From robots to rodeos, you’ll find a wide range of activities at the Missouri State Fair. The fair, which started in 1901, remains true to its roots, with agricultural-related competitions and exhibitions. You’ll see livestock shows featuring beef cattle, goats, horses, llamas, rabbits and other animals. It’s not all about farming, however; a robotics competition and carnival rides are some of the fair's other goings-on. The entertainment includes a demolition derby, rodeos and concerts, with regional and headliner acts like Toby Keith. The 11-day fair typically takes place in mid-August at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia.
For a different kind of music, attend the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival. The famed composer and pianist attended high school in Sedalia in the 1880s. The annual four-day festival takes place in early June at venues throughout downtown Sedalia.
You don’t have to worry about cold weather when watching the Mid-Missouri Outlaws play football. The Sedalia-based team competes in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. The Outlaws play their home games at the Mathewson Exhibition Center Arena from mid-March to early June. The Sedalia Bombers baseball team typically plays 20 home games from early June to late July at Liberty Park Stadium. The Bombers are members of the M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League, which is comprised of college baseball players from across the country.
The Katy Trail State Park isn’t your typical state park. The trail for bikers and hikers stretches 240 miles horizontally across Missouri on the closed Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad. The Sedalia Trailhead sits at mile marker 229. You can stop at the historic Sedalia Katy Depot to take a break, load up on water and use the restroom. The depot even lets you store your bike overnight. While there, check out the exhibits on the railroad and the area’s history. Fishermen have ample opportunities in Sedalia to reel in trout, bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie. Good spots include the 115-acre Spring Fork Lake, the 12-acre Clover Dell Park Lake and the three-acre Liberty Park Pond.
The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on pieces from the mid-1900s up to the 21st century. The varied collection includes a range of ceramics, drawings, paintings, photography and sculpture. Items from notable artists include a photograph from Ansel Adams and a print from Andy Warhol.
The Liberty Center Association for the Arts typically stages up to half a dozen productions a season, including well known plays like “9 to 5 The Musical.” The venue includes an art gallery that showcases works from local students.
