September Festivals in Columbia Missouri

Downtown Columbia Missouri (also known as the District) is home to 110 unique shops, 70 bars and restaurants, and plenty of fall festivals that will surely be fun for the whole family!

Twilight Festival
Held on Thursdays in June and September, Twilight Festival is one of the largest Columbia Festivals. Featuring street musicians and performers, local artists, a concert series, free carriage rides and Courthouse Square's Kids' Camp there is sure to be something for everyone. Musicians and performers help the street corners of the District come alive with nightly performances, while local artists set-up booths on the side walks. William Woods stage in Courthouse Square is home to the Twilight Festival concert series which includes everything from rock, to blues, to string quartets. In any event, the concerts held from 8-10pm are sure to have you dancing under the stars. Carriage rides are free and depart from Flat Branch Park and Courthouse Square, sign-up begins at 5:45. Kids' Camp includes crawl-through adventures, chalk art, live animals, clowns and more. It's sure to be a hit with any energetic little ones!

Boone County Heritage Festival
Held the third weekend in September at the near-by Nifong Park, Boone County Heritage Festival is a hearty helping of good old fashioned fun! Visitors are encouraged to enjoy dancing to the music of past generations, learning about Lewis and Clark as they take a walk through a replica of a camp site, and watch as artisans dressed in 19th century attire demonstrate their crafts and sell their wares. Tours of the Maplewood Home, and the Walter's Boone County Historical Museum give visitors a better feel for Boone County's rich history. Fun activities for the young, and young at heart include: hay rides, pony rides, buggy and carriage displays, and story telling. Don't forget samplings of traditional treats like apple butter, kettle corn and funnel cakes!

Festival of the Arts
Held the last full Saturday and Sunday in September, the goal of the Festival of the Arts is to help patrons foster an awareness and appreciation of visual, preforming, and literary arts. Located on Columbia's Courthouse Square, and surrounding streets, the Festival of the Arts is a participatory experience for all. More than 40 live performances are featured on stage, and include a wide variety of genres such as ballet, modern dance, children's theater, percussion, bluegrass, bagpipes and story-telling to name a few. The Festival of the Arts also features local and regional visual artists who exhibit and sell their work. The brightly colored Poetry Wall offers poets and armatures alike a chance to get actively involved with over 1700 magnetic words. Children's art is an important part of the Festival and for the upcoming 2006 festival artwork by Columbia junior high student Wei Xue was chosen for promotional items. Art work from Columbia public school students K-12th Grade is also featured at the Festival.

Come out and enjoy Columbia's Free Festivals in September!