Fall in love with the great outdoors: St. Louis area state parks announce September lineup

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 14, 2026 – September brings a plethora of activities to St. Louis area state parks and historic sites.

• Campground Programs at St. Joe State Park.
    Meet in Campground 1 at 2800 Pimville Road in Park Hills for these programs.
   
  • Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. - Oh, Deer! 
    White-tailed deer are some of the most familiar animals in Missouri, but how much do you really know about them?
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. - Hibernation Mania. Bears, bats, frogs, turtles, snakes and many more! 
    Lots of animals hibernate and they do so in different ways. Discover the different types of hibernation animals use to survive.
     
• Afternoon Adventures at St. Joe State Park.
  Meet at 1 p.m. at the amphitheater in Campground 1 at 2800 Pimville Road in Park Hills for these programs. 
   
  • Saturday, Sept. 19 - Find the Naturalist. 
    Win a prize by following clues and finding the naturalist! The first clue is near the playground in Campground 1. 
     
  • Saturday, Sept. 26 - Is It a Bug? 
    Visit the table outside the showerhouse in Campground 1 to learn bug basics and test your knowledge.
     
• Saturday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. - Archaeology Day at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site. Celebrate Missouri Archaeology Month at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site! During this family-friendly event, you will see how archaeologists use various pieces of material evidence to reconstruct the past. Staff members will demonstrate methods for classifying objects and techniques for gathering data from objects and records. You will also see the traveling trunk, which contains household items from 19th century along with their modern-day counterparts. Archaeology Day will take place in the back yard of the historic site from 10 a.m. to noon. The historic site is located at 2658 Delmar Blvd., but the back yard can also be accessed from Beaumont Street.
   
• Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. - Toddler Thursday: Wildflowers at Mastodon State Historic Site. 
  Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site! Designed for toddlers and their grown-ups, participants will enjoy a story and a craft. In the event of inclement weather, programs may be moved to the museum auditorium. Otherwise, they will take place outside the museum at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. Participants should bring a water bottle and a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. Toddler Thursdays are free and open to the public. There is no need to register.
   
• Friday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m. - Outdoor Classroom: Autumn Leaves at Washington State Park. Have you ever wondered why leaves change color in the fall? Join park staff to listen to a Native story offering one explanation. Then, make a lovely leaf collage to take home. Meet at the campground amphitheater at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto. 
   
• Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 a.m. - Archaeology Day at Mastodon State Historic Site. 
  Celebrate Missouri Archaeology Month at Mastodon State Historic Site! Kids will experience what it's like to be an archaeologist through a series of interactive activities where they dig, discover and play. Plus, visitors of all ages will have a chance to try the ancient technique of throwing spears with an atlatl. We're excited to be joined by the Missouri Archaeological Society, who will be on-site with pieces of the past and stories to share. Archaeology Day will take place in and around the museum, from 9 a.m. to noon. Museum admission fees will be waived during the event. Mastodon State Historic Site is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
   
• Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m. - Backyard Bird Bash at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. Join Missouri State Parks team members and the World Bird Sanctuary to learn all about the birds that call Missouri home. All activities will take place in the backyard of the Felix Vallé House at 198 Merchant St., Ste. Genevieve. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

     Event Schedule:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Interpretive Stations. 
  Explore a variety of interpretive stations and participate in bird-related crafts. Themes will include birding, nest-building and the relationship between humans and birds. You will also have an opportunity to feed the local chickens.
   
• 2-3 p.m. - Live Bird Program: "Creatures of Myth and Legend."
  Join keepers from the World Bird Sanctuary to learn how birds and other animals inspire myths and legends around the world. This is your chance to not only hear the myths and legends but meet some of the creatures behind them. This program will feature a few live raptors, including a bald eagle. For safety reasons, pets will not be allowed at this part of the event. Please bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating.

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. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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