Missouri Statehood Day on Aug. 10 will mark 200 years since the Missouri Territory became the 24th state of the union. More than 200 bicentennial events are taking place this year, with major public activities scheduled for August.
Among the major events planned to commemorate the bicentennial are the Together for 21 Fest organized by the State Historical Society of Missouri 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, lectures, documentary film screenings and bicentennial traveling exhibits.
READ: New Explorers Program makes it easy for families to celebrate bicentennial
The First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site will host a bicentennial commemoration event for the public in St. Charles on Aug. 7. The historic site is where Missouri’s first legislature met from 1821 to 1826 before the state capitol was moved to Jefferson City. Tour the historic rooms where statehood began, attend lectures and walk the stationary parade route. The event is being organized by Missouri State Parks.
Missouri Bicentennial events in the state capital
Jefferson City will be the location for several days of bicentennial festivities open to the public on Aug. 8 and 10. These 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 state capitol events, including an invititation to communities to celebrate Missouri’s birthday on Aug. 10 with an ice cream social. The commission is asking communities to sign up for the statewide ice cream social at missouri2021.org; plan their community celebration and share photos using the hashtag #ScoopsAcrossMissouri.
The Missouri bicentennial is the theme for the Missouri State Fair, Aug. 12-22 in Sedalia. The Missouri Celebration will include special bicentennial events and exhibits, along with livestock shows and competitive exhibits, entertainment, motor sports and other regular State Fair offerings.
For a calendar of events, visit missouri2021.org.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice