JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri state parks and historic sites plan movies, concerts, cave tours and other fun-filled events for June.
- Saturday, May 24, at dusk – Movie in the Park: “Captain America: The First Avenger” at Lake Wappapello State Park.
Lake Wappapello State Park is hosting free movies on holiday weekends at the park’s amphitheater. Each showing is scheduled to begin at dusk, and registration is not required. Lake Wappapello State Park is located at 8005 State Highway 172 in Williamsville. - Summer Concert Series at Echo Bluff State Park.
Join us at Echo Bluff State Park for our 2025 concert series. Bring a lawn chair, quilt or blanket and enjoy a free concert under the stars. All concerts take place in the amphitheater at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.- Friday, May 23, at 8 p.m. – Open Road Band.New to Echo Bluff’s summer concert series, the Open Road Band will open this year’s series with some old-time country music.
- Saturday, May 24, at 8 p.m. – Kirk Pierce.Kirk Pierce, a familiar favorite at Echo Bluff, will perform a mix of covers and original songs.
- Sunday, May 25, at 8 p.m. – The Travelin’ Kind.The Travelin’ Kind is back in 2025, and members Trish and Mickey are sure to delight once again as they perform covers and original songs.
- Saturday, June 28, at 8 p.m. – Lone Pine Band.This great local family band is making its debut at Echo Bluff State Park in this concert for the whole family.
- Saturday, May 24, at 7 p.m. – Whitewater Bluegrass Band in Concert at Sam A. Baker State Park.
Enjoy some great music and fun company from the Whitewater Bluegrass Band in this free concert at Sam A. Baker State Park. Whitewater is an upbeat band that plays new and traditional bluegrass and gospel music with a little humor included. The concert will be held at the park amphitheater, located behind the visitor center at 5580 State Highway 143 in Patterson. Seating is limited, so guests are encouraged to bring their own. - Saturday, May 24, at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 28, at 9 p.m. – Starry Sky Nights at Onondaga Cave State Park.
The public is invited to meet in front of the visitor center at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg to view the unobstructed night sky. Visitors will learn about some of the objects that can be seen. Astronomy experts will be demonstrating the use of telescopes and identifying stars and planets. The program is subject to rescheduling due to poor viewing conditions. Register online at comto receive updates about the program. - June 1 through June 29 – Juneteenth: The History of a Holiday at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site.
Celebrate Juneteenth by visiting this special exhibit at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. Through interactive stations and hands-on activities, this exhibit will bring family and friends together to learn more about Missouri’s diverse cultures and history. The exhibit will be on display in the site’s Shaw House through the month of June from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free. The Shaw House is located at 200 Merchant St. in Ste. Genevieve. - Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Birds and Blossom Festival at Echo Bluff State Park.Learn about our feathered friends and the native plants that can keep them happy and healthy at this event at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence. The event will begin at the amphitheater with a live bird program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors of all ages can participate in a variety of activities related to birds and blossoms. Activities include arts and crafts, games, bird-watching opportunities and more. Pets are not allowed at the live bird program.
- Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Summer Fun Day at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.
Join the site team for a day of fun to celebrate the beginning of the summer season! Activities include self-guided mill tours, games, food vendors and live music. Admission is free, and registration is not required. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and sunscreen:- 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – All four floors of the mill are open for free self-guided tours; self-guided tours of the first floor will be available until 4 p.m.
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Large format checkers, four in a row, cornhole, other classic board games and lawn games, and bubble station with bubble solution and wands will be available in the day-use area.
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Award-winning barbecue from BBQ 2 the Rescue and delicious snow cones from Ty’s Summer Sno will be available for purchase in the day-use area.
- Noon to 2 p.m. – Music from Back Porch Company will be in the mill.
- Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. – Women Outdoors: Dutch Oven Cooking at Echo Bluff State Park.
Women 16 and older are invited to cook up some food using charcoal and cast iron. This hands-on class is taught by women for women and will be held at the Shannondale Fire Tower Classroom at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence. Registration is required by calling 573-751-1224or emailing weber@dnr.mo.gov. Participation is limited to 15 women. - Friday, June 20, at 10 a.m. – Nature Journaling Workshop: Color Play at Echo Bluff State Park.
This nature journaling workshop will revisit some of the tried-and-true methods of nature journaling and will also introduce new ideas to keep your journals fresh and interesting. Bring your own journal and favorite instruments for getting color on your page, and let’s color! Participants will also be playing with watercolors. Some watercolor paints and pencils will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have them. Registration is required by calling 573-751-1224or email weber@dnr.mo.gov. Participants will meet at the Bluff Top Pavilion in the park located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence. - Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Cathedral Cave Off-Trail Tour at Onondaga Cave State Park. Onondaga Cave State Park is hosting a series of off-trail tours of Cathedral Cave. These tours are perfect for those who want a more intense cave experience, one that goes beyond the lighted tour with rails and trails. Each tour is led by an experienced guide and requires participants to climb, crawl and get a little muddy. Visitors will spend up to five hours in the cave, learning about its geology, biology and history. Each tour is limited to 15 people ages 10 and up, and registration is required. Cost is $70 per adult and $50 per child. Safety is our top priority. All interested guests will be asked some questions to determine whether they will be able to complete the tour, and they will be shown a video of what to expect inside the cave. The guide will send a list of items to bring, and the park team will provide caving helmets. To register, call 573-522-3760. Onondaga Cave State Park is located at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg.
- Sunday, June 22, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Onondaga Cave Photo Tours at Onondaga Cave State Park. Amateur photographers are invited on a photo tour of Onondaga Cave. Sponsored by the Onondaga Friends Association, these extended tours include extra time for photos to be taken at specific locations along the tour route. Each tour will begin at the visitor center at 7556 Highway H in Leasburg. Conditions in the cave include limited lighting, concrete walkways, metal handrails, 57°F temperature year-round and humidity nearing 100%. Participants should dress warmly, wear closed-toe shoes and bring their own photography equipment. There is a maximum of 30 participants per tour. Advance registration is preferred by calling 573-522-1860.
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 State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.