50 Things to Do in Missouri This Fall

Last summer, I made a summer bucket list with things to do in Missouri during the summer months. The post quickly became my site’s most popular post with hundreds of shares on Pinterest (small potatoes, I know, but it was pretty fun for me when my boyfriend’s friend sent him a screenshot of his girlfriend’s Pinterest feed with my blog post image, pinned by a total stranger — small world).

1. Enjoy every Mizzou home gameday by donning my best black-and-gold and cheering on the Tigers, whether it be at a bar, tailgate or Faurot Field.
2. Go to Oktoberfest in Hermann. Wine and German food for the win.
3. Enjoy a weekend in Branson. Mock if you will, but I love that cheesy tourist town. Aside from the shows, the area is really beautiful and has lots of opportunities for outdoor exploring.
4. Travel to a Mizzou away game — I’m thinking Knoxville. It’s my goal to make this an annual tradition and, eventually, to visit all the SEC schools for gamedays. We went to Ole Miss last year, and it was a blast.
5. Go to a Cardinals game. Still can’t bring myself to wear a Cardinals shirt, though.
6. Finally visit Ballpark Village for pre- or post-game drinks or a night out.
7. And go to a Royals game, too! Preferably on one of their $1 hot dog nights, because Lord knows I’ve never met a hot dog I didn’t like.
8. Invite my parents and Susan and Paul (our close family friends) for a weekend visit. The foursome has been coming to visit Dan and me for four years now, and it’s always a highlight of the season for me.
9. Go to the theatre — professional, community, or college. Our community theatre in Columbia is doing a production of Avenue Q, one of my favorite Broadway shows. Dirty Dancing is coming to St. Louis’ Fox Theatre this fall.
10. Enjoy every aspect of Mizzou Homecoming: the blood drive, House Decs (Err Campus Decorations for the GDIs out there), the parade, tailgate, the game. Who knows, this could be my last year living in Columbia during Homecoming; I want to relish it.
11. Decorate our duplex for fall and Halloween. One of the simple things that makes me happy.
12. Spend an afternoon at the winery A-frame at Les Bourgeois.
13. Go to a Chiefs game. I need to redeem myself for the last time I went four years ago; I was severely underdressed for the weather, and it put a damper on things.
14. Finally make it to the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival – finally! I have been trying to go to this festival for six years, and the timing never works out.
15. Go apple picking! I haven’t been since I was a kid. Part II: Make my grandma’s homemade apple sauce.
16. Spend a weekend in Hannibal. I’ve been to the Mark Twain Cave (definitely recommend it!), but I’d like to go back and go on the Mark Twain Riverboat, visit Rockcliffe Mansion, and do a Haunted Hannibal tour.
17. Go to a renaissance fair (something that’s on my bucket list in general). There’s one in KC this fall.
18. Attend Six Flags Fright Fest — one of my favorite fall events as a kid.
19. TED DREWE’S. Can’t believe I’ve still never been.
20. Do the Glow Run 5K in St. Louis. Tickets already purchased!
21. Go to Mizzou basketball games.
22. Try a new restaurant twice a month. There are so many places in Columbia (and all of Missouri) that I still haven’t tried!
23. See a movie at a fancy movie theatre (cocktails, recliners, and all).
24. Check out the swinging bridge at the Lake of the Ozarks. Eek!
25. Enjoy a ghost tour in historic Saint Charles. Because I love all things spooky.
26. Attend the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival in Columbia.
27. Concerts, concerts, and more concerts. Counting down the days until I see Eric Church again (and yes, it will be the third time in 12 months — not mad about it).
28. Go to a new haunted house we haven’t tried before.

Posted By: Ali Salter · In: Life & Love, Travel