Columbia’s Stephens Lake Park

Popular Roots N Blues expected to draw thousands to Columbia; expect heavy traffic near Stephens Lake park

October 7, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Country legend Tanya Tucker will be performing on October 7, 2022 at Columbia’s Stephens Lake Park during Roots N Blues (photo courtesy of Tanya Tucker’s website)

Thousands of visitors are expected to be in Columbia for this weekend’s Roots N Blues festival.

It opens this afternoon at Stephens Lake park near Broadway and Old Highway 63. Gates will open today at 4 pm, and they’ll open Saturday and Sunday at noon.

Festival organizers are encouraging you to utilize the free festival shuttles, which will be running round trips to and from downtown. Shuttles will take you from downtown garages directly to festival gates. Parking in those garages is free after 6 this evening and all day tomorrow and Sunday.

Expect heavy traffic for the next three days around Stephens Lake park.

The music lineup is strong, and a big crowd is expected to hear country legend Tanya Tucker tonight. She’s won two CMAs, two ACMs and three CMT awards. Her hits over the years have included “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane.” She’ll perform at 7:15 on the MU Health Care stage.

Festival organizers say the Roots N Blues festival experienced a “complete halt in revenue” due to the COVID pandemic, and that this weekend presents the opportunity to safely return to Stephens Lake Park. A non-profit known as Friends of the Festival has been formed to sustain Roots N Blues in the future.

Two dangerous trees removed from popular Columbia park, before Roots N Blues; two more to be cut down

October 4, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia Parks and Recreation Department staff says this tree at Stephens Lake park is dead and requires removal to eliminate any concerns relating to park patron safety (September 2022 photo from Columbia Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Tammy Miller)

With several thousand people expected in Columbia’s popular Stephens Lake park this weekend for the Roots N Blues festival, park officials say two dangerous trees in the park have been removed.

Columbia Parks and Recreation officials briefed the city council on Monday evening, saying the trees “presented an imminent danger to the public.” The trees were located near the Riechmann pavilion and in the event area for Roots N Blues.

Parks and Recreation also plans to remove two additional trees from Stephens Lake park, saying they’re a potential hazard to park users. Parks officials say those two trees present moderate to high risk to public safety, and that there is the potential for falling branches. One tree is 40 feet tall, while the other is 56 feet tall.

Forestry staff tells the council they plan to remove the dead trees this fall or winter.

Columbia to offer free shuttles to Fire in the Sky

July 1, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Organizers from Columbia’s 70th annual Fire in the Sky event on Monday are urging you to not bring alcohol to the fireworks display. Officials emphasize that it’s a family-friendly event at Stephens Lake park on Broadway: they want you bring blankets and lawn chairs and celebrate with the community. Food trucks will open Monday evening …

Boone Hospital to offer parking for Columbia’s Fire in the Sky

June 21, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia’s 70th annual Fourth of July fire in the sky celebration will take place at Stephens Lake park. The Columbia Police and Fire departments both recommended Stephens Lake park, for the location. Kids’ activities and craft begin that evening at 6 and the fireworks start that night at 9:15, from the park’s east side. Columbia …

Columbia Police and Fire recommend Stephens Lake Park for Fire in the Sky event

May 3, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

It looks like Columbia’s popular Fire in the Sky event on the fourth of July will take place at Stephens Lake park, which is near Broadway and Old Highway 63. Columbia Parks and Recreation acting director Gabe Huffington says Fire in the Sky is looking for a permanent home. “And right now we have had …