Shipwrecked spirits, guided hikes, and pumpkin farms
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Why, oh why, doth the witchy month fly by?
I vote we petition the calendar gods for more weekends in October. While we wait for them to process our request, let's get out and do the Hallo-things.
Day Tripping
Pack your broomstick and set your GPS (global pumpkin system) to Perryville, Missouri.
Light breakfast - Nobody's in the mood for pulling gourds off a vine before caffeine and calories. Perryville is blessed with bakeries and coffee shops. Hoeckele's Bakery & Deli has been serving Perryvillians donuts longer than McDonald's has been clogging arteries (since 1937!). But if your vibe is a little more downtown square, Villainous Grounds offers up coffee, pastries, smoothies, comic books, and atmosphere. (Closed on Sundays)
Perryville Pumpkin Farm - Heaven for kids without tablets. But you don't have to have a tot in tow to have some Fall fun. No kid? Check out the country store (homemade jerky, jams, jelly, pumpkin bread, etc). Then, argue with your partner about how to escape the corn maze, and hitch a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Are you one of those who pick the perfect pumpkin? Or do you grab an ugly one, so it won't feel left out?
BBQ Lunch - You can't talk Perryville without mentioning Mary Jane's Burgers & Brew. But I'm going to assume you've hit that famous spot and want to try something new. There's Texas BBQ right next door to MJ's now at 1930 Texas Smokehouse. Sweet mother of brisket. Good stuff. It's a nice place, but not so posh that you can't go in with kids who smell like sweaty hay bales.
A Little Post-lunch Exploring - Support a local bookstore! Read the Room is a block away from your BBQ lunch. Wash the pulled pork off your fingers and wobble over for new & used literature. Check out their spooky reads recommendations. Or...if you missed the farmer's market this week, hit Frank & Bridget's Produce for fresh local fruits, veggies, honey, and more. And finally, are you ready to say, "Jinkies! I had no idea that would be such an interesting and unique experience."? Of course you are. Visit the American Tractor Museum. Because there is no Western culture without agriculture, bb. (I heard that at the Sikeston rodeo, and I'm stealing it).
For When Your UTV Starts Sounding Like a Dying Cow…*
Okay, my UTV readers (can I call you my UTV-ders?), how do you keep your machine going when Missouri is hot, humid, muddy (but also somehow dry and dusty)? And next thing you know, it's colder than a witch's...chest...(keepin' it PG). When something gives out (and you've already exhausted all the YouTube tutorials), you want people who’ve seen it before. That’s Sappington Pro Outdoor: nearly 70 years in Jackson, keeping everything from tractors to motorcycles running. Their service team knows how to stretch the life of your machine.
Local amateur photographers, let your talent flag fly. Here's another chance to show your stuff (and get used to the crushing weight of having your art judged): the Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest.
Photos must be taken at one of Missouri’s state parks or historic sites.
And so flew in the excuse fairy, waving her magic wand and passing out an excuse to visit a state park this weekend. "Sorry, dear, I'd love to go to your great-aunt's birthday party. But the deadline's approaching for my photo contest." You're welcome.
My fresh air brethren, you thought I would leave you wanting? Oh, ye of little faith. This week's local spot to get outside is Perry County Community Lake.
It's just 🌸✨💫pretty💫✨🌸. Fishing, hiking, bird watching, and outdoor photography. This is a beautiful place to indulge in all of the above.
A southern arm of Perry County Lake 10/5/2025
If you hike the loop all the way around the lake on the Shoreline Trail, you'll do ~3.5 miles. To make it all the way around, you'll have to walk a short portion on gravel and paved roads. You're not lost. Keep following the lake around until you see the next trailhead. When in doubt, you'll have a cell signal; pull up the map.
Beneath the surface of the Mississippi River lie stories of loss that have become part of Southeast Missouri’s haunted memory. One of the worst disasters happened just south of the mouth of Indian Creek, along the banks of what is now Trail of Tears State Park.
