Battle of Wilson's Creek

To observe the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek just outside Springfield, Missouri, the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation is planning a commemoration August 12 to 14.

This event will include a full-scale Civil War battle reenactment, period civilian activities, crafts, educational activities, historical information booths, and much more. It will be on property north of the battlefield, and all proceeds will support the battlefield.

The conflict that threatened the future of the nation came home for the residents of southwest Missouri in August 1861, when two armies descended on the oak hills south of Springfield. The Battle of Wilson’s Creek, the second major Civil War battle, decided the fate of Missouri and defined its role in the war. More than 2,500 Union and Confederate soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after the battle.

In 1961 on the 100th anniversary of the battle, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield was dedicated, becoming one of the best preserved and most pristine Civil War sites in the National Park System. Today, more than 150 years later, the events there are still remembered. Visitors to the park can walk along the Wire Road like the young soldiers who fought and died, relive the battle from the perspective of the Ray family and understand the impact of the war through educational exhibits and artifacts in the Civil War Museum and Visitors Center.

Visit the nation’s historical sites over the next four years – the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War – to keep the meaning of these special places alive for future generations.

For more information about top events in Missouri take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Missouri.

To learn more about the Springfield area visit www.SpringfieldAdventures.com

Butterfly Festival in Springfield, Missouri

Where you find clusters of white, blue, pink or purple flowers, you’ll find nectar-seeking butterflies fluttering about – and one of those places is the botanical gardens and arboretum at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park in Springfield, Missouri.

This is the natural setting for the second annual Friends of the Garden Butterfly Festival July 24 and 25. The free event, a favorite of children and adults, celebrates all things butterfly-related. It will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 24 and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 25. The Festival showcases the Dr. Bill Roston Butterfly House.

“At the Butterfly House, you’ll get an up-close look at native butterflies as they lay eggs and transform from egg to caterpillar, from caterpillar to chrysalis and, finally, from chrysalis to butterfly,” said Friends of the Garden member Cindy Willis.

At the nearby butterfly garden, visitors will be able to view and identify host plants. Children’s activities include crafts and a caterpillar petting zoo. Vendors will set up shop selling a variety of plants and garden-related merchandise. On July 24, a series of free classes and activities are being offered. The schedule is:

- 10 a.m. Butterfly photography – How to take great pictures.
- 11 a.m. Butterfly identification – Know your backyard visitors.
- 1 p.m. Gardening for butterflies – How to attract butterflies to your home landscape.
- 2 p.m. Butterfly photography – Another session of picture-taking tips and tricks.

On July 25, the butterfly identification and photography classes will be repeated at 1 p.m. and the gardening for butterflies classes will be at 2:30 p.m.

For more information about top events in Missouri take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Missouri.

For more information visit Springfield at www.SpringfieldAdventures.com

Missouri Marks 150th Anniversary of the Pony Express

No event In American history has captured the imagination of young and old alike more than the Pony Express.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express. On April 3, 1860, a lone rider, Johnny Fry, left on horseback from the gates of one of the nation’s most historic landmarks, the Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri. Today the stables continue to stand as a tribute to the legend and legacy of the Pony Express and its enduring era. Carrying saddlebags filled with nation’s hopes and dreams, the riders traveled 2,000 miles to Sacramento, California. The Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company carried letters and telegrams for 19 months proving the train and pony with riders could make the trip over 1,966 miles in 10 to 14 days.

St. Joseph will recapture the excitement of those days when it celebrates that first ride on April 1, 2 and 3. Among the celebrations will be a Buffalo Bill Look-Alike Contest, a Chuck Wagon Dinner, a Pony Express Bridle and Saddle Parade and the Sesquicentennial Banquet, 6:30 p.m. There will be various events throughout the year.

The Pony Express National Museum in St. Joseph will be at the core of the celebrations. Its state-of-the-art exhibits illustrate the need, creation, operation and termination of the Pony Express. Whatever your age, you’re sure to be captivated by the stories and images on an era long passed.

For more information about top events in Missouri, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Missouri at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-missouri.html

Or, for more details and information take a look at the official web site for St. Joseph at www.stjomo.com/

Missouri Introduces 1st Annual Fox Trotter Heritage Days

Top Events USA brings news today about a new event in Ava, Missouri.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association's 1st Annual Fox Trotter Heritage Days are due to take place October 16th and 17th, 2009 at the MFTHBA Show Grounds in Ava, Missouri.

The two day event will offer “A fun filled family weekend to include a bluegrass festival (plus all day jam session on the front porch), country western dancing (two-step, line dancing and square dancing), Sassafras Sprouts Hoedowners, Miss Heritage Days Contest for girls kindergarten through 12th grade, horse pull, petting zoo, farmer’s market, art show, games and old-time contests for children and adults, fishing pond, and 40+ vendors including an old-time photographer.

