10 Free/Low-Cost Activities in St. Joseph, MO
Fill your calendar with these budget-friendly options.
Having fun doesn’t have to break the bank – at least not in St. Joseph, MO. This vibrant city, located in the northwest part of the Show-Me state, provides numerous free/low-cost activities for residents and visitors alike.
“St. Joseph has plenty of history and charm that keeps it feeling small, yet new growth and expansion that makes it feel like a bigger city,” says Ashley Strueby, who founded and used to run Joe Town Fun, a resource for finding fun locally.
While the Facebook page focuses on family-friendly activities, Strueby says the city offers something for everyone, no matter their age or stage in life. Here are 10 free/low-cost activities in St. Joseph that you should add to your calendar.
In This Article
1. Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph, MO
Each summer, Missouri Western State University hosts Chiefs Training Camp – aka Kansas City Chiefs practice sessions. With the exception of a few dates, tickets are free, capping out at six tickets max for three separate practices per fan.
Get your tickets, catch a glimpse of your favorite players, and who knows, maybe you’ll even see Taylor Swift.
2. Summer Concert Series in St. Joseph, MO
Music lovers, rejoice, because St. Joseph offers not one, but multiple free summer concert series! Sounds of Summer, hosted by the St. Joseph Downtown Association, brings performers and food vendors to Coleman Hawkins Park once a month from May through October for a night of free family fun. Imagine 11 concert series at Coleman Hawkins Park brings downtown to life on Sunday evenings during the summer. Plus, Parties on the Parkway, hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and City of St. Joseph, brings free monthly concerts to locations along the 26-mile parkway system. Food vendors and other entertainment (like balloon artists) are also present. Speaking of St. Joseph Parkway, it’s often enjoyed by runners, bikers and hikers.
“There are trails along the way as well as a disc golf course at Bartlett Park, which is free and popular,” Strueby says.
3. South Side Fall Festival in St. Joseph, MO
Summer shouldn’t get all the fun! The South Side Fall Festival, held the third weekend in September, draws crowds to Hyde Park to celebrate the season. The event, which has been held for more than three decades, offers food and craft vendors, kids’ activities, live music and a themed parade.
The 2023 parade theme was “Ole Fashion Carnival at Lake Contrary,” which paid homage to Lake Contrary Amusement Park that closed in the ’60s. Be on the lookout for 2024 festival details.
4. Sugarplum Festival in St. Joseph, MO
For St. Joseph residents, nothing says the holiday season has arrived quite like the annual Sugarplum Festival at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, which is held the second weekend in November. After 40+ years, it’s become a seasonal tradition for many.
The holiday craft market features local vendors, vintage goods, handmade gifts, delicious food, wine tasting events and kids’ art workshops. 2023 ticket prices were $8 in advance or $10 at the door and served as a fundraiser for the museum.
5. Pony Bar and Goetz Museum in St. Joseph, MO
The Pony Bar and Goetz Museum, which charges a $5 admission fee, allows patrons to enjoy a drink in a historic space that served as a popular tavern nearly 100 years ago – all while learning more about the history of the Goetz family and M.K. Goetz Brewing Co.
As the story goes, German immigrant M.K. Goetz was on his way to California when he stopped in St. Joseph in 1857. Seeing the value of an outpost on the Missouri River, he decided to plant roots and opened his brewery two years later. The brewery was passed down to his sons and survived Prohibition, eventually being sold to Pearl Brewing Co. (now Pabst) in 1961 and calling last call for good in 1976. But the legacy remains, so give them a visit and raise a glass.
6. Downtown St. Joseph, MO
“The downtown area is thriving and growing, and there are fun events happening all the time, especially around holidays,” Strueby says.
Downtown St. Joseph offers an emerging arts scene, tasty bites, live music and walking tours, during which residents and visitors can take in the sights of the area. Appropriately named First Saturdays, on the first Saturday of each month, the downtown St. Joseph community organizes a celebration of arts, music and culture. As you stroll past shops, you’ll find businesses and organizations participating with live entertainment, interactive fun and special discounts.
7. Fort Smith Park in St. Joseph, MO
Named after Col. Robert F. Smith, Fort Smith was erected in late September 1861 as a safeguard against conflicting armies battling on either side of the state line. The fort was rediscovered in 2003, and today, it features three full-scale authentic reproduction cannons, restored redoubts, a lookout point, period flags, informative signage, and an ordnance shed displaying illustrations of various types of artillery shells used in the conflict. In addition to the artifacts, the park offers plenty of space to relax and take in an amazing view of the city. Fort Smith is open from mid-April through mid-October.
8. Lovers Lane in St. Joseph, MO
Lovers Lane offers a picturesque winding road that you can walk or drive with your sweetheart, friend, dog – or even by yourself if you’re looking for peaceful solitude. Lovers Lane begins at the intersection of 18th Street and Grand Avenue and extends 1.5 miles to the northeast until it joins Ashland Avenue.
Lovers Lane became internationally known when poet Eugene Field wrote about courting his wife there. Look for the monument commemorating Field at the intersection of Northwest Parkway and Lovers Lane.
9. Houston Wyeth Hill in St. Joseph, MO
A popular destination to watch the sunset, Houston Wyeth Hill’s westward-facing scenic overlook sits high upon the Missouri River bluffs. Visitors are awed by the breathtaking panoramic view of the Missouri River and Kansas. Houston Wyeth Hill is open year-round, and a mountain biking and hiking trail circles the hill and connects to the River Bluff Trails Park.
10. Smithsonian Museum Day in St. Joseph, MO
Every year, St. Joseph participates in Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day, a national day when participating museums and cultural centers open their doors for free. St. Joseph participants in 2023 included:
- Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art
- Black Archives Museum
- Glore Psychiatric Museum
- Pony Express National Museum
- Remington Nature Center
- Robidoux Row Museum
- St. Joseph Museums Inc.
- Wyeth-Tootle Mansion
In addition to free admission, participants offer special activities.
St. Joseph has more museums per capita than New York City, a 26-mile Parkway system and special events happening all the time. Keep an eye on the community calendar to find free and low-cost things occurring daily. The calendar is on the Made with Uncommon Character website, the community’s brand. Find it at uncommoncharacter.com.
This article was sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.