On October 27, 1869, the Stonewall caught fire. The captain steered toward shore but grounded on a gravel bar. Believing the distance to land was shallow enough to wade, passengers jumped, but a hidden trough dropped them into cold, deep water, and many were swept away. Smoke swallowed the deck, and hundreds vanished, engulfed in flames or lost to the current. Of the 252 people aboard, only 30 survived.
Nearly 17 years later, on October 5, 1886, the steamer Mascotte caught fire just north of where the Stonewall tragedy occurred. A nearby towboat rescued many survivors, but 35 passengers were lost. Newspapers at the time printed grim accounts of bodies recovered along the shore near Cape Girardeau.
Looking at just these two tragedies, it’s easy to understand why the Mississippi's shores are said to be haunted. In many ghost stories, spirits are believed to need a conduit. Water is often named among the most powerful conduits in folklore and legend.
Joel P. Rhodes writes, "For years, barge captains and crews have reported seeing unexplainable lights...and hearing ghostly cries and laments" in our area. Cape Girardeauans claimed to have witnessed ghosts "making lonely nighttime pilgrimages" from Old Lorimier cemetery to the water. A local psychic said she sees "misty human figures suspended chest deep in the river," forever gazing upon Cape, "floating and bobbing in the dark current, up and downstream as far as the eye can see."
October marks the anniversary month of both the Stonewall and the Mascotte disasters. If you’re the kind who likes to pay your respects (or tempt a shiver), this is as good a month as any to walk the riverbanks and listen.
Have you ever thought you were the first person to come up with something, and then you Googled it, only to find out that everyone and their mom has been using it? That was me just now with "Let the Gourd Times Roll." Thought I was clever, but nope. I'd already made the graphic, though, so we're going with it.
Anyway, this is a Halloween BONUS SECTION. Here to remind you that when/if you want to get into the holiday spirit, you have ✨options✨. I'm only going to list ongoing/repeat activities here. The activities that are one-day-only will continue to be featured in the "Mark Your Calendar" section below, week by week.
Haunted Historic Sites & Tours
The Glenn House, Cape Girardeau, MO - Check out their many Halloween activities and haunted Victorian tours on their Facebook page.
Haunted Downtown Walking Tours, Cape Girardeau, MO - "Stroll past haunted saloons, Civil War remnants, cemeteries, and historic sites where river monsters, murderers, and misunderstood mayhem-makers once roamed." Every Thursday until Halloween.
Pizza + Poltergeists, Cape Girardeau, MO - Pizza, a presentation, and then a paranormal investigation/tour of an abandoned funeral home. Every Friday until Halloween.
Arcadia Academy, Arcadia, MO - This building, from 1846, has been a high school, a Civil War hospital, and a Catholic girls' boarding school. It's def haunted, son.
"Haunted" Attractions (The living are scarier anyway)
Many of the pumpkin patches and farms above have hayrides, but there are also hayrides in Farmington, MO, every Thursday until Halloween for $13 per person.
Halloween Street Display
If you're already in Cape Girardeau at night, swing by and drive through the Brookwood Drive neighborhood for a quick shot of Halloween.
Scary Movies
Remember to keep an eye on your local theaters this month for some screams on screen:
I would also LOVE to list out cute Halloween shopping opportunities, but besides Spirit Halloween, what even is there??? Send me your recommendations!
*Many of the above have not been vetted by anyone at Backroad Weekly. We're slowly working our way through them. Venture at your own peril.
For each event, you’ll find more info at the link. *Because these events are upcoming, they have not been vetted. That would require a time machine, and we don't have the funds. Party at your own discretion.
This Weekend’s Happenings
Fri, Oct 10
Heartland Jeep Fest, Benton, MO - Here's a sentence I've never formed before: The world's largest rubber duck will be in Southeast MO. Gates open at 5pm. Spectator entries $5. Carnival rides, live music, and drag strip Jeep races. Git you some.