There will also be all day demonstrations and displays on Saturday, Oct 17th such as molasses making, basket making, rope making, Fox Trotting Horse demonstrations and Civil War re-enactors.

At 5:pm Saturday Oct. 17th there will be a Horse Training Demonstration by Cecil Huff of Ava, MO Winner of the 2009 Ultimate Equestrian Challenge™ sponsored by MFA Inc.

For more information visit http://www.mfthba.com and for more information about other events in Missouri visit the Top Events USA Missouri page at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-missouri.html

Springfield’s Great Freebies Trivia Contest Under Way

Springfield’s Great Freebies Trivia Contest is under way with a variety of prizes available.

For the next several weeks, the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau is posting trivia questions about Springfield on its blog at http://blog.SpringfieldAdventures.com.

Contestants will send answers to contest@springfieldmo.org, with winners randomly selected from those who correctly answer the questions. Those who need help answering the trivia questions can find the answers at www.SpringfieldAdventures.com.

The prize for the first SGF Trivia Contest question, posted today (Sept. 28), is a Taste of Springfield cookbook and 20 food sample tickets for the Taste of Springfield event Saturday, Oct. 3, in Downtown Springfield.

Prizes in coming weeks include free admission to area attractions, including Dickerson Park Zoo, Discovery Center, Fantastic Caverns, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and Wild Animal Safari.

“The SGF Trivia Contest promotes Springfield as a travel destination for visitors and encourages local residents to explore the city,” said Susan Wade, CVB public relations manager.

For more information, visit http://blog.SpringfieldAdventures.com or call the CVB at 800-678-8767 or 417-881-5300

For more information on the top events in Missouri visit http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-missouri.html at Top Events USA the popular new site that highlights the top events and festivals in each state.

Discovery Center in Springfield, Missouri Announces October Events

The Discovery Center of Springfield has several fun and educational events scheduled in October.

• October 8, 2009 - Science Café' - 6-8pm - 1 Part Science, 1 Part intriguing discussion and 1 part food and drink. This adult only event is free to attend and has limited seating; food and beverage are available for purchase. For more information check DiscoveryCenter website at www.discoverycenter.org.

• October 16, 2009- Science Sprouts Museum Day Topic Plants 9-5pm-Museum Days just for Early Childhood Learners (up to age 6). Includes special free science presentations and science story time geared to young learners. Groups may schedule 30 minute programs for an additional fee. For Kindergarten or 1st grade classes, MOPS groups, day care providers, preschools, playgroups and families. Explore the fun of science and science of fun. General Admission applies.

• Oct. 16, 2009- Robot Workshop-6-8pm. Child and parent build a robot together and plan to take it home. This month robot is Rockit Robot geared for age 8+. Cost is for parent/child duo, plus cost of robot-$15 members/$20 non-members, Robot cost is $25. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

• October 17, 2009- Discovery Science Club! New for 2009-2010! 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Designed for parents and children to attend as a learning team! Come explore a different topic each month October is Chemistry Concoctions. This club is designed for children ages 6-12 and one accompanying parent! Learn new science, build a project or two, get to see "behind the scenes" areas of the museum or special equipment, and lots moreCost-$20 per member parent/child duo, $25 per non-member parent/child duo. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.

• Oct. 18, 2009 - 1-5pm Celebrate Chemistry Week. Join Drury University Chemistry students with hands-on projects exploring Chemistry. General Admission applies.

• October 22, 2009 - 6-10pmDiscoveryCenter's Adult Rock Band Party and Contest. Doors open at 6:00pm- Contest begins at 6:30pm. Adults 18 and up select your favorite songs and see your character on the big screen. Your character will be judged on score, skill and style. So dress up like your favorite rock star and rock out at DiscoveryCenter's first Rock Band Party. This will be located in DiscoveryCenter auditorium on the big screen. Every style and song will be available for the competition. Admission includes individual participation in the contest and free play and watching fellow gamers. Admission is $10 per person. Food and adult beverages will be available to purchase First Come First Serve for contest slots.

• October 23, 2009 - Star Party (5-8 p.m.)

• October 30, 2009 - 6-10pm Halloween Night at the Museum-Cost-$5 per person (non-members) Members-free. Dress up, and experience a Halloween Night at the Museum DCS style! Watch out for skeletons, flaming pumpkins, fizzing concoctions, slimy stuff, and other surprises!

For more information about these and other events in Springfield, visit www.SpringfieldAdventures.com

DiscoveryCenter is open Tuesday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm. Admission is free to members and children 2 & under. $9.00 adults, $8.00 seniors and $7.00 children (3-15).

For more exciting events in Missouri visit the Top Events USA page of top events and festivals in Missouri at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-missouri.html