9th Street Summerfests are Back!

Columbia is a little more quiet in the summer. Many of the students are gone and the pace slows down for a few months. But on a few summer nights, downtown gets loud with the return of 9th Street Summerfest concerts!

These fantastic outdoor events are on 9th Street between Broadway and Walnut, outside the famous Blue Note. The entire block fills with fans with food and drinks for sale the entire evening. Summerfests bring in an eclectic mix of musical acts to entertain…check out this summer’s lineup!

Dierks Bentley – June 13th

The Urge – July 12th – Free Show!

Weird Al Yankovic: Apocalypse Tour – July 24th

Reverend Horton Heat – August 16th – Free Show!

Attend one or attend them all! For free shows, just get there early to claim your spot. For the others, get tickets now! We’ll see you downtown to celebrate one of Columbia’s great summer events.

Not Your Average Afternoon – Fun Activities in Columbia Parks

Parks are probably best known for playgrounds, walking trails and opportunities to frolic. Next time you’re in Columbia, be sure to check out some of the more unexpected activities you can enjoy in one of the city’s beautiful parks.

Toss a Disc

Beautiful Disc Golf course in Albert-Oakland Park

Looking for an alternative to just throwing a disc back and forth? Check out Albert-Oakland Park and try your hand at one of two disc golf courses! Set among beautiful ponds, trees and creek beds, these challenging courses are not your average walk in the park. Try your hand at this growing sport and you may leave Columbia with a new favorite hobby!

Catch a Fish

Fishing is one of the many activities for the whole family at Stephens Lake Park.

Nine spots in Columbia are perfect for taking your fishing pole and spending a quiet afternoon trying to reel in a big one. Check out the full list of park fishing lakes and pick your perfect spot. Many lakes are stocked to make your fishing time even more exciting! There’s nothing like a relaxing few hours enjoying your time in Columbia with family.

Get on a Roll

Catch some air at Cosmo.

Have a daredevil or two in your family? Check out the Columbia Skate Park in Cosmo Park. Completed in 1999, the park has an elaborate street course designed to entertain and challenge skaters, whether they are beginners or experienced. The Skate Park is free to use and is open 6:00 a.m. until dusk each day, attracting skaters from across the country, even hosting a demonstration from world famous Tony Hawk.

If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, Columbia is exactly What You Unexpect. We’ll see you at the park!

Unexpected Columbia: Traffic Box Art

One of the most popular places in Columbia is The District, the city’s thriving and vibrant downtown area. Home to dozens of local restaurants, shops and galleries, The District is often busting with visitors and citizens of all ages. Next time you’re exploring downtown, keep your eyes open for some pieces of art you might not expect…on traffic boxes!

Each year the City of Columbia, Missouri invites local artists to apply for a public art project to create art on traffic signal boxes in the downtown area. The goal of the project is to decrease the instances of graffiti on these surfaces while making them artful objects.

Now at five locations throughout downtown, this project has added unexpected pops of color and beauty to the landscape.

Before you visit, check out where the boxes are located and enjoy videos featuring the artists as they complete their projects. Just another unexpected Columbia highlight that you won’t want to miss!

Jump into Summer in Columbia!

All of the pools in Columbia are now open for the season!

That’s it!

Go swimming. Don’t forget sunscreen.

MCB Presents Alice in Wonderland

Missouri Contemporary Ballet (MCB) presents its original production of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland!” This family-friendly show features original choreography by Artistic Director Karen Mareck Grundy, an original score by local musician Tom Andes, and original costumes by MCB.

In addition to the MCB company artists, 40 dance students from Columbia and surrounding areas will perform in this production! With music played live by local musicians and numerous dance students, this is truly a community production.

Saturday, June 1st at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 2nd at 2:00 p.m. Both performances will be at Jesse Auditorium.

Tickets are $19-$29 for adults and $10-$15 for students and youth. The Saturday night is student night, with an additional half off!

For tickets, visit the Concert Series website or call 573-882-3781.

-Guest post by Joanne Sandorfi

Hot Summer Nights Heat Up Columbia!

This summer marks the 10th Anniversary of the Hot Summer Nights music festival! For six weeks, two dozen musical performances for all ages will delight audiences at venues all over Columbia. Attendees can choose from a variety of concerts or purchase tickets for an entire series of events. You can check out the full season brochure here, but here are a few can’t-miss highlights of the festival.

White Russian Nights

Saturday, June 8th at Missouri Theatre

The Missouri Symphony performs Tchaikovsky’s  beloved Pathetique Symphony. This work is sure to stir your soul from its heroic March to the heart rendering Finale. Audience favorite Chloé Trevor returns to perform her favorite violin concerto.

Grand Night at the Opera

Saturday, June 22nd at the Missouri Theatre

Five of America’s finest young singers join the Missouri Symphony Orchestra for an evening of memorable scenes from the world of opera, including Carmen, La Boheme, Don Giovanni and Der Rosenkavalier.

