Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece The Nutcracker has been a treasured tradition for many each holiday season. The magical Christmas ballet tells the story of Clara and her unsettling dream about a Nutcracker prince. And you can see it on Dec. 6!
Events
Even before the Thanksgiving feast’s finished, visions of sugar plums begin dancing in our heads. From trimming the tree to baking Christmas confections, the holiday season holds lots of joy and wonder … especially in one Missouri town!
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain, has been hailed as the “greatest humorist the United States has produced.” And you can celebrate the 188th anniversary of his birth in a fabulously fun way on Nov. 25, 2023.
What a perfect way to enjoy the holiday lights and slights – a free horse drawn “carriage” ride! Bundle up and take your seats, then ooh and ahh at the decorations. Find out where you can clip and clop and see the decked-out shops.
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but many of us are already looking ahead to Christmas! If you’d like to get in a merry mood, you’ll want to check out a memorable, magical event that’s celebrating its 15th year, and runs through Christmas Eve!
Did you ever want to run away and join the circus as a kid? Good news: While you can’t actually join the circus, you can run away and enjoy it! The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming to Missouri Nov.10–12, 2023!
Christmas markets are common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (the “DACH” countries, short for Deutschland (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH, which is short for Latin Confoederatio Helvetica). But you can attend one without leaving Missouri!
Halloween may be over, but you can still encounter a monster – a Hot Wheels Monster Truck, that is! Actually, you can encounter a whole fleet of the motorized monsters at an exciting, entertaining family-friendly event Nov. 4–5, 2023.
We may be headed toward winter, but you can still enjoy the quintessential sounds of summer — The Beach Boys! Find out where to drive your “Little Deuce Coupe” to catch them live in concert, and let their waves of memorable music wash over you.
Have you ever thought about the important role music plays in scary movies and shows? It can create an eerie atmosphere and build suspense. So, in the spirit of the season, check out “Ghouling Pianos,” an interactive musical comedy experience.
If you’re into Halloween, dressing up in a spooky or sultry costume, and riding your boo-cycle, you’ll want to check out a monstrously fun event on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Join other ghouls and guys for an awesome bike-based evening!
Do you have a fear of the forest? Do you mistrust trees? Worried about what may be hiding behind them? The woods can be a scary place. Just ask Hansel and Gretel! Are you willing to take a chilling walk through a dark forest before Halloween?
Are you an avid angler? A big fishing fan? Then you’ll be happy to hear that one mid-Missouri fishing spot hooked quite a high ranking on fishingbooker.com’s list of the nine best fall fishing locations. Find out where to catch the action.
…Emphasis on the crawl-ies! Halloween bar crawls have become increasingly popular. Whether zombie-themed or simply costumed, more and more towns and cities are offering these “spirited” celebrations for adults during the Halloween holiday.
It’s prime apple time! You’ve probably picked apples. And made pie, cobbler, crisp, or caramel apples. Or maybe you’ve enjoyed sliced apples with peanut butter. But have you ever made apple butter? Here’s a chance to see master makers in action!
Lead mining has been big business in the eastern Ozarks since about 1720. But how much do you know about the history of mining in Missouri? You can learn all about it at a free and informative open house at a historic state mine museum!
Are you into cute canines? How about cute canines in costumes? What could be better than dogs decked out in their most adorable attire or flamboyant finery? Don’t “paws” – hightail it to this event and catch all the fun and fur-volity on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023!
If you marvel at majestic monarchs, with their beautiful, bright orange and black wings, then you won’t want to miss a special event on Sept. 30, 2023. Fans of these fancy fliers can flock to see them as they begin their fall migration southward.
Is “Top Chef” at the top of your viewing list? Then you’ll want a ticket to be an audience member when Missouri cooks vie for a shot at a spot in a worldwide cooking competition—with you taste testing their dishes in different categories!
If you enjoy fall festivals, you’ll want to check out one on Saturday Sept. 23, 2023. Admission is free and there are lots of fun festivities and activities, from music, to sampling spirits, to browsing artisan offerings, to trying your hand at painting.
Would you like to learn more about the culture and customs of indigenous people who once heavily populated Missouri? Those who helped preserve so many of the Show Me State’s natural resources? This event is the perfect learning ground.
If flying fascinates you and aviation amps you up, take off for an incredible free air show Sept. 16–17, 2023. You’ll have a chance to marvel at military aircraft from decades past and catch captivating aeronautic performances and daredevil displays.
Do you enjoy perusing paintings and photos? Seeing ceramics and sculptures? Browsing booth after booth of beautiful, creative creations? If ambling about an art-filled festival is right up your alley, then this event is picture perfect for you.
Talk about an event that’s ripe for the picking! Maybe you didn’t grow any tomatoes of your own, or maybe you just really like them. Either way, you won’t want to miss a free Tomato Festival on Thursday Sept. 7. It’s a treat for your taste buds.
Are you Irish? Or maybe you just enjoy Emerald Isle imports like Irish music, dance, beer, or whiskey. If you’re nodding your head and saying, ”Sure ‘n I do – ‘Irish’ I could enjoy even more Eire experiences!,” then you won’t want to miss this festival!
Most circuses — whether large and famous like Ringling Bros., and Barnum & Bailey, or small and regional — are traveling ones, and set up a big Big Top tent to perform in. But not this circus. It is traveling, but there is no Big Top tent involved!
Are you good at identifying flags? When you see one, do you know where it’s from? Or maybe you’re fascinated by history and how flags figure into it. Either way, you’ll wanna run this free event up the flagpole. You’ll definitely salute it!
Do you enjoy being a two-wheeled tourist? Whether you’re a peddling pro, a cycling sensation, or a little wobbly on wheels, if you’re any kind of a biking enthusiast—at any skill level!—you’ll want to check out a marvelous moonlight bike ride.
Quite a few professional athletes go into broadcasting after they retire, and provide colorful commentary or coverage of their former sport. But there’s one who’s made quite a name for himself as a star of stage and screen—a theater stage, that is!
