31 history events in Missouri: battle reenactments, living-history days, heritage festivals and candlelight tours of historic homes. Next up: Rural Heritage Day, Oct 24, 2026. Dates are the organizers’ own; where only a month is published we say so.
Header photo: The Liberty Memorial speaker’s stand at Gen. Eisenhower’s homecoming, June 21, 1945; the memorial turns 100 in Nov. 2026. Credit: National Archives and Records Administration (U.S. Army Pictorial Center), via DPLA and Wikimedia Commons.
- 31history events
- 13with confirmed dates ahead
- 4reenactments and living history
- 1America 250 events
Download this data: CSV · JSON · 31 events · free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to It’s Missouri. All open data: catalog.json.
Coming up, by month
October 2026
| Event | Kind | Where | When | Price | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Heritage Day | Heritage festival | Ste. Genevieve | Oct 24, 2026 | Free at Felix Vallé House SHS (other sites may charge) | Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, Ste. Genevieve Museum and Learning Center, Centre for French Colonial Life, Missouri State Parks |
November 2026
| Event | Kind | Where | When | Price | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Veterans Day Weekend (Liberty Memorial 100th anniversary) | Anniversary commemoration | Kansas City | Nov 6, 2026 to Nov 11, 2026 | Free public ceremony on the grounds; other activities see official site | National WWI Museum and Memorial |
| Fiber arts classes at Felix Vallé House (rug hooking, needle felting, crochet, knitting, embroidery) | Heritage craft class | Ste. Genevieve | Nov 8, 2026 to Mar 14, 2027 | Free | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| Basket weaving class: Spice Cabinet Pullout | Heritage craft class | St. Charles | Nov 14, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | See official site (class size limited) | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| Victorian Christmas Crafts at Watkins Woolen Mill | Holiday at historic site | Lawson | Nov 14, 2026 | Free | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| Toddler Thursday: Indigenous Americans | Family history program | Imperial | Nov 19, 2026 | See official site | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| Saint Charles Christmas Traditions | Holiday at historic district | St. Charles | Nov 27, 2026 to Dec 24, 2026 | See official site (free events listed) | Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau |
| 1880 Visit with Saint Nicholas | Living history / holiday | Kansas City (Hodge Park) | Nov 28, 2026 | $10 ages 10+, $5 ages 3-9, 2 and under free | Kansas City Parks and Recreation (Shoal Creek Living History Museum) |
December 2026
| Event | Kind | Where | When | Price | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old-Fashioned Christmas at Arrow Rock | Holiday at historic site | Arrow Rock | Dec 5, 2026 | Free | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| Ozark Christmas Traditions | Holiday at historic site | Ash Grove | Dec 5, 2026 | Free | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| Candlelight Open House at Hunter-Dawson | Candlelight tour | New Madrid | Dec 11, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026 | Free | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
June 2027
| Event | Kind | Where | When | Price | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival | Heritage music festival | Sedalia | Jun 3, 2027 to Jun 6, 2027 | See official site | Scott Joplin International Ragtime Foundation |
| National Pony Express Re-Ride (eastbound, finishing in St. Joseph) | Anniversary reenactment | St. Joseph | Jun 16, 2027 to Jun 26, 2027 | Free to watch | National Pony Express Association |
Held every year: dates not announced yet
The organizer gives only the usual month or season. We add the exact dates when they are posted.
| Event | Kind | Where | Usually | Price | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| America 250 Missouri – events by county | America 250 (Semiquincentennial) | Statewide | Ongoing through 2026; check calendar | Varies | America 250 Missouri Commission |
| Arrow Rock Heritage Festival | Heritage crafts festival | Arrow Rock | October (2026: Oct. 10-11) | See official site | Friends of Arrow Rock |
| Battle of Wilson’s Creek anniversary programs | Battle anniversary / living history | Republic | Usually weekend nearest Aug. 10 plus ceremony on Aug. 10 (2026: Aug. 8-10) | Free | National Park Service (Wilson’s Creek NB) |
| Carver Day Celebration | Anniversary commemoration | Diamond | Usually a Saturday in July (2025: July 12) | Free | National Park Service (George Washington Carver NM) with Carver Birthplace Association |
| Déjà vu Spirit Reunion | Living history (costumed portrayals) | Ste. Genevieve | Fourth Saturday in October, 5-8 p.m. | See official site | Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve |
| French Heritage Festival | Heritage festival | Ste. Genevieve | Usually second Saturday in June | See official site | Visit Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve tourism) |
| Jesse James Festival | Heritage festival | Kearney | September (2026: Sept. 12 and 18-20) | See official site | Jesse James Festival |
