The Hannibal Lectern

Community Calendar

What is happening in Hannibal and Marion County: festivals, public meetings, school events, library programs and the tourism season’s own schedule. The Autumn Folklife Festival marks its 50th year on Oct. 17-18, and the Victorian Festival of Christmas opens Nov. 28 and runs weekends through December.

  • What is coming up in Hannibal and Marion County. Dates confirmed with the organizers’ own listings; anything still unannounced is marked as such.

    October

    • Warehouse of Nightmares — Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 2–30. Hannibal Jaycees.
    • Fall Festival of Country Music — Oct. 9.
    • Autumn Folklife Festival, 50th annual — Saturday Oct. 17, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday Oct. 18, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Hannibal Arts Council, 573-221-6545.
    • Last dinner cruise of the season — Mark Twain Riverboat, Oct. 28.

    November

    • Boyhood Home & Museum switches to winter hours — 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily from Nov. 3.
    • Last sightseeing cruise of the season — Mark Twain Riverboat, Nov. 4.
    • Rockcliffe Mansion closes for the winter — Nov. 15, tours and bed and breakfast both.
    • Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site drops to weekend hours — Friday and Saturday only, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., from November.
    • Victorian Festival of Christmas opens — Nov. 28, then Saturdays through December.
    • Mark Twain’s birthday — Nov. 30. The museum has marked it with an event the Saturday before; the 2026 date has not been posted.

    December

    • Victorian Festival of Christmas — Saturdays through the month: parade, living windows, home and church tours, carriage rides.

    Already run this year

    • National Tom Sawyer Days, 71st annual — June 27 to July 5. Fence painting, frog jumping, mud volleyball, parade, fireworks. The 72nd returns around July 4, 2027; dates not announced.
    • Big River Steampunk Festival, 12th annual — Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4–7. Returns Labor Day weekend 2027; dates not announced.
    • Twain on Main Festival, 18th annual — Memorial Day weekend, May 23–24.
    • Budweiser Clydesdales parade — Sept. 26.

    Sending an event? Email news@hanniballectern.com with the date, time, place and a contact. Public meetings, school events, church and nonprofit events and fundraisers all get listed at no charge.