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News from the St. Joseph Visitors Bureau

Where the west officially got wild!
October 2012

 

To view upcoming events in

Buchanan County,

view the complete calendar of events on our new website

 


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In This Issue
PumpkinFest
Haunted Harris-Kemper Haunted Walking Tour
Voices of the Past

 

 

 

St. Joseph, Missouri  
Visitors Bureau
  
109 S 4th Street 
 

St. Joseph, MO 64501  
800-785-0360
816-233-6688

www.stjomo.com

Mission

The St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau was established by Buchanan County voters in the spring of 1993 with the purpose of "advertising and promoting tourism in Buchanan County, Missouri."  The CVB is governed by a board of seven members and is a political subdivision of the Buchanan County Commission. 

The St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau is an organization that will develop and implement marketing programs designed to maximize the economic impact of visitor dollars to Buchanan County.

In 2011, Buchanan County generated $153 million dollars in tourism related economic-impact according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

 
 


 
Fall is definitely in the air in Northwest Missouri!  
Embrace the season with these great events and activities
 
Pony Express PumpkinFest -October 12-14th at the Pony Express Museum & Patee Park is an annual fall festival that continues to grow more and more every year.  Festival organizers have indicated this year will include many more craft and food vendors, as well as specialty activities.
 
Kicking off on Friday night is the must-see lighting of the Great Pumpkin
Great Pumpkin Mountain 
Mountain
at 8 P.M. Friday, October 12th when over 800 hand - carved pumpkins will be electrically lit on "Pumpkin Mountain in front of the museum.

 

Almost continuous entertainment for both adults and children will occur both on stage and on the grounds of Patee Park across from the museum during the 3-day family event.  Food will also be available in the park. Children's activities include crafts and games, wandering magician, balloon man, storytelling and much more. Come see X-Static band on Friday evening and The Phil Vandel Band on Saturday evening. Back by popular demand, The Baker Family; listen as the children play bluegrass and country music. Also, don't miss MandaLynn and the Rocking Country Variety Show on Sunday.

Carnival Rides 

 

Families can enjoy the carnival rides, period wagon rides, pony rides and a petting zoo. Families and children are invited to participate in the Costume Parade Saturday morning at 11:00 A.M. Registration starts at 10:00 A.M. at Patee Hall, 9th and Olive. At 11:30 A.M. on the main stage, prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and there is a grand prize that is being donated by Hy-Vee of St. Joseph, the parade sponsor.

 

The Pony School 

In the new Pony School, historian Kathy Ridge will share fun and fascinating facts about our First Forefather, George Washington on the 280th anniversary of his birth. Then on Sunday, Mrs. Ridge will switch gears - and costumes - and will be on hand to interpret the Pony School. As the schoolmarm, she will bring to life a typical day at the 1860 - style one-room schoolhouse, the newest addition to the Pony Express Museum. Director Cindy Daffron states, "This is a don't miss event at Pumpkinfest!"    

 

The weekend festivities start Friday, October 12th, 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Saturday. October 13th, 10:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. and Sunday, October 14th, Noon - 5:00 P.M. More info at  www.ponyexpress.org.

 


Haunted Harris-Kemper Haunted Walking Tour - Saturday, October 13th 
During this "spooky" event, you can explore this amazing nationally recognized historic district and it's over 360 architecturally significant homes, dressed up for the holiday.
Creepy Haunted Nanni

Tour times will begin at 7:00pm, 7:15pm, 7:30pm, 7:45pm, 8:00pm, and 8:15pm.  Each tour is limited to 15 people and will depart on time, so please arrive at least 10-15 minutes early.  Refreshments will be served inside the Whiskey Mansion.

Tickets Available at Whiskey Mansion on Thursdays (Only) 11am-2pm for $8, so call Cyndee to reserve your tour time at 816-232-3277.


Voices of the Past - October 25-26th - is an interpretive tour of Mt. Mora Cemetery where visitors can "meet" some of St. Joseph's most fascinating citizens.

Visitors stroll along beautifully lit Mausoleum Row, stepping back in time to reconnect with the past as they meet legendary former citizens. Each year Mount Mora "residents" step out of the shadows to share new stories, many obscured by the passage of time. This year living history characters will continue the 150-year commemoration of America's tragic War Between the States.

Wyeth Tootle Mansion
Tours begin at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, 1100 Charles Street, with refreshments and the first characters of the evening.  After touring the beautiful Mansion, and meeting two brothers with quite a tale to tell, guests will board the motor coach for Mount Mora Cemetery. After arriving at Mount Mora Cemetery, "Mrs. Kemper" will introduce visitors to the first medical doctor of the Platte Purchase, as well as his notoriously feisty daughter.

What about the ordinary, hard-working citizens? Meet a German couple with an intriguing tale. Hear stories from the mother of one of St. Joe's pony riders. Share the struggles of a young widow. Meet a medical doctor born a slave but who climbed to the height of success in many arenas. Be charmed by the memories of a teen-age girl who lived on one of St. Joseph's early plantations.
Voices of the Past Tours
Mausoleum Row 
Learn the amazing story of a black Union soldier in the 1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry. Witness the confused conversation between a 20th century military soldier and one from the century before. And then there's the story of a medical doctor's experience at Gettysburg. Visitors will be introduced to these stories and more from a mix of ordinary people and Civil War soldiers as they take a walk along a lane in the "prettiest City of the Dead."

Entrance to Mt. Mora
"The tours are meant to educate about the fascinating history of St. Joseph and the people who worked to build the city in its early days," said Suzanne Lehr, Research Associate of the St. Joseph Museums, "Mount Mora Cemetery is truly a historical and architectural treasure everyone can appreciate." Proceeds from "Voices from the Past" benefit the Mount Mora Restoration and Preservation Association and St. Joseph Museums, Inc.

Space is limited and a pre-paid reservations required. Tickets $15 per person. Call St. Joseph Museum 816.232.8471 for information and reservations. Participants must be fourteen years of age or above.  www.mountmora.org  


A Complete Calendar of Events for the
St. Joseph Area is located Here!
 


 

Contact Info

St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau

Communications Director

Beth Conway

816-233-6688