| Jour de Fête | Heritage crafts festival | Ste. Genevieve | Second full weekend in August | See official site | Visit Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve tourism) |
| Juneteenth | Commemoration | Statewide | June 19 annually (Missouri public holiday) | Varies | Various |
| King’s Ball (Bal du Roi) | Heritage tradition (French colonial) | Ste. Genevieve | Usually first full weekend in February | See official site | Visit Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve tourism) |
| La Guiannée (La Guignolée) | Heritage tradition (French colonial) | Ste. Genevieve | Every New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) | See official site | Visit Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve tourism) |
| Milice Encampment (Ste. Genevieve Militia) | Living history encampment | Ste. Genevieve | Typically second Saturday in April and October, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Free | Ste. Geneviève Militia, Inc. / Centre for French Colonial Life |
| Missouri Day | Commemoration | Statewide (schools) | Third Wednesday of October (Oct. 21, 2026; Oct. 20, 2027) | Free | State of Missouri (RSMo 9.040) |
| Missouri Statehood Day | Anniversary commemoration | St. Charles | Usually Aug. 10 (2026 event held Aug. 10) | Free (2026) | Missouri State Parks (DNR) |
| SantaCaliGon Days | Heritage festival (overland trails) | Independence | Labor Day weekend (2026: Sept. 4-7) | See official site | SantaCaliGon Festival |
| Ste. Genevieve Civil War Interpretive Event | Living history encampment | Ste. Genevieve | Usually fourth Saturday in August | See official site | Visit Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve tourism) |
| Ste. Genevieve Holiday Christmas Festival | Holiday festival | Ste. Genevieve | Usually first weekend of December | See official site | Visit Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve tourism) |
| Truman Day (Harry S Truman’s birthday) | Anniversary commemoration | Independence | May 8 annually (state public holiday) | Varies | Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum; City of Independence |
Looking for every event, not only history? See all Missouri events.
What we could not verify
- The NPS has staged living history on the 1780 Battle of St. Louis (Fort San Carlos) at the Gateway Arch on Memorial Day weekend, but its news release is undated and no 2027 program has been announced.
- Several popular events had no organizer page we could confirm, including Lewis & Clark Heritage Days in St. Charles, the JuneteenthKC festival at 18th & Vine, and National Tom Sawyer Days in Hannibal, so they are not on our list yet.
We re-check these when the source pages change. Spot something we missed? Use the corrections page.
Frequently asked questions
How is Kansas City marking the Liberty Memorial centennial?
The Liberty Memorial was dedicated on November 11, 1926. For its 100th year the National WWI Museum and Memorial holds a 2026 Centennial Veterans Day Weekend on November 6-9 and November 11, with special activities and a free public ceremony on the grounds (source: National WWI Museum and Memorial: Events).
How is Missouri celebrating America 250?
The America 250 Missouri Commission plans the state’s commemoration of the Declaration of Independence’s 250th anniversary. Its “Celebrate” initiative gives priority to July 4, the Battle of Fort San Carlos (the 1780 defense of St. Louis) and events of the American Revolution. The Governor or a designee chairs the commission (source: America 250 Missouri Commission: About the Commission).
What historic Christmas events are there in Missouri?
Our events list has six dated holiday events from mid-November through December 2026, including Old-Fashioned Christmas at Arrow Rock State Historic Site on December 5 (free, from 5 p.m.), Ozark Christmas Traditions at the Boone Homestead the same day, and a free Candlelight Open House at Hunter-Dawson on December 11-12 (source: Missouri State Parks: Old-Fashioned Christmas at Arrow Rock).
Last checked October 20, 2026 by the It’s Missouri editors against each operator’s, agency’s or organizer’s own page.
Sources
- Centennial Veterans Day Weekend (Liberty Memorial 100th anniversary)
- Fiber arts classes at Felix Vallé House (rug hooking, needle felting, crochet, knitting, embroidery)
- Basket weaving class: Spice Cabinet Pullout
- Victorian Christmas Crafts at Watkins Woolen Mill
- Toddler Thursday: Indigenous Americans
- Saint Charles Christmas Traditions
- 1880 Visit with Saint Nicholas
- Old-Fashioned Christmas at Arrow Rock
- Ozark Christmas Traditions
- Ste. Genevieve Holiday Christmas Festival
- Candlelight Open House at Hunter-Dawson
- Truman Day (Harry S Truman’s birthday)
- Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival
- National Pony Express Re-Ride (eastbound, finishing in St. Joseph)
- Juneteenth
- Carver Day Celebration
- Missouri Statehood Day
- Battle of Wilson’s Creek anniversary programs
- Jour de Fête
- SantaCaliGon Days
- Jesse James Festival
- Arrow Rock Heritage Festival
- Missouri Day
- Rural Heritage Day
- America 250 Missouri – events by county
Cite this page: It's Missouri, “History Events in Missouri: Reenactments, Living History and Candlelight Tours”, itsmissouri.com/history/events/ (updated ). By the It's Missouri editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.