There’s never a shortage of things to do in the Mark Twain Lake area, thanks to a wide variety of special events and celebrations in the nearby rural communities. From the highly successful Mark Twain Lake Rodeo to the nationally known Tom Sawyer Days in Hannibal, area celebrations have a little something for everyone. For specific information on an event, contact the chamber of commerce in that community. Here’s a month-by-month listing of scheduled events in the Mark Twain Lake area.

February 18 – Hannibal Jaycees Chili Cookoff.
March 10 – Chocolate Extravaganza. A chocolate lovers dream come true in historic Downtown Hannibal, noon to 8 p.m.
March 24 – Antique Show (Paris High School).
March 24-25 – 50 Miles of Art Studio Tour. Drive along the mighty Mississippi on scenic Route 79 from Hannibal to Clarksville and visit the studios of some of Missouri’s best-known artisans. The tour provides a unique, behind-the-scenes view into how their work is created.
April 13-14 – Piecemakers Quilt Guild Biennial Quilt Show at Hannibal National Guard Armory.
April 14 – 100th anniversary of Unsinkable Molly Brown. Make reservations to join the evening cruise.
April 21 – Earth Day celebration at M.W. Boudreaux Visigtor Center and Frank Russell Recreation Area.
April 27-29 – Annual Just Girls Getaway Weekend. Shops, restaurants, and attractions all focus on women’s interests. Hannibal, MO www.justgirlsweekend.com.
May (TBA) – Citywide garage sale in Monroe City.
May 4-5 – Paris Area All-Town Garage Sale.
May 5-6 – Folklife Festival in Florida, Mo., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. See historic Florida, the town where Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was born come alive, with old time jam session. Bring your instrument and chairs and join in. There will be singing, storytelling, old time crafts and modern flea market. Food and drinks available, vendors welcome. Sponsored by Friends of Florida.
May 12 – Annual Loafers Club Car Show, featuring street rods, stockers, pickups and antiques in the Hannibal Historic district.
May 15 – 100th anniversary of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum.
May 18-20 – Salt River Expo and Armed Forces Day celebration at Warren G. See South Spillway area below Cannon Dam. Military displays, re-enactment groups, displays, entertainment, artisans, food and much more.
May 25-26 – Cannon Dam Bull Jam at Warren G. See South Spillway Area below Cannon Dam. Visit www.cannondambulljam.com for more information.
May 26-27 – Twain on Main. A celebration of life on the Mississippi and the summer season in historic downtown A weekend of fun, arts, crafts and great food.
May 26 – All-Town Garage Sale in Perry.

June 2-3 - Fishing for Freedom/Wounded Warriors Tournament -  Quincy, IL. Google Fishing for Freedom or call 800-978-4748 for information.
June through August – Hannibal Cavemen baseball team’s schedule, including games at Clemen’s Field.
June through September – Each Thursday, enjoy a different genre of music in front of Twain’s Boyhood Home in Hannibal, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
June (TBA) – Youth Fiddle Camp in Bethel German Colony; Fiddle Festival in Bethel German Colony; Fiddle Festival in Bethel; New London Park Days on the courthouse square in New London.
June 8-10 – Northeast Missouri Gospel Music & Family Fun Fest at Warren G. See South Spillway Area below Cannon Dam.
June 9-10 – Downtown Hannibal Art Fair. Art festival featuring artisans showcasing their works, good fun and entertainment.
June 9 – Kids Fishing Day at Mark Twain Lake. Children ages 5-12 can learn fishing techniques at the Frank Russell Recreation Area. Advance signup is required; Gem City Rock Show at M.W. Boudreaux Visitor Center at Mark Twain Lake.
June 16 – 150th anniversary and Civil War Re-enactment of the 1862 Battle of Florida and dedication of Civil War monument in Florida, Mo. Starts at 10 a.m.; Primitive Artifact Show at M.W. Boudreaux Visitor Center at Mark Twain Lake.
June 29-30, July 1 – Mark Twain Lake Rodeo at Warren G. See South Spillway Recreation Area. Bulls, bucking broncos, clowns, food and fireworks are part of this popular event.
July 4-7 – National Tom Sawyer Days in Downtown Hannibal. This famous family-oriented festival offers activities such as National Fence Painting, frog jumping contest, Tomboy Sawyer competition, craft show, mud volleyball, bingo, live entertainment, fireworks display and numerous others.

July 4 – Perry Fourth of July Celebration, includes kids’ games, baby show, Little Mr. and Miss Perry, frog jump, parade, antique tractor pull and fish fry.

July 7 - Madison Annual Car Show & Cookout - Christian Church Lawn.

Call 660-651-6765 for more information.
July 7 – Hannibal Cannibal 10K Run & 5K Walk. Held during National Tom Sawyer Days, the annual Hannibal Cannibal begins at 7 a.m. in front of the Tom & Huck Statue. Sponsored by Hannibal Regional Hospital.

July 12-15 – Mark Twain Old Threshers Show and Reunion in Paris, featuring steam engines and antique machinery.
July 15 – Swinkey Picnic at Indian Creek.
July 17-22 – Monroe County Fair in Paris.
August 18 – 6th Annual Perry Cruise Night. Last year over 90 vehicles displayed, followed by a popular cruise to Ray Behrens Campground.
September (TBA) – 10th annual Amanda Jaspering Summer Shootout Garden Tractor Pull in Perry.
Labor Day weekend – World Sheep Festival in Bethel German Colony. Folk art demonstrations, activities, crafts, German food, entertainment and more.
September 7-9 – Hometown Stitches at The Hickory Stick, brings quilters to Hannibal for lectures and workshops.
September 8 – Pirate Night at M.W. Boudreaux Visitor Center at Mark Twain Lake.
September 15 – Paris Area All-Town garage sales.
September 29 – Fall-In-To-Paris celebration.
October (TBA) – Citywide garage sale in Monroe City; Arts in the Park in Monroe City.
October 6 – Florida History Festival-Cemetery Walk (pioneer re-enactment), in Florida, Mo. 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. See historic Florida the town where Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was born, come alive. There will be food and drinks available. Sponsored by Friends of Florida; Perry All Town Garage Sale.
October 13 – Hannibal Uncorked Fall Wine Pub Crawl.
October 19-20 – Indian Creek Halloween Walk at Indian Creek Campground at Mark Twain Lake.
October 20-21 – Autumn Historic Folklife Festival. Artisans in period dress demonstrate lifestyles and crafts of the mid-1800s in Hannibal’s Historic District. Enjoy the sounds of street musicians and storytellers, and the smell and taste of homemade food and beverages prepared over wood fires.
November 3-4 – 50 Miles of Art Studio Tour. Drive along the mighty Mississippi on scenic Route 79 from Hannibal to Clarksville and visit the studios of some of Missouri’s best-known artisans.
November 24 – Craft Show at Paris High School.
December (TBA) – Christmas parade in Monroe City; Christmas in Bethel, a toast to German Christmas traditions.
December 1 – Ol’ Fashioned Christmas in Perry.
December 6 – Christmas-On-Main Street in Paris (Christmas-Is-Caring Promotion).
December 8 – Hannibal’s Hometown Christmas. Celebrate Christmas throughout Hannibal with the annual Living Windows event, art walk and shopping specials.

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