More than 200 events are planned this year as the state celebrates its bicentennial anniversary of becoming the 24th state in the union.
Missouri Statehood Day will be observed Aug. 10; the celebrations will occur statewide this year with the major public events scheduled in August.
The events are being developed with COVID-19 safety measures, and in-person activities will adhere to local and state health guidelines at the time of the event, according to officials at the State Historical Society of Missouri. Some events will also be livestreamed.
Among the major events planned to commemorate the bicentennial include:
- The Together for 21 Fest organized by the historical society and the University of Missouri. The three-day festival, Aug. 6-8, will be held at the Center for Missouri Studies and the MU campus in Columbia. The event will include live music, folk art demonstrations, children's programming, talks/lectures, documentary film screenings and bicentennial traveling exhibits.
- A bicentennial commemoration event Aug. 7 at the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site in St. Charles. The historic site is where Missouri's first Legislature met from 1821-26 before the state Capitol was moved to Jefferson City. Visitors can tour the rooms where statehood began, attend lectures and walk the stationary parade route. The event is being organized by Missouri State Parks.
- Several bicentennial festivities Aug. 8-10 in Jefferson City at the Capitol. The events include a Gold Star Memorial dedication, the dedication of the Bicentennial Bridge, a Statehood Day ceremony in conjunction with a U.S. naturalization ceremony and an ice cream social. The Missouri Bicentennial Commission is planning the Capitol events and the commission is asking communities across the state to sign up for a statewide ice cream social at missouri2021.org; plan their community celebration on Aug. 10 and share photos using the hashtag #ScoopsAcrossMissouri.
- A bicentennial theme for this year's Missouri State Fair, Aug. 12-22, in Sedalia. Our Missouri Celebration will include special bicentennial events and exhibits.
For a calendar of events on Missouri's bicentennial, visit missouri2021.org.