Sikeston
Around Sikeston
Illustration made for Popchat
Town and around · Missouri · 49k people
Sikeston
Locals say Bootheel · “City of Legends”
Where the river meets the fields and the rolls fly.
cardinal redblack
Welcome to the Bootheel, where the Mississippi shapes our days and the cotton fields stretch to the horizon. Come for the throwed rolls, stay for the river sunsets and the friendly small-town vibe.
Clubs for Sikeston
No clubs for Sikeston yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Sikeston. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA 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 Sikeston. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Sikeston Depot Restored historic train depot, now a museum and visitor center.
- Bootheel Youth Museum Children's museum with interactive science and art exhibits.
- Big Oak Tree State Park Bottomland hardwood forest with boardwalk trails and wildlife viewing.
- New Madrid Historical Museum Local history including the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes.
- Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds Hosts the annual PRCA rodeo and other events.
- Lambert's Cafe Iconic restaurant known for throwed rolls.
- Outdoors Fishing on the Mississippi
- Outdoors Hiking at Big Oak Tree State Park
- With kids Visit the Bootheel Youth Museum
- With kids Attend the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo
- Evenings Live music at local bars
- Evenings Dancing at a country bar
- Locals love Rodeo arenas
- Locals love Catfish restaurants
Through the year
- Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo August PRCA rodeo with parades and carnival.
- New Madrid River Days Summer Riverfront festival with music, food, and fireworks.
- Sikeston Cotton Festival Fall Celebrates the cotton harvest with a parade and fair.
Humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are mild and pleasant, ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Bootheel”
- The region's nickname, referring to Missouri's bootheel shape.
- “Throwed”
- As in throwed rolls, a local specialty at Lambert's.
- “The bottoms”
- The low-lying floodplain farmland.
- “River rat”
- Someone who loves the river and spends time on it.
Getaways
- Cape Girardeau Historic river town with a downtown and university.
- Poplar Bluff Gateway to the Ozarks with outdoor recreation.
- Kennett Another Bootheel town with local charm.
- Union City Tennessee town with a historic square.
Local flavour
Teams
- Sikeston Bulls Prospect League
Eat and drink
- Throwed rolls (Lambert's Cafe) Iconic dinner rolls thrown across the room
- Fried catfish Mississippi River staple
- Barbecue pork steak Bootheel specialty
- Mississippi River cuisine Regional comfort food
Where people go
- Rodeo arenas Home of the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo
- Catfish restaurants River-fed dining spots
- Cotton fields Agricultural heart of the Bootheel
- Riverfront parks Access to the Mississippi River
- Small-town diners Classic American eateries
- Historic train depots Reminders of the railroad era
Heritage and traditions
The Bootheel is proud of its deep Southern roots, cotton heritage, and resilience after the New Madrid earthquakes, along with its laid-back small-town charm.
Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — "Fixin' to" – about to do something
Festivals
- Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo August One of the largest rodeos in the country.
- New Madrid River Days July Celebrates the Mississippi River with music and food.
- Sikeston Cotton Festival September Marks the cotton harvest with parades and crafts.
- Charleston Riverfest June Family fun on the river with live music.
- Charleston Dogwood Festival April Celebrates blooming dogwoods with a parade and crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- Hunter-Dawson House A restored 19th-century home in New Madrid.
- Mississippi County Courthouse A stately courthouse in Charleston.
- New Madrid County Courthouse The seat of New Madrid County.
- Sikeston Little Theatre A community theater with a long history.
Food traditions
- Sweet tea A Southern staple, served at every meal.
- Hush puppies Cornmeal fritters served with catfish.
- Pecan pie A Southern dessert common at holidays.
- Biscuits and gravy A hearty breakfast tradition.
- Southern greens Collard or turnip greens, often cooked with ham hock.
Music and arts
- Blues heritage Deep roots from the Mississippi Delta influence.
- Gospel music Strong tradition in local churches.
- Community theater Sikeston Little Theatre productions.
- Quilting A folk art passed down through generations.
A little history
- 1789 Founding of New Madrid
- 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes
- 1862 Battle of Island Number Ten
- 1900s Cotton boom shaped the Bootheel economy
- 1927 Great Mississippi Flood affected the region
- Game day High school football on Friday nights
- Game day Sikeston Bulls
- Outdoors Walking the levee
- Outdoors Exploring the New Madrid seismic zone
- With kids Sikeston Little Theatre
- With kids Hunter-Dawson House
People in the Bootheel speak with a Southern accent, often using "y'all" and "fixin' to." They may pronounce "Missouri" as "Missoura" and use "Coke" for any soda.
Only here
- The Bootheel is the only part of Missouri in the Mississippi Delta region.
- The New Madrid Seismic Zone is a major earthquake fault line.
- The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is one of the largest rodeos in the country.
- Cotton fields dominate the landscape, a rarity in Missouri.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Sikeston' as 'SIGH-kes-ton.'
- Expect hot, humid summers and mild winters.
- Try the catfish and throwed rolls at Lambert's Cafe.
- Understand that cotton is a big part of the local economy.
- Be aware of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, but don't worry—most quakes are minor.
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.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Cape Girardeau area
Nearby
Every areaBootheelMissouriDeep soil, wide skies, and the river's pull.Cape GirardeauMissouriWhere the river meets the heartlandReelfoot LakeTennesseeWhere the cypress meet the water and the fishing is always good.Union CityTennesseeHome of Reelfoot LakeAnnaIllinoisHills, hollows, and hospitalityPoplar BluffMissouriWhere the Ozarks meet the riverKennettMissouriFlat, fertile, and friendlyMayfieldKentuckyWarm welcomes and wide open skies
Sikeston, 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.