Barrel n' Brews, Cape Girardeau, MO - Bourbon + music festival. Live music, spirit vendors, food trucks, brews, and more at Capaha Park. Tickets start at $45.
Downtown Block Party, Farmington, MO - Live, free music on the plaza. Take a lawn chair, sit back, relax, eat, drink, and shop local 7-10pm.
River to River Yard Sale, Southern IL - "Over 90 miles of yard sales along Route 146 from East Cape to Cave-in-Rock."
Little Grassy Getdown at Touch of Nature, Makanda, IL - "The Little Grassy Get Down at SIU's Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center is a family-friendly music festival featuring mostly original acoustic Americana music from the Midwest."
Open Mic Night, Anna, IL - Test out your new song or comedy bit. $5 entrance fee for performers & spectators. Come on, it's in Illinois. Nobody's going to know you over there. You can crash and burn with zero consequences.
Sat, Oct 11
Heartland Jeep Fest, Benton, MO - The big duck is still there, all six stories of it, with a Jeep parade, a Barbie Jeep race, a light & sound show, car crushing, and more. Click on the link and scroll to find the full daily schedule. Gates open at 9am.
Fall Festival at Saxon Lutheran Memorial, Frohna, MO - Tour the historic log cabins, watch mid-1800s activities demos, grab a bite, and browse what local crafters are sellin'. It's all the pioneer fun without the dysentery. 9am to 3pm.
Dexter Fall Fest, Dexter, MO - Over 190 vendors will be unleashing crafts, food, petting zoo critters, entertainment, and fall fun. 9am to 3pm.
Van Buren Fall Festival, Van Buren, MO - All the usual fall fest suspects will be there: music, arts & crafts, a farmers' market, food, pony rides, a petting zoo, bonus fun: a cruise-in and a bull-riding contest. 9am to 5pm.
Caledonia Cowboy Pumpkin Fest, Caledonia, MO - Meet St. Louis Cardinal Chris Carpenter! Cowboy parade starts at 10am & the festival lasts 'til 4. Pony rides, bull ride, axe throwing, 100+ craft vendors, a petting zoo, pie eating contest, music, food trucks, wine tasting, and a free hayride to a pumpkin patch & corn maze.
Black River Bottoms SxS Ride, Annapolis, MO - Only $5 per person to ride. All proceeds go to local gravel road maintenance and the Missouri Department of Conservation, so we can all continue to enjoy the trails along the beautiful Black River! Participate in the "keep it clean" raffle and the "best dressed rig" contest. There will be stops to pass out candy (take candy), stops along the river, and also a cave stop. OoooOOOooo.🦇
Sunset Kayak Cruise, Lake Wappapello State Park, MO - Watch the sunset on Lake Wappapello. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are all supplied by the event sponsor, SEMO Team River Runner.
Fall 573 Group Hike, Puxico, MO - Walk the Swampwalk Nature Trail loop at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge with other folks who like to get outside. The raised boardwalk/asphalt trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Trail Length (mi): 0.76. Trail difficulty: Easy. Event duration: up to 60 minutes. I'm going to this! Let's meet in real life this weekend.❤️
Rocktoberfest, Perryville, MO - Family-friendly rock concert with free admission. There will be 3 stages with live music: Rock, Blues, Metal, Punk, Americana, and more! It's a great way to make sure your kids turn out cool. 5:30-11pm.
CGMO Rock Show, Cape Girardeau, MO - Rock at Rude Dog Pub. 9:00pm / $7 / 21+. Featuring the bands Guy Morgan (CGMO), The Haddonfields (St. Louis, MO), and The Stars Go Out (St. Louis, MO). The kids stay home this time.
Halloween Skull Painting, Cape Girardeau, MO - Learn how to make a plastic skull look real. (And a real skull look plastic. JK.) Supplies are provided. This workshop is free for SEMO students and staff, and $5 fee for the public. 1-4pm.
Oktoberfest Market, Cape Girardeau, MO - Fresh produce, baked goods, food vendors, homemade crafts, and other artisanal products at the Cape Riverfront Market! 8am to 12pm.
