Missouri Festivals

Discover the Hidden Treasures of Missouri

Article by: © Maxine Sommers 2010

Missouri has something for everyone. If you are looking for historic towns filled with the memories of yesteryear, antebellum mansions to tour, wineries to taste your way through, natural areas with glorious scenes to fill your eyes with magnificent colors, craft and art galleries, or fascinating shops filled with charming antiques, Missouri offers all of the aforementione...and then some.

Columbia, Missouri, is located half-way between Kansas City and St. Louis at 1-70 & Highway 63. As an added bonus the Lake of the Ozarks is an easy drive from Columbia, only an hour and fifteen minutes away to a seriously impressive area-but, more about that later.

For a kaleidoscope of choices regarding restaurants and things to do in the vicinity, consider the following options:

In the nine-square-block in downtown Columbia there are an engaging variety of fine dining establishments.

For some of the finest steaks in the city, try C.C.'s City Broiler, at 131 South 10th Street. The owner, Scott Cleeton, can usually be found in the kitchen, preparing both lunch and dinner every day. C.C's is best known for its aged USDA Prime beef, shipped weekly from Chicago, but the restaurant also offers a selection of seafood dishes. Freshness and attention to each detail are the key to success for Chef Cleeton. Meals are served both inside or on an inviting patio.

Paul Vernon's Cherry Street Wine Cellar, at 505 Cherry Street, offers patrons not only an up-scale dining experience but also has an outstanding selection of fine wines. The restaurant's location is unusual, since it is located partially below ground in order to afford the optimum cool, stable conditions for wine storage.

Le Petit Bouchon, 700 Broadway, infuses a freshness into their presentations of conventional Mediterranean and French cuisine-fresh ingredients are used in the food preparation since the owners grow much of their own produce. Brian and Carri James are dedicated to providing their patrons a warm, family-oriented, European-style bistro guaranteed to please their most discriminating guests.

Trattoria Strada Nova, at 21 North 9th Street, serves a wide selection of Northern Italian specialties, try any one of the following: a tempting antipasto platter with fried calamari, or the beef tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes, and-as a grand finale-the all-time-favorite, delectable tiramisu. After ten years owner, Rocky Galloway, continues to delight his customers with tempting meals served in an appealing atmosphere-all conducive to fine dining.

An interesting variety of festivals take place at various times of the year.

The Downtown Twilight Festivals, held in June and September, features entertainment for children of all ages and include: demonstrations by local artists, musical performances, petting zoos, clowns and musicians. For information call: Downtown Columbia Associations at (573) 442-6818.

The Annual Heritage Festival, September 15-16, reflects the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This is a family activity with artisans demonstrating their trades, with music, entertainment, food, story telling, hay and pony rides, plus jump-up-and-have-fun music. For information call: (573) 874-7460.

The Columbia Festival of the Arts, September 29-30, held in the downtown Courthouse Square, is a grand extravaganza with more than 40 live performances of dance, theater, music and visual artists displaying and selling their work, all combined with the tantalizing fragrance of food vendors selling their wares. For information call: (573) 874-6386.

The Downtown Holiday Festival, December 7, in downtown Columbia, promotes the traditions of the season with strolling carolers, holiday edibles and a visit with jolly, old Santa Claus (Ho! Ho! Ho!) The whole area is surrounded by beautiful, twinkling Christmas lights-a treasured memory in the making. For information call: (573) 874-7460.

The First Night Columbia, December 31, held in the downtown area, brings in the New Year with music, dance and theater, then begins the New Year on a boisterous note when the happy crowd forms a grand procession and marches off to a bang-up fireworks display. For information call: (573) 874-7460.

After you have sampled the above activities, get ready for a Columbia sweet-deal...visit the Candy Factory, at 7th & Cherry. This is a real old fashioned candy emporium where luscious chocolate candies are made each day...a real "goody heaven" guaranteed to put a milk-chocolate smile on your face. Ummmmmm paradise.

For further information on specialty shops, wineries, parks, museums and motel accommodations, etc. call: The Columbia Convention & Visitor's Bureau 1-800-652-0987.

The Lake of the Ozarks is only a 1 hour and 15 minutes drive down the road from Columbia and is a must-see destination! The Lake is surrounded by rolling hills and lush, deep forests. If you visit during the Fall be prepared for a spectacular view as the leaves change from one gorgeous color to another-truly one of Mother Nature's most amazing miracles.

Covering 54,000 acres, the Lake offers breathtaking vistas and a large selection of water activities such as fishing, water skiing, boating and swimming.

Over a dozen towns surround this splendid body of water and visitors have an opportunity to explore each fascinating community.

Try tasting the marvelous array of foods in a down-home café or dress-up in your best duds and enjoy a fabulous feast in an elegant restaurant. After your dining experience shop-till-you-drop in the specialty stores, play golf or tennis, hike or bike along the various trails or participate in the various regional festivals and events.

When the phrase-"Let's go out and play"-was coined, it surely was meant for the Lake of the Ozarks. Fabulous...don't miss it!