Whitewater championships, parakeets, and snow jokes
Day Trips for Southeast Missourians
Events, trails, shops, restaurants, museums. All an easy drive away. In your inbox, every Thursday.
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Inclement weather is snow joke. But I know it can be tempting to get out and enjoy the beauty of freshly fallen sky confetti. Le sigh. (Do you remember how Pepé Le Pew would sigh "in French" by adding le?)
Anyway, if we get some white weather and you decide to go play in it, please be careful. If it looks wet, assume it’s ice. Wear shoes with traction. Stick to familiar spots. Let someone know where you’re going. Don't lick stuff. Stay dry. Wear layers.
Get Outside (Later)
Millstream Gardens Conservation Area, Ironton, MO
I want to be your go-to 'get outta the house' girlie, but this forecast has me feeling like I might eat my encouraging words. So, let's do some future-you planning.
Put this one in your back pocket for a sunny day: Millstream Gardens Conservation Area. It’s home to one of the coolest spring events in the region: the Missouri Whitewater Championships!!!, returning March 27–29. For one glorious weekend, the St. Francis River hosts downriver racing, slalom, and freestyle runs through the dramatic Tiemann Shut-Ins. There'll also be a chili cook-off, live music, and a Saturday night boater bash. You don’t have to paddle to enjoy it; spectating is fun. And I plan to spectate.
You don't have to wait until March to visit, though. Millstream Gardens is about an hour and a half from Cape, just west of Fredericktown (another great day trip spot by the way). Check out the Tiemann Shut-ins Trail, an easy 1.8-mile out-and-back to, you guessed it, the shut-ins. If you want something longer, the Turkey Creek Trail is a 6.5-mile out-and-back.
Not the whitewater portion, just a pretty portion of the St. Francis River along the Tiemann Shut-Ins Trail, January 2026, at that golden hour, baby
The weather might be whispering, "stay in and finish your Christmas chocolate" this weekend, but consider this your reminder to bookmark a spring day trip. Millstream Gardens: Trails. River. Pine trees. Rushing shut-ins. Check 'er out.
Bye, Bye Birdie - The Parakeet's Disappearance from Our River Shores
The Carolina Parakeet once lived year-round in Missouri’s forests, especially along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Early travelers described loud flocks of hundreds of bright green bodies with yellow and red faces. They nested in hollow trees, stuck around through the winter, and fed on seeds and fruits (Including cockleburs. Now you definitely wish they were still around, huh?).
By the mid-1800s, sightings thinned. By the time Missouri entered the 20th century, they were gone. The last known parakeet in Missouri was sighted near Kansas City in the 1890s, with only a handful of sightings in other states afterward. The species vanished from the U.S. entirely soon after. The last captive bird died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918.
What caused their sudden disappearance is still debated. Habitat loss, hunting, the pet trade, competition with bees for nesting trees, disease, and a cocktail of all of the above have been suggested. What’s jarring is how quickly it happened...how "common" can still be fragile.
Are you officially bummed? Maybe someday Dr. John Hammond can bring them back.
Riverfest is coming back to the Cape riverfront on July 4, 2026, and this year’s celebration is a big one for a big reason: It’s part of the USA’s 250th anniversary.
Music. Community. Grub. Fireworks over the river. And lawn chairs. On a warm summer day. I can feel childhood nostalgia setting in.
Folks, this kind of fun doesn’t just materialize out of Mississippi River mist. It’s built by volunteers and local businesses. This is a call to action.
The event organizers are currently looking for day-of volunteers to help with setup, hospitality, guest assistance, and keeping things running smoothly. They're also looking for local business sponsors who want to support a big, visible community moment.
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
KEEP AN EYE ON EVENTS FOR POTENTIAL CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER. Many of this weekend's events have already been cancelled or postponed.
Fri, Jan 23
Hit TV Series Trivia Night, Scott City, MO - Test your knowledge of classic and current TV shows at The Riverhouse. For binge-watchers of all levels. 6:30 to 8:30pm. Free, registration required.
