Sedalia Main Streets Events

Downtown Sedalia - it's the place where you invite your friends and family to celebrate life, to support your fellow merchant neighbors and enjoy being part of a community surrounded by buildings with historic character. Listed below are some of the events you will find in our vibrant, historic district.

Six First Thursdays (April through October)
Downtown Criterion
Downtown Trick or Treat
Witches Night Out
Small Business Saturday
Downtown Holiday Open House and Cookie Crawl

We also sponsor and support the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, Thanksgiving evening’s Downtown Christmas Lighting and Fireworks, the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade and Santa on the Train!

Downtown Scarecrow Contest

Show off your creativity with a family-friendly scarecrow in Downtown Sedalia! This is a great way for businesses, organizations, or even families to help the community fall for our historic district. Entry into the contest is free!

Register to participate through the button below. Prizes will be awarded in both a Judge's Choice category and a Social Media People's Choice category.

Scarecrows are due by Friday, September 20, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Scarecrows may be placed starting September 23, 2024. Please do not set up your scarecrow on September 27, 2024 as this is the day of Smith-Cotton High School's Homecoming Parade downtown. your scarecrow location will be sent via email when you register. The two winners of the Judge's Choice and Social Media People's Choice categories will each receive a gift basket. Winners will be announced on October 31, 2024.

Scarecrow Contest Rules and Registration

Witches Night Out

Join us for a witchy night out filled with food and drink specials, in-store promotions and so much more!

Sedalia Main Streets, the Sedalia Parks & Rec. Department and Ivory Grille Restaurant are partnering for our downtown ladies night on October 23, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Witches Night Out is a fun, impactful way for visitors to explore our downtown businesses while allowing ladies a chance to celebrate friendships and family ties.

A selfie-station and event maps will be available at the Fox Theater Event Center, 501 S. Ohio Avenue. Sign up for our costume contest sponsored by the Sedalia Parks & Rec. Department with a monetary donation or the donation of a women's health product to the Open Door Service Center.

First Thursdays

Starting in April through October, the first Thursday of each month finds Downtown Sedalia humming with things to do between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Each event is slightly different from the other, but you can expect to enjoy fabulous art, musicians, vendors and food trucks. We’re excited to “grow” this series of events for our downtown with a goal of reaching 500 participants by our October First Thursday.

First Thursdays 2024 Dates and Themes
April 4 - Trunk to Treasure (If you are interested in participating in this event as a part of the general sale,
please sign up through the Trunk to Treasure application listed below).
May 2 - Family Olympics Themed Games
June 6 - Pre-Fair with petting zoo
No First Thursday on July 4th - but we'll see you downtown for the parade!
August 1 - Ice Cream Social
September 5 - Tailgate Thursday
October 3 - There's No Place Like Home!