guides

2023 Summer Bucket List for Columbia MO

June 1, 2023

Thank you to Tiny Town Play Cafe, an imaginative indoor playspace featuring full cafe menu as well as kid-friendly lunch and snack options. 

It's thanks to our valued sponsors like Tiny Town Play Cafe that keep Macaroni KID a free resource for all Columbia families.

Take a Jurassic adventure at their upcoming Dino Experience on July 13. Space is limited at this dinosaur-themed fun fest so save your spot now.


Summer's here and there's so much fun to be had in Columbia and Mid-Missouri. Indoors, outdoors, big kids, little kids there's something for everyone. So don't sit around bored all season, check the list and plan some good times in Columbia this summer.

๐ŸŽต Rock out to a free outdoor concert at Stephens Lake Park

๐Ÿ›ถ Go kayaking at Finger Lakes State Park

๐Ÿง‘‍๐ŸŒพ Support local agriculture at a Farmer's Market

๐Ÿ“š Sign up for the Columbia Public Library summer reading program

โ›ณ Hit the links for some miniature golf at Midway Golf and Games


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๐ŸŒณ Go hiking at Rock Bridge State Park

๐ŸŽฌ Watch a free summer movie at Forum 8

๐ŸŒผ Take a walk at Shelter Gardens

๐ŸŽก Spend the day at the Boone County Fair

๐Ÿฆ Get ice cream at Sparky's


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๐Ÿ‘ Enjoy the view at the A-Frame in Rocheport

๐Ÿงบ Go on a picnic in Peace Park

๐Ÿ˜ Meet up with friends at Tiny Town Cafe

๐Ÿ’ซ Do some stargazing at the Laws Observatory

๐Ÿšด Ride bikes on the MKT trail


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๐Ÿช™ Do some geocaching and find a treasure

๐ŸŽท Catch a concert or go camping at Cooper's Landing

๐Ÿฆ˜ Get some air at Sky Zone

๐ŸŽจ Head out to First Fridays in the North Village Arts District

๐Ÿ  Go fishing at Twin Lakes


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๐Ÿ“— Find your next great read at Skylark or Yellow Dog bookshops

๐Ÿชœ Get lost in the maze at Bonkers

๐Ÿง Enjoy a snow cone at VooDoo Sno

๐Ÿ› Hit up the Cosmo Park playground

๐Ÿ’ฆ Play in the creek at Grindstone Nature Area


What are your favorite things to do in Columbia in the summer? Tell us what we've missed by emailing susannah@macaronikid.com