Winter Activities in Rolla, MO

No mention of winter activities in Rolla, MO would be complete without mentioning the University of Missouri-Rolla, winter sports teams. You can watch the Miners men's basketball and football teams or catch the action when the Lady Miners women's basketball team hits the courts. You get all the action of the major league players at a fraction of the cost. The campus is located at 1870 Miner Circle, Rolla, MO 65409. You can get more information on times for home games by calling 573-341-4111.

Another one of the fun and unusual winter activities in Rolla, MO is the meeting of the Ozark Rivers Chapter of the National Audubon Society. The meetings are held in the Rolla Visitors Center at Kingshighway and Bridge School Road on the second Monday of each month from September through May at 7:00 p.m. The following Saturday or Sunday, they have their monthly outings, featuring winter activities such as nature walks (weather permitting) or visiting local wineries. Everyone is invited to attend the meeting and/or the outings. The local radio stations and newspapers carry notices of both the outings and the meetings or you can call 573-341-2038 for more information.

If you're a fishing enthusiast, Rolla is the headquarters of the Central Missouri Bassmasters Club. The Bassmasters Club holds fishing tournaments year round and it makes a great winter activity. The Bassmasters Club is affiliated with the MO Bass Federation and sponsors a team at the MOBASS championships each year. They love to help new fishermen and women who can fish with them as a guest of one of their members. You don't have to know anyone, just show up and someone will adopt you as their guest. You don't even need your own boat. If you're willing to share expenses, you can ride along with one of the members. The Bassmasters meet the first Thursday of each month at the Shoney's Restaurant at . You can attend one of their meetings and make arrangements for a day of fishing the wintry rivers. Don't forget your cold weather gear. The rivers get awfully cold in the winter.

My favorite of the winter activities is Rolla is the Ozark Actor Theater's (OAT) winter season of performances. They begin their fifth annual winter season with Viva Las Vegas-Elvis Lives with Rich Vickers and the TLC Show Band. Performances for this January 13th show will be held at 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and will feature the songs of Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt and other country music legends as interpreted by the improv artists.

Back by popular demand, the Murder for Hire Players will return on February 17th for a dinner theater performance of "Stairway to Heaven," an audience interactive murder mystery.

Comedy Night is scheduled for Friday, March 9th and will showcase the Paper Slip Theater Company under the direction of Ed Reggi. This improvisational troupe will have you laughing until it hurts as they draw the audience in to become part of the show.

Finishing up this segment of winter activity in Rolla on April 13th is the annual Night of One Acts, featuring the talents of Rolla High School drama students, directed by Elaine Jones, theater students from UMR, directed by John Woodfin as well as contributions from other local talent.

All of the winter season performances will be held at Cedar Street Center for the Arts, 701 North Cedar. Reserved and season tickets are available at the box office.

And of course, the number one winter activity in Rolla for children from 1 to 100 is grabbing their sleds and heading to Junior High Hill on the first day of snow.