Sedalia: local rooms, events and more

Photo: Infrogmation · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · Missouri · 43k people

Sedalia

“Queen City of the Prairies”, “Ragtime City”

Where the fairgrounds glow and the prairie rolls.

Harvest GoldPrairie Green

Welcome to Sedalia, the heart of Missouri's fair country. Whether you're here for the State Fair or just passing through on the Katy Trail, you'll find a friendly town with deep roots in music and agriculture. Come on in, grab a bite, and enjoy the local pace.

Clubs for Sedalia

No clubs for Sedalia yet.

The room

Sedalia Quiet now Where the fairgrounds glow and the prairie rolls.

One room for everyone around Sedalia. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Sedalia. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Missouri State Fairgrounds Hosts the Missouri State Fair every August.
Katy Trail State Park 240-mile rail trail for biking and walking.
Truman Lake Large reservoir for fishing, boating, and camping.
Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site Early 20th-century lodge on a bluff with tours.
Historic Downtown Sedalia Shops, restaurants, and the Pettis County Courthouse.
Pettis County Courthouse Historic courthouse in the center of the square.

Outdoors Bike or hike the Katy Trail
Outdoors Fish, boat, or kayak on Truman Lake
With kids Visit the Missouri State Fair
With kids Bike the Katy Trail
Evenings Attend a concert at the Missouri State Fairgrounds
Evenings See a play at the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre
Locals love Small-town diners
Locals love Farm stands

Through the year

Missouri State Fair August The state's largest fair, held each August.
Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival June Celebrates the city's ragtime heritage with concerts and events.
Pettis County Fair July A smaller county fair with livestock, rides, and local exhibits.
Katy Trail Ride September A multi-day supported bike ride along the Katy Trail.
Sedalia Fourth of July Celebration July Fireworks, parade, and community festivities downtown.

Sedalia has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, perfect for outdoor activities. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.

Talk like a local

“The Fair”: The Missouri State Fair
“Katy”: The Katy Trail
“Truman”: Truman Lake
“The Square”: Historic downtown Sedalia

Getaways

Warrensburg Home of the University of Central Missouri, with shops and dining.
Columbia College town with vibrant downtown, restaurants, and culture.
Jefferson City State capital with historic sites and the Missouri River.
Kansas City Big-city attractions, sports, and barbecue.

Local flavour

Rooting for University of Missouri Tigers, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals

Eat and drink

State Fair Corn Dogs A staple at the Missouri State Fair, held annually in Sedalia
Funnel Cakes Another fair classic, often enjoyed at local festivals
Chicken Fried Steak A Midwest comfort food common in local diners
German Sausages

Where people go

Missouri State Fairgrounds The heart of the annual state fair, a gathering place for the whole region
Katy Trail A scenic rail-trail running through the area, popular for walking and cycling
Truman Lake A large reservoir near Warsaw, offering fishing, boating, and camping
Small-town Diners Classic Midwest cafes serving home-style meals and coffee
Ragtime Festivals

Heritage and traditions

Sedalia is proud of its ragtime heritage, the Missouri State Fair, and the outdoor recreation along the Katy Trail and Truman Lake.

This time of year in Sedalia

Fall foliage on the Katy Trail Fall The Katy Trail is popular for leaf-peeping and biking.
Cole Camp German Heritage Festival October Celebrates the town's German roots with food, music, and dancing.

Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — About to do something.

Festivals

Cole Camp German Heritage Festival October Celebrates the town's German roots with food, music, and dancing.
Truman Lake Catfish Tournament Summer Anglers compete for the biggest catfish on the lake.
Sedalia Christmas on the Square December Downtown Sedalia lights up with carolers and a holiday market.

Landmarks with a story

Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site A hilltop mansion built by a Sedalia attorney, offering tours and trails.
Pettis County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Sedalia, a landmark of the town square.
Historic Downtown Sedalia Victorian-era buildings housing shops and restaurants, with a lively square.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Cole Camp) A historic German Lutheran church reflecting the town's heritage.
Benton County Courthouse (Warsaw) Historic courthouse in Warsaw, near Truman Lake.
Missouri State Fairgrounds Home to the state fair since 1901, with historic buildings and a carousel.

Food traditions

Truman Lake catfish dinners Fresh catfish from Truman Lake is a local staple, often fried and served with hushpuppies.
Cole Camp German bratwurst and sauerkraut German settlers brought sausage-making traditions still celebrated at festivals.
Small-town diner chicken fried steak A classic comfort food at local cafes, served with gravy and mashed potatoes.
Missouri-style barbecue Slow-smoked brisket and pork steaks are a regional favorite.
Homemade pies at local bakeries Many diners and bakeries serve pies made from scratch, especially fruit pies in summer.

Music and arts

Ragtime music Sedalia is a center of ragtime history, with the Scott Joplin Festival.
German polka music Cole Camp keeps German music traditions alive at festivals.
Community theater Local theater groups perform in Sedalia and surrounding towns.
Missouri State Fair arts and crafts The fair features competitions in quilting, canning, and other crafts.

A little history

1860 Sedalia was founded as a railroad town on the Missouri Pacific line.
1890s Scott Joplin lived in Sedalia and composed the Maple Leaf Rag, launching ragtime.
1901 The first Missouri State Fair was held in Sedalia.
1840s German immigrants settled Cole Camp, shaping its culture.
1979 Truman Lake was created by damming the Osage River.

Rivalries

Sedalia vs. Warrensburg high school football A heated local gridiron matchup.
Sedalia vs. Marshall high school basketball Long-standing hoops rivalry.
Missouri Tigers vs. Kansas Jayhawks Border rivalry in college football and basketball.
Cardinals vs. Royals In-state MLB rivalry.

Game day High school football
Game day Fishing tournaments
Outdoors Bike the Katy Trail
Outdoors Fish on Truman Lake
With kids Ride the historic carousel at the State Fair
With kids Bike the Katy Trail

People speak with a Midland accent, often pronouncing 'Missouri' as 'Missour-uh'. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to' occasionally.

Only here

The Missouri State Fair is one of the largest in the nation.
The Katy Trail is the longest rails-to-trails in the US.
Scott Joplin composed the Maple Leaf Rag in Sedalia.
Truman Lake is one of Missouri's largest man-made lakes.

New here? A few tips

Pronounce 'Missouri' as 'Missour-uh' to sound like a local.
Try a corn dog at the Missouri State Fair—it's a classic.
Get a bike and explore the Katy Trail; it's a local treasure.
Be prepared for hot, humid summers and cold winters.
Truman Lake is a big deal—plan a weekend boating or fishing trip.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Nearby

Every area

WarrensburgMissouriWhere the prairie meets the sky MarshallMissouriA welcoming community in the heart of Missouri Truman LakeMissouriWhere the lake is the heart of every day ClintonMissouriWhere the prairie meets the lake.Lake of the OzarksMissouriWhere the hills meet the water.ColumbiaMissouriFriendly, lively, and full of tiger pride.Jefferson CityMissouriMissouri's riverfront capital, where the heart of the state beats.MoberlyMissouriSmall-town charm, big-hearted people.

Sedalia, MO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.