Family events in Columbia, MO

Start the weekend in the arcade with half price games at Bonkers. Enjoy more play for less, keep the excitement going, and make it a fun outing with friends.

Hop aboard the big bookmobile to browse books, music, DVDs, and more, with services available for all ages. You can also pick up items you have requested.

Explore the First Friday Marketplace for handmade goods and artisan foods in a welcoming community setting. Mini Bundtlets will be there offering cakes that are gluten free, soy free, vegan, and alpha-gal safe. Connect with artisans and take in the local focus. Hosted by Curations573.

Explore CCUA’s Food Forest at Columbia's Agriculture Park on a guided walking tour that showcases edible fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and native Missouri flowers. CCUA staff will help you taste, smell, touch, and identify what is growing while sharing practical tips for foodscaping your own yard or garden. Topics include planning and design, sourcing native trees and plants, irrigation practices, holistic approaches to pest and disease management, the right time to harvest, and ways to cook and prepare what you grow. Each tour also features a spotlight on one plant for a closer look. These tours are free and open to the community. Meet at the red chicken coop in front of CCUA’s Maintenance Barn.

Back to School Through Time invites children to experience what school once looked like through hands-on exploration of historic classroom tools and practices. Participants can try quill-and-ink penmanship, write on chalk slates, use a cipher wheel to reveal hidden messages, practice cursive styles from different periods, and create coded notes that highlight how kids communicated before modern technology. Boone Youth Explorers offers this free monthly program to spark curiosity and connect young learners with local history through active discovery. Support is provided by The Bank of Missouri and the Missouri Arts Council, with additional financial assistance from the City of Columbia, Office of Cultural Affairs.

Children can dive into theater through a lively workshop where they play games, sing, dance, and act out stories from books. The program is presented by TRYPS Children's Theater, a professional group in Columbia dedicated to young audiences. For ages 3 to 8.

Back 2 Basics Cooking, based in Columbia, Missouri, offers a welcoming, hands-on Cake Decorating 101 class led by Chef Ashley. Participants learn core skills such as applying a crumb coat, piping fundamentals, color mixing, buttercream techniques, and working with a flower nail to build confidence for at-home cake projects. The class is open to adults, children ages 7 to 12 with an accompanying adult, and junior chefs 13 and older who may attend on their own. Tuition is 90 per person with no additional fees. Cancel at least 7 days in advance to receive full credit toward another class. If a preferred session is not available it is likely full, so early reservations are recommended for future offerings. Private bookings are available for groups of six to eight.

This five day camp welcomes imaginative and curious kids who want a unique summer experience. Participants experiment with sound bath instruments, bucket drumming, flow arts, movement games, hands-on DIY creations, and simple self care activities while spending time making things, staying active, and building connections with peers. Enrollment is limited to 12 campers, and the cost is $199.

Designed for the youngest library friends and their caregivers, this session offers a brief story time followed by open play and time to connect with other families. Intended for babies from birth to 12 months accompanied by an adult, and held at Columbia Public Library.

A storytime featuring rhymes and stories, with plenty of fun for families with children from birth to age 5 at Callaway County Public Library.

Bonkers offers a $5 play maze for kids along with a buy-one-get-one pizza deal, creating an easy way for families to pair active fun with a pizza special.

Children read for 15 minutes to one of Ann Gafke's Teacher's Pet Therapy Dogs while a handler supervises. This is a fun way to help strengthen literacy skills. All dogs are certified therapy dogs. Depending on attendance, families may need to wait for an available dog. For children in kindergarten and older.

Columbia Public Library hosts a cheerful story time led by library staff, featuring rhymes, songs, and stories. It is designed for children ages 2½ to 5 who attend with an adult.

This event recognizes World Breastfeeding Week and highlights the importance of breastfeeding for families and communities.

Spend time with fellow enthusiasts playing one of the oldest games in the world, face to face with opponents spanning a wide range of abilities. Newcomers can ask questions and receive guidance from more experienced participants. People of any age and skill level are welcome.

Bonkers is offering Half Price Games, so you can play more while piling up tickets and prizes. It is a simple arcade break with extra chances to try your favorites without paying full price.

Kids ages 8 to 12 can gather at Columbia Public Library for a Pokémon Camp focused on the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Spend time with fellow fans, play friendly matches, and share a love of all things Pokémon. New to the game? Beginners can learn during the session, and all experience levels are welcome. No registration is needed, but capacity is limited.

At Columbia Public Library, library staff lead a lively story time with rhymes, songs, stories, and plenty of playful moments. This session is for children ages 12 to 30 months who are walking confidently and are accompanied by an adult.

This event offers complimentary KidSight vision screenings for children six months and up. The screening is very quick, taking just seconds, and results are provided immediately.

Load up your game card and stretch your playtime with a matching offer from Bonkers. Add $25 to $75 for gameplay and receive a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $75, so the fun lasts longer. Get in more play and enjoy extra chances to rack up tickets with this simple match-your-spend deal.

Traci Jo Calvert will visit a reading group alongside her puppies, Molly and Lucy. Participants can browse her books and purchase copies to take home.