Barrel n' Brews, Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape's 2nd-ever 2-day bourbon and music festival. It's like a Cape Lollapalooza, but it's fancy and you can take your dad 'cause there's bourbon. Tickets start at $45.
River to River Yard Sale, Route 146, Southern IL - Affordable used stuff from river to shining river.
Little Grassy Getdown at Touch of Nature, Makanda, IL - This Americana/bluegrass music fest is a fundraiser for Touch of Nature SIU in Makanda, IL. The flier is giving folky, hippie, hipster, outdoor fun for a good cause.
Kincaid Mounds Archaeology Field Day, ~10 miles from Brookport, IL - Finally! Presentations on the Mississippian culture begin at 10am & 1pm. There'll be artifact displays, artifact identification, and a walking tour of one of the mounds. It's free! The raddest price point of all. 9am to 3pm.
Guided Group Hike with River to River Trail Society, Ozark, IL - This guided group hike is free and open to the public. This will be a difficult loop hike of Trail 049 in Pope County, ~6 miles and ~5 hours hiking time. Expect a bluff wall to enter the canyon, stream crossings over slippery rocks, steep grades, and rocky areas that could be slippery if wet.
Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, Harrisburg, IL - In addition to bluegrass and BBQ, there will be living history demonstrations in the pioneer village museum. Check out the old jail, the 1859 one-room schoolhouse, 1800s log cabins, and more.
Sun, Oct 12
Heartland Jeep Fest, Benton, Missouri - Gates open at 7am. The 6-story duck is hanging out again and inviting you to Jeep trail rides, mud pit races, and a trick Jeep show.
River to River Yard Sale, Route 146, Southern IL - "Over 90 miles of yard sales along Route 146 from East Cape to Cave-in-Rock."
Introduction to Sewing for Adults, Sikeston, MO - Learn to sew in a relaxed class for adults! Class starts Oct 23. $15/person, all supplies included.
Tree ID Hike at Engler Park, Farmington, MO - Learn how to identify native Missouri tree species, and then impress all your friends. Oct 24. Register at the link.
Guided Group Hike to Hawn State Park, leaving from Cape Girardeau, MO - The Missouri Department of Conservation is taking hikers to Hawn State Park on Nov. 1. Depart from the Cape Nature Center (transportation included) for a 6.5-mile trek through rocky hills, clear creeks, and some of Missouri’s prettiest scenery. Registration opens Oct 11.
Wild about Watercolor: Foxes, Puxico, MO - Learn the basics of watercolor at a pretty cool national wildlife refuge: Mingo, on Nov 6. Only 3 spots left!
Meandering Turkey, Jackson, MO - ~5.5 mile trail run on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 1:30pm. Hilly, rooty, single-track fun. Cost: $35 prior to Oct 20. $40 Oct 20 to Nov 23. Everybody gets a shirt! Only 120 participants. Register early; this is expected to fill quickly, and there will not be race-day registration. Kid's Fun Run and Customer Appreciation Picnic following the race!!
Mary Mingle 5K, Cape Girardeau, MO - The famous 2025 Mary Mingle 5k tradition, benefiting the Community Counseling Center Foundation!
Resolution Run, Cape Girardeau, MO - Start the new year with a 5 or 10K. Really sets the tone for the rest of the year so much better than a hangover.
*With so much going on, we can’t include everything. We hand-select picks that match the mission and include events from all over the area to encourage you to explore towns you don’t usually visit. If you’re looking for more in Cape or Carbondale, here are some more sources: The Southeast Missourian, the Missouri Department of Conservation, The Scout, KFVS12, Southern Illinois Tourism, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Southernmostillinois.com.
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Hi, I'm a real person. Hope that isn't a turn off. I go to a lot of the places I recommend. But because these emails are so packed with info, I don't want to add a ton of pics and make them even longer. If you want to see pictures and videos of these places, follow Backroad Weekly on social, where I'm also slingin' Semo destinations.
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