Friday Night Dance and Salsa Lesson, Cape Girardeau, MO - A beginner-friendly salsa lesson followed by mixed ballroom dancing and line dances. 7 to 9pm. $5 per person, cash only. Time to feel el ritmo, gringos. Vamos.
Whiskey Trivia Night at Havisham, Alto Pass, IL - Test your whiskey knowledge with a trivia night on bourbon history, distilling, iconic brands, and fun facts at Havisham Bourbon, Brew & Spirits. Free to play. 🎶"But don't ask 'er on a whiskey tasting night, she'll start thinkin' about him, and she's ready for trivia"🎶. That's how the song goes, right?
Whiskey Tasting, Alto Pass, IL - A guided tasting of four whiskies from Old Monroe Distillery at Alto Vineyards. Limited seats. $50 ticket. 7:30-9:30pm. Alto Pass has got the Alto Class going on this weekend, breaking out the good stuff. You could rent a little cabin over there. Not a terrible place to get snowed in.
Sat, Jan 24
When Pigs Fly Indoor BBQ Bash, Cape Girardeau, MO - The annual indoor BBQ festival returns to the Show Me Center with guaranteed 70-degree temps, pro BBQ sampling, People’s Choice judging, live music, games, and cooking demos. Doors open at 10am. Adults $36, youth (6-12) $14.50, kids 5 and under free.
"Living Off-Grid, Really" Book Reading and Signing, Carbondale, IL - Join author Aur Beck at the Neighborhood Co-op for a reading and signing of his new book, Living Off-Grid, Really, part memoir and part guide. Noon.
Beginning Pet Portraits, Paducah, KY - A beginner-friendly art class at Messy Cat Creations teaches you the basic techniques for creating painted portraits OF YOUR PETS, with all supplies provided. 3 to 5pm. $55, preregistration required. There were only two spots left a couple day ago, so this might be full.
Sun, Jan 25
Yoga for Dummies: Amity Yoga 101, Jackson, MO - A beginner-friendly intro class for anyone new to yoga, covering what to expect, basic poses, mat setup, and studio etiquette in a low-pressure, nobody-cares-if-you-can't-touch-your-toes setting. 1pm.
Plan Ahead for Future Weekend Fun
The Not-So-Great Outdoorsmen Film Premiere, Cape Girardeau, MO - Red carpet premiere of a short comedy by East Prairie filmmaker Lawson Thresher about two campers whose weekend goes weird after a Bigfoot encounter. Screening at Marcus Cape West Cinema. Friday, Jan 31. Tickets $10.
The King’s Ball 2026, Ste. Geneviève, MO - A winter tradition rooted in Missouri French and Mardi Gras history, this regency-style community dance offers a night of live music, ritual, and revelry. Colonial attire is encouraged, but optional. Sat, Feb 7. Doors open 6pm, dancing begins 7pm.
Heartstrings and Buttercream Valentine’s Cake Decorating Experience, Cape Girardeau, MO - A hands-on Valentine’s cake decorating class featuring a pre-baked 6-inch heart-shaped cake, guided instruction, and light refreshments. Hosted by Sweet Celebrations by Dae. Saturday, Feb 7, 11am-1pm. Tickets $70 single or $130 for couples.
Swamp Needlers: Missouri Streams, Puxico, MO - A yearlong stitching series for quilters and embroidery lovers, creating a themed quilt inspired by Missouri’s flora & fauna. Meets monthly at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, with guided instruction and time to stitch together. First session February 9. 10 to 11am. Only 3 spots left.
Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School, Mt. Vernon, IL - A full-day, research-based program for commercial fruit and vegetable growers, covering current trends in insect and disease management, with industry experts and on-site vendors. February 11. $35 per farm with advance registration, $50 per farm after February 3.
Charleston Dogwood-Azalea Festival 5k, Charleston, MO - One of the oldest races in Southeast Missouri, this flat and fast 5k takes place during the annual Dogwood Azalea Festival. April 19. 2 to 3pm. $30 pre-registration, $35 race day.
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