Show-me September: Uncover autumn adventures in central Missouri state parks and historic sites

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT 02, 2026 – Hikes, chats, concerts and more are taking place throughout central Missouri this September.

Friday, Sept. 4, at 8 p.m. – Friday Night Fireside Chat at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park.
Join us in the campground at 8 p.m. 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. Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park is located at 32146 N. Highway 122, Miami.
Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. – Medford Mile Hike on the Rock Island Trail.
Want to get outside this Labor Day weekend? Then join Missouri State Parks team for this guided hike on the Rock Island Trail. This easy hike will cover approximately 1 mile on flat surfaces and may include opportunities to see wildlife. It will begin at the Medford trailhead at 10 a.m. The Rock Island Trail is part of a larger rail-to-trail system within Missouri's state park system. From Pleasant Hill in northwest Missouri, it runs southeast through Medford before reaching Windsor, where it connects to the Katy Trail. Additional segments of the Rock Island are being developed east of Windsor. The Medford trailhead is about 5 miles south of Holden in Johnson County. The GPS coordinates are 38.652280, -94.007648. This guided hike is free and open to the public. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water, snacks and insect repellent. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and pets must be kept on a leash.
Saturday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. – Artist Meet and Greet: Shawn Cooper at Arrow Rock State Historic Site.
Stop by the visitor center at 39521 Visitor Center Drive in Arrow Rock to meet with Shawn Cooper and see his artwork, which is on display through the end of the month. This reception lasts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is free and open to the public, registration is not required and light refreshments will be served.
Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. – Concert in the Park at Arrow Rock State Historic Site.
Meet at the showerhouse in the campground at Arrow Rock State Historic Site for a night of good music and good company. Local musician Kylee Griffin will be on-site to perform a mix of old country and gospel songs. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is not provided, so visitors should bring their own. Arrow Rock State Historic Site is located at 39521 Visitor Cener Drive in Arrow Rock.
Saturday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m. – Nights at the Campground at Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park.
Join the park team for an interpretive program in the campground at 32146 N. Highway 122 in Miami. This program will last no more than 2 hours, and participation is free and open to registered campers and day-use visitors alike.

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 Missouri State Parks Events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit Missouri State Parks. The Division of State Parks is part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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