 8-13
- Missouri Bourbon Festival, Aug. 2
Kirksville
- Red, White and Blue Festival, July 4-5
- NEMO Fair, July 15-19
- 51st Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival, Sept. 27
Moberly
- Moberly Railroad Days, June 8-14
O’Fallon
- O’Fallon Heritage & Freedom Fest, July 3-6
Pacific
- Sunset on the Rails, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12
St. Charles
- Jazz at the Riverside, July 13, Aug. 10, Aug. 31
- St. Charles Block Party, June 14
- St. Charles Riverfest, July 4-6
- Festival of the Little Hills, Aug. 15-17
St. Louis
- Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Festival Season, select dates May 24- June 29
- Whitaker Music Festival, select dates May 28- July 30
- Broadway Musicals at The Muny, select dates June 16- Aug. 24
- Hispanic Festival, Inc., June 21-22
- Pond-O-Rama, June 21-June 22
- Grand Pride Parade, June 29
- Celebrate Saint Louis, July 3 and 4
- Let Them Eat Art, July 11
- Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, Aug. 7- 17
- Blues at the Arch, Aug. 8- 10
- Gateway Dragon Boat Festival, Aug. 16
- Gateway Cup, Aug. 29 to Sept. 1
- Japanese Festival, Aug. 30- Sept. 1
- Saint Louis Art Fair, Sept. 5- 7
- Music at the Intersection, Sept. 12- 14
- The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race, Sept. 19- 20
- Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival, Sept. 20
Union
- Concert in the Park, June 6, July 3, Aug. 1, Sept. 5
- Lawn Chair Movie Night, June 20, July 18, Aug. 22, Sept. 19
Washington
- Sunset on the Riverfront, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25
- Music at the Market, June 12, July 10, Sept. 11
- Foodstock, Aug. 23
- Farm to Table, Sept. 4
Southeast Events
Bonne Terre
- Show-Me Space, June 28
Cape Girardeau
- Citywide Juneteenth Celebration, June 21
- Fourth at the Fort!, July 4-5
- Tunes at Twilight, each Friday Aug. 1- Sept. 5
- Show-Me Reptile Show, Sept. 21
East Prairie
- Sweet Corn Festival and Tour de Corn, June 27-28
Rolla and the Surrounding Area
- 31st Annual Route 66 Summerfest – Rolla, June 6-7
- National Mural Day – Cuba, June 28
- 90th Annual Lion’s Club Carnival – Rolla, July 2-5
- Edgar Prairie Days – Edgar Springs, July 22-24
- Grape & Fall Festival – St. James, Sept. 4-6
- Celebration of Nations – Rolla, Sept. 20
Sikeston
- Sikeston Hot Air Balloon Festival, June 20-21
- Cowboy Up! Festival, Aug. 2
- Bootheel Quilters Guild Quilt Show, Aug. 2-3
- Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, Aug. 6-9
Ste. Genevieve
- French Heritage Festival, June 14
- Ste. Genevieve County Fair, July 11-13
- 4th Friday Art Walk, July 25
- Jour de Fete Craft Festival, Aug. 9-10
- Civil War Interpretive Event with Bank Raid Reenactment, Aug. 23
- 4th Friday Art Walk, Aug. 22
- Oktoberfest, Sept. 13-14
West Plains and the Surrounding Area
- “Moth Market”, One-of-a-Kind Oddity & Vendor Show – West Plains, June 21-22
- Out in the Ozarks 2025: Roots & Branches – West Plains, June 28
- Red, White & Blue Concert for a Cause – Willow Springs, July 4
- Elvis Festival – West Plains, July 26
- Zach Williams in Concert – West Plains, Aug. 9
- Ozarks Studies Symposium hosted by MSU – West Plains, Sept. 18-20
- Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass (HOBA) Fall Bluegrass Festival – West Plains, Sept. 25-27
Central Events
Benton County
- Drake Harbor Fireworks, July 5
- Cole Camp Zucchini Races – Cole Camp, July 26
- Smokin’ Hot Harborfest – Warsaw, Aug. 2
- Benton County Rodeo, Aug. 29-30
- Cole Camp Fair – Cole Camp, Sept. 4-6
- Lincoln Fly-In – Lincoln, Sept. 13
- Lincoln Fall Market/Balloon Glow/Strongman Competition – Lincoln, Sept. 13
Callaway County
- Fulton Street Fair – Fulton, June 20-21
- Mokane World Fair – Mokane, Aug. 29-31
Clinton
- Henry County Fair Truck and Tractor Pull, June 28
- Olde Glory Days, July 3-6
- Henry County Fair, July 12-20
- Henry County Fair Demolition Derby, July 26
- Northern Cherokee Nation Pow Wow, Sept. 18-21
- Henry County Rodeo, Sept. 19-20
Columbia
- Fourth of July – Fire in the Sky, July 4
- Central Bank Downtown Live (formerly 9th Street Summerfest), July 23, Sept. 2
- Fourth of July – Fire in the Sky, July 4
Jefferson City