Jenny Oaks Baker: An American Soundtrack

Saturday, June 29th at the Missouri Theatre

The wildly versatile, and Grammy-nominated violinist Jenny Oaks Baker will join the Missouri Symphony Orchestra for an evening that encapsulates the diversity of American popular music, including rock ‘n roll, great cinema scores and the inspirational favorites that Americans hold dear. Don’t miss this evening with one of the nation’s instrumental superstars.

Patriotic POPS

Wednesday, July 3rd at the Missouri Theatre

The stars will come out in this unforgettable musical tribute to our nation’s heritage. This concert is a beloved tradition in Columbia. the Missouri Symphony Orchestra performs the best of Americana with anthems, gospel and a special salute to our Armed Forces. Soprano Leah Crane back by popular demand joins the orchestra in vocal favorites from the American Songbook.

These are just a few highlights from an outstanding series of concerts that the Missouri Symphony Society will be presenting during this year’s Hot Summer Night music festival. Round up your favorite music lovers and bring them to Columbia!

Art in the Park Delivers Fun for the Entire Family!

The first weekend in June is home to one of Columbia’s favorite festival traditions…Art in the Park. This year marks the festival’s 55th year and on June 1st and 2nd there will be something for every member of the family to love!

Stephen’s Lake Park, Home of Art in the Park.

One of the best parts of Art in the Park is its location. Stephens Lake Park is one of Columbia’s most beautiful locations, with a rolling landscape, open spaces, a stunning lake and play areas. Nature combined with the incredible art makes Art in the Park sure to inspire.

Stroll through the booths in the park to explore the art!

Sometimes people may think Art in the Park is all paintings…but it’s so much more than that! The festival attracts artists from across the country to sell their work in mediums ranging from jewelry and ceramics to weaving and, yes, paintings. You can pick up a new coffee mug for your office, a new painting for that empty wall in the living room or a gorgeous scarf that all your friends will want.

Let the kids get their hands messy!

Of course, buying and shopping isn’t all you can do. Let the kids get in on the act to make some art! Face painting, tie-dyed a t-shirts and more all await the little ones.

This June, take the first weekend and round up the whole family (and some sunscreen) for Art in the Park. It’s two days of art and play you’ll come to Columbia for every year.

Uniquely Columbia: The Broadway Diner

It’s late at night…you’ve just spent a fun time on the town with your friends in Columbia…and you’re hungry.

What. Do. You. Do.

You head to the Broadway Diner, of course!

Shown during the daytime. Hopping during the nighttime.

This Columbia institution is located just across the street from Flat Branch Park in downtown. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Diner has late night hours (opening at 11:00 p.m. and serving it up until 2:00 p.m. the next day).

There are no tv’s, the menus aren’t fancy and the place is tiny, but nowhere comes to mind as quickly after a night out as The Diner. The biscuits and gravy are perfect for breakfast, lunch or late night snack and if you’re really feeling hungry, order The Stretch. It’s a multi-layered platter of hashbrowns topped with scrambled eggs, chili, cheese, peppers and onions. Definitely the perfect cure to a night out on the town.

During your next night on the town in Columbia, head to the Diner to meet some characters and have some great food.

What’s your favorite dish on the menu?

Columbia Snapshot: Flavors

In the mood for something sweet? Come to Columbia and check out The Velvet Cupcake. Located in the historic Tiger Hotel in downtown Columbia, the Velvet Cupcake bakes up fresh, fantastic treats every day for patrons with a sweet tooth.

This photo is a quick shot of the flavors on any given day. From traditional cupcakes like white wedding and chocolate to the more unique maple bacon, a menu of rotating flavors will delight any visitor. Head to 8th Street on your next visit and take a bite of a Columbia favorite!

Wine and Food and Chocolate, Oh My!

Since its first year, the Inside Columbia Wine and Food Festival has been gaining fans and followers from across the country. This week-long festival celebrates everything wine and food related both here in Columbia and all over the world. This year, the festival begins on May 10th with the final event on the 14th. Tasty meals and decadent wines await festival attendees and some new events will make your festival experience even better.

The Farm to Table Shop & Chop is a new event this year that celebrates the way local produce is used by chefs to create the spectacular meals served in their restaurants each day.  Participants will meet the chefs at the Columbia Farmer’s Market to learn how they pick the freshest and best produce.  After a short walk to the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC), the chefs will demonstrate how they turn those fresh ingredients into a memorable meal.

For the Love of Chocolate will tempt your taste buds with perfect pairings of wine and chocolate. The sampling stations will allow attendees to sample local chocolates paired with incredible wines from all over. Don’t miss this new festival event…it’s sure to become one of your favorites!

As always, the Wine and Food Festival will feature the Grand Tasting and meals with Columbia’s best chefs. Tickets are on sale for each event now and many Columbia hotels are offering special rates for festival attendees. Don’t miss out on this festival that continues to get better year after year. We’ll be here to clink glasses with you!