Fall fun flourishes in St. Louis area state parks and historic sites…

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 3, 2025 - St. Louis area state parks and historic sites have planned fun fall events for the entire family.

• Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Fall Harvest Fest at Washington State Park.
  Washington State Park will hold its annual Fall Harvest Fest on Saturday, Oct. 4. This event includes a handmade item and craft fair featuring a variety of vendors from throughout the state, as well as fall crafts and activities for the kids. Food and concession items will be available for purchase. All activities are scheduled to take place in and around Shelter #2 in the Big River Day-Use Area; however, this is subject to change due to weather. Admission is free and does not require registration. Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.
  
• Saturdays, Oct. 4, and 18, at 10 a.m. - Parallel Pasts Walking Tour at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site.
  History is never just one story - it's a collection of perspectives shaped by time, experience, and who gets to tell it. "Parallel Pasts: Two Sides to Every Story" tour take you through the streets of Ste. Genevieve while uncovering local history from multiple viewpoints. Each tour begins at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center and goes through the town's historic district before ending back at the welcome center. There are several stops along the way, including one at the Felix Vallé House. At each stop, discussions will include how different people experienced events in different ways and how our understanding has evolved over the years. This free program is in collaboration with the National Parks Service. Registration is required, and space is limited to 15 people per tour. Registration can be completed at icampmo1.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Activities/Search.aspx?search_text=parallel%20pasts. The tour begins and ends at Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center, located at 66 S. Main St. The tour travels approximately one-half mile through the historic district.
  
• Thursdays, Oct. 9, and 23, at 10 a.m. - Toddler Thursdays at Mastodon State Historic Site.
  Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site! The Toddler Thursday programs are designed for toddlers and their grownups. Each session focuses on a different topic and includes a story and craft. There is no need to register; just show up and enjoy! Mastodon State Historic Site is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
  • Oct. 9 - Autumn Leaves.
  • Oct. 23 - Spiders.
    
• Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. - Giving a Hoot: An Owl's Life at Washington State Park.
  Join the park team at the campground amphitheater at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto, to learn about the owls that live within the park. See an interesting display showcasing owls' special abilities and habits.
  
• Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. - Spooktacular at Meramec State Park.
  Join the park team in the campground Saturday, Oct. 18, for the annual Spooktacular event! Celebrate with Halloween pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, a scary movie and more. Campers are encouraged to provide candy for trick-or-treaters, and everyone is encouraged to wear a costume. Popcorn will be provided for the movie. Regular camping fees apply, but the event itself is free.
  • Coloring contest: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Coloring sheets will be available in the field across from the booth starting at 9 a.m. and are due by 3 p.m.
  • Scavenger hunt: 1:30 p.m. - Meet in the field across from the booth.
  • Naturalist station: 2-4 p.m.
  • Jack-o'-lantern contest: carved pumpkins due by 4 p.m. Place carved pumpkins at the station near the coloring contest.
  • Trick-or-treating: 5-7 p.m. throughout the campground. Campground roads will be closed from 4:45 - 7:15 p.m.
  • Movie: 7:30 p.m. at the amphitheater.

    Meramec State Park is located at 115 Meramec Park Drive in Sullivan.
    

• Saturday, Oct. 18, noon to 3:30 p.m. - Archaeology Day and Public Meeting at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site.
  Join the team at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site for a fun day of archaeology and history. The third Saturday of October is International Archaeology Day, and October 2025 marks the 199th anniversary of the capital's move from St. Charles to Jefferson City. We will be commemorating both occasions with free self-guided tours of the First Capitol and family-friendly archaeology activities in the backyard. These activities will be held in conjunction with the historic site's annual public meeting. The meeting will be held in an open house format and feature information on recent projects and events. Visitors are encouraged to provide feedback, ask questions and learn more about the site. Meanwhile, the city of St. Charles will be hosting its Legends and Lanterns Halloween festival. Be sure to check it out too. First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site is located at 200 S. Main St. in St. Charles.
  
• Friday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. - Outdoor Classroom: The Language of Animals at Washington State Park.
  Join the team for a fun outdoor learning experience, where participants will learn about different forms of communication used in the animal kingdom. Meet at the campground amphitheater at the park located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.
  
• Saturday, Oct. 25, 1- 9 p.m. - Wicked Washington Halloween Celebration at Washington State Park.
  Regular camping fees apply, but the event itself is free. Washington State Park is located at 1341 State Highway 104 in De Soto.
  • "Ghosts of Washington's Past" Trail Walk: 1 p.m. - Meet at the campground entrance for a 1-mile guided stroll to the special-use area and back. The park team will share narratives that haunt the history of Washington State Park. The trail walk will be followed by a campfire and refreshments.
  • Costume Parade: 4 p.m. - Kids 12 and under are invited to show off their cool costumes at the host site prior to trick-or-treating. All participants receive a ribbon.
  • Kids Trick or Treat: 5-6 p.m. - Children are welcome to trick or treat through the campground. Participating campsites will be marked with signs and may include basic and electric sites. Campers who would like to provide candy should contact the park office or notify the campground host.
  • Campsite Decorating Contest Voting: 8-9 p.m. - Registered campers are encouraged to decorate their campsites with family-friendly Halloween décor. All campers will have the opportunity to vote on the best-decorated site. Voting will take place at the campground host site. After the ballots are counted, the winners will be announced, and prizes will be awarded for the top three sites.
    
• Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Rural Heritage Day at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site.
  Felix Vallé House State Historic Site, located at 198 Merchant St., is participating in Ste. Genevieve's annual Rural Heritage Day festival. This annual event celebrates the rural traditions of Ste. Genevieve and St. Genevieve County from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s. Through live demonstrations and hands-on activities, guests will discover the importance of rural crafts, trades and entertainment. This is a community-wide event with multiple locations in downtown Ste. Genevieve hosting public programs. Cosponsors include the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, the Ste. Genevieve Museum and Learning Center, the National Park Service, the Ste. Genevieve County Library and the Centre for French Colonial Life.
  
• Saturday, Oct. 25, 2-7:30 p.m. - Jack-o'-Lantern Jubilee at St. Joe State Park.
  Registered campers are invited to join in the Halloween fun at St. Joe State Park's Jack-o'-Lantern Jubilee! Activities will take place in the campgrounds and at nearby Missouri Mines State Historic Site.
  • Off-Road Saunter to Missouri Mines: 2-4:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., park team members will lead an off-road vehicle ride from Campground 1 showerhouse to Missouri Mines State Historic Site. Activities there begin at 2:30 p.m. with an extended trick-or-treat tour, during which the site team will hand out candy at various stops. Guests should bring a bucket or bag to collect candy. After the tour, pumpkin painting and mine cart photo booth will be available from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Drivers of licensed vehicles are also welcome. If you choose to drive a licensed vehicle, please use the main roads and park in the historic site's gravel parking lot.
  • Campground Trick-or-Treating: 6 p.m. Campground trick-or-treating at St. Joe State Park will last until 7 p.m. Campers are responsible for providing the candy, but participation is voluntary. Participating campsites will be given a Halloween placard at the time of registration to post. Trick-or-treaters should wear costumes and bring a bucket or bag. Trick-or-treating is only open to registered campers and their guests.

  • Best-Decorated Campsite Awards Presented: 7:30 p.m. Registered campers may participate in a Halloween-themed campsite decorating contest. Campsites will be judged by the park team during the trick-or-treating. Awards for the top three sites will be presented.

    St. Joe State Park is located at 2800 Pimville Road in Park Hills.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.