The Missouri Day Festival, held every third weekend in October, is Trenton's second-largest event, attracting thousands of visitors. Sponsored by the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce, it features over 120 vendors and activities for all ages. In addition to shopping and entertainment, the festival includes a statewide high school marching band competition. The theme for the 2025 Missouri Day Festival will be announced later in the year.
Check it out! Our festival is featured on blt (the blog for lifestyle & travel)!
The Missouri Day Festival began in Trenton in October 1984 to honor the history of our state. The event centers on the Rock Barn, a limestone, octagon-shaped building on the National Register of Historic Places. The third Wednesday in October was proclaimed Missouri Day in 1915 by the Missouri General Assembly. Governor Arthur M. Hyde, a Trenton, Missouri native, proclaimed October 18th as Missouri Day.
In 1997, the Missouri Day Marching Band Festival was added to the list of activities. There are twenty-plus high school marching bands that compete in different areas during our festival. You can see many of them marching in Trenton’s very large parade, which takes place on Saturday morning. For those who enjoy watching the bands perform, you can follow them to the C.F. Russell Stadium where they will participate in field competitions throughout the day.