- Salute to America, July 4
- Jefferson City Jaycees Cole County Fair, July 28- Aug. 2
Lake of the Ozarks
- Aquapalooza, July 19
- Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, Aug. 23-24
Moberly
- Friday Night Cruise & Concert Summer Series, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15
- July 4th Extravaganza, July 4
- Duck Dash and Truck Bash, Aug. 17
- R-100 Archery Tournament, Aug. 8-10
- Junk Junktion, Sept. 20
Pulaski County
- Pulaski County Regional Fair Carnival, June 11-14
- Independence Day Celebration and Patriotic Color Run – Fort Leonard Wood, July 4
- 9th Annual Ultra Sweaty Santa – Devils Elbow, July 19
- Old Settlers Day and 35th Annual Duck Race – Waynesville, July 26-27
- AUSA JeepFest 2025 – St. Robert, Aug. 16
- 6th Annual Bad Dawg Ultra – Waynesville, Aug. 16
- Crocker Railroad Days – Crocker, Sept. 6
- Patriot Day Festival – Waynesville, Sept. 13
- 21st Annual Dixon Cow Days – Dixon, Sept. 19-21
Sedalia
- Red Power Roundup, June 26-28
- Sedalia Main Street First Thursday Activities, July 3, Sept. 4
- Missouri State Fair, Aug. 7-17
Warrensburg and the Surrounding Area
- Fortopia at Powell Gardens – Kingsville, May 22- Sept. 1
- Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens, July 17- Aug. 3
- Show-Me Shootout – Warrensburg, July 19
- Chilhowee Community Fair – Chilhowee, Aug. 28-30
- Holden Street Fair – Holden, Sept. 11-13
Southwest Events
Branson and the Surrounding Area
- Ozark Mountain Summer Celebration at Silver Dollar City, June 8- Aug. 3
- Crane Broiler Festival – Crane, Aug. 21-23
Carthage
- 47th Annual Carthage Stampede & Rodeo, June 6-7
- Red, White and Boom, July 4
Lebanon
- Route 66 Festival, June 7
Springfield and the Surrounding Area
- White Hart Renaissance Faire – Hartsville, select dates in June
- Taste of SoMo – Springfield, June 21
- Ozark Empire Fair – Springfield, July 21- Aug. 2
- Birthplace of Route 66 Festival – Springfield, Aug. 8-9
- Japanese Fall Festival – Springfield, Sept. 5-7
- Seymour Apple Festival – Seymour, Sept. 11-13
- MO Food Truck Festival – Springfield, Sept. 13
- Marionville Applefest – Marionville, Sept. 19-20
Northwest Events
Arrow Rock
- Parade, Village Cookout & Potluck, July 4
- Boardwalk Concert/Main St. Dance, Aug. 2
- Children’s Craft Festival, Sept. 18
- 1850 Arrow Rock Election, Sept. 19-21
- Musicals at Lyceum Theatre, select dates June-Sept.
Chillicothe
- Sliced Bread Day, June 7
- Chautauqua in the Park, Sept. 6-7
Excelsior Springs
- Waterfest, June 27-28
- Lyrics on the Lawn, select dates July- Sept.
- 25th Annual BBQ & Fly-In on the River, Aug. 15-16
- On The Rocks Whiskey Stroll, Aug. 15
- Home Brew Contest, Aug. 16
Kansas City
- Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, June 17- July 6
- KC Fringe, July 13-27
- Kansas City’s Lawn Party at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, July 20
- Heart of America Hot Dog Festival, Aug. 9
- Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Aug. 19- Sept. 1
- Kansas City Irish Fest, Aug. 29-31
- Art Westport, Sept. 5-7
- Jesse James Festival, Sept. 13, 19-21
- Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 19-21
Kingsville
- Festival of Butterflies, Powell Gardens, July 17 – August 3
Liberty
- 20-Year Birthday Block Party & Make Music Liberty, June 21
- LibertyFest, July 3
- Christmas in July Beer Crawl, July 19
- Downtown Liberty Churches Guided Walking Tour, Aug. 2
- Let’s Fla-Mingle, Aug. 7
Parkville
- Parkville 4th of July Celebration, July 4
- Parkville Days Festival, Aug. 22-24
Platte County
- July Fourth Celebration, July 4
St. Joseph
- Juneteenth Festivities, select dates June 13-22
- Whiskey Tasting & Hog Roast, June 21
- Vietnam Era Commemoration Ceremony, July 14
- Show Me St. Jo! Experience, July 30
- St. Patrick’s Fiesta, Aug. 9
- AugustFest, Aug. 29-31
- St. Joe Pridefest, Sept. 13
- Southside Fall Festival, Sept 19-21
- Parties on the Parkway, select dates June- Sept.
- Summer Concert Series, select dates June- Sept.
- Kids Summer Art Camp, select dates June- Aug.
- Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp, select dates July- Aug.
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