Coming Up in COMO …

A black and white dog holds a gold trophy with white base between its teeth.

Your to-do lisst: The Boone County Fair and 32 other things to do in Columbia and the surrounding area

“Coming Up In COMO” is a brief peek at concerts, plays, art exhibits, events for families and kids, and more. You may send your event notice to [email protected]. Please put “Coming up in COMO” in the subject line. Include the date, time, a brief description, and website or Facebook page (or phone number) for your event. 

The next several days offer COMO’s typical plethora of things to do, from comedy club performances and concerts (some FREE; we’re looking at you, Cooper’s Landing and Sentinel Park) to movies in the park (another FREE event) and open house, commemorative events. 

But the busting-at-the-seems event with the most to boast about is the annual Boone County Fair, which runs Tuesday, July 18, through Saturday, July 22, at 5212 Oakland Gravel Road. 

Carnival rides, daring deeds, funnel cakes, livestock and bunnies, the county fair queen and royalty pageant, corn dogs, a petting zoo, more carnival rides, MORE funnel cakes (look for some of the COMO Magazine staff munching on funnel cakes Tuesday evening), music, the demolition derby, lambs and bucket calves, and funnel … OK. You get the picture. 

Check out the Boone County Fair full schedule of events here. 

FRIDAY, JULY 14 

Moms Who Coffee – Toasty Goat Coffee. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 515 S. Scott Blvd., Ste 101. Event by Willow Clearwater and CoMo Moms Connect. 

The Lacewings at Cooper’s Landing. 6-9 p.m., 11505 S. Smith Hatchery Road. Food truck: Lilly’s Cantina, 4:30-9 p.m. 

Summer Music on The Blufftop ft Burney Sisters. 7-9 p.m., Les Bourgeois A-Frame, 14020 W Hwy BB, Rocheport. FREE admission, all ages welcome. 21+ to drink. 

The Ponies Improv Comedy Show: Phot Bomb! Two shows: an all-ages family-friendly show at 7 p.m. and an adults-only “after dark” show at 8 p.m. Selfie Love, 804 Locust Street. Tickets $25. 

Aladdin at Lakeside Ashland. 8-10 p.m., 5900 E. Log Providence Rd. No outside food or drinks. 

Movie in the Park – Finding Nemo. 8:45-10:45 p.m., Cosmo Park, 1615 Busines Loop 70 W., near Nickell Shelter. FREE event by Columbia Parks and Recreation. Concessions and food trucks available. 

SATURDAY, JULY 15 

Columbia Farmers Market. 8 a.m.-noon, MU Health Care Pavilion at Columbia’s Agriculture Park, 1769 W. Ash St. 

Splat Jr. Obstacle Course Mud Run. 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3350 E. Gans Road. Ages 4-15. $30 per child. 

Friends of Columbia Public Library book sale. Noon-3 p.m., 100 W. Broadway. Cash or checks only. 

DJ in the Park. 4-6 p.m., Douglass Park, 400 N. Providence. Event by Columbia Parks and Recreation.  

Buddha Blue. 6-8 p.m., Sentinel Park, 1214 Eugenie St. In the Arcade District. FREE concert. 

Firefly Music Festival | The Schuman(n) Connection, Missouri Symphony. 7 p.m., Missouri Theatre, 203 S. Ninth St. Tickets $29-$49. 

The Flood Brothers at Cooper’s Landing. 6-9 p.m., 11505 S. Smith Hatchery Road. Food trucks: 850 Wood Fire Pizza, noon-8 p.m.; Jamaican Jerk Hut, noon-8 p.m. 

Pints and Punchlines Comedy Club. 8 p.m., The Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St. Tickets $5-$10. 

Tail Light Rebellion at Dive Bar. 8-11 p.m. 1116 Business Loop 70 E. No cover charge; kitchen open late. 

Summerween! Fear Fest Haunted House. 9 p.m.-3 a.m., U.S. 40 West, Midway. 

Karaoke Night. Every Saturday at 9 p.m., McGinty’s Pub, 1312 Old 63 S.  

SUNDAY, JULY 16 

Ashland Pride 2023 – Second Annual. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Ashland City Park. Event by The Dandy Lion on Main and Nclusion Plus. Food trucks, vendors and artists, entertainment, kids area, beer garden. 

Motown Brunch ft. DJ Requiem at Rose Park. 11 a.m., 1013 Park Avene. All ages. $10 entry; $25 entry + brunch. 

Craft Beer & Carts. 1-4 p.m., MU Health Care Pavilion, 1701 W. Ash St. Food trucks on site; live music. Tickets $20 for adults, $10 for students, kids under 10 free. 

The Bait Shop Boys at Cooper’s Landing. 2-5 p.m., 11505 S. Smith Hatchery Rd. Food trucks: 850 Wood Fire Pizza and 2 Odd Dawgs. 

Lawn chair concert in the park. 3-5 p.m., Douglass Park, 400 N. Providence. Event by Columbia Parks and Recreation. FREE. 

Compass Music Camp Showcase. 5:30 p.m., The Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth St. All ages. Tickets $6-$10. 

Ben Diesel and BadNames at The Social Room. 7 p.m. 220 N. Eighth St. 

Karaoke Night at Eastside Tavern. 8-11:45 p.m., 106 E. Broadway.  

MONDAY, JULY 17 

Columbia Behavioral Crisis Center reveals the 988 commemorative bell. 9-10 a.m., 1805 E. Walnut St. In honor of the one-year anniversary of the launch of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, Burrell’s Crisis Services and Be Well Community have partnered to mark the milestone.    

Meredith Shaw at Cooper’s Landing. 6-9 p.m., 11505 S. Smith Hatchery Rd. Weather-permitting. 

TUESDAY, JULY 18 

2023 Boone County Fair begins. Runs through Saturday, July 22. 5212 Oakland Gravel Road. 

As Yet Unnamed Comedy Show. 8 p.m., Eastside Tavern, 106 E. Broadway. FREE comedy open mic night. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 

Food trucks roundup at Columbia Farmers Market. 3-7 p.m., MU Health Care Pavilion at Columbia’s Agriculture Park, 1769 W. Ash St. Shop the market and grab an early dinner. 

Missouri Connections for Health, open house. 4-6 p.m. 601 W. Nifong, Suite 3A. The community is invited to an informal open house to see MCH’s new location to learn about the organization, meet the board and staff, enjoy food and drinks, and win a door prize. 

Opening Reception: The Great Flood. 4:30-6 p.m., Boone County History & Culture Center, 3801 Ponderosa St. Members and supporters are invited to an opening reception for The Great Flood exhibition. The retrospective show marks the 30th anniversary of the flood of 1993 and highlights how the relentless waters impacted Boone County and its citizens. 

We also love to visit and find out what’s happening at … 

Finger Lakes State Park 

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park 

Three Creeks Conservation Area 

Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area 

Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau 

Columbia Public Library 

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