Editing Boonville, Missouri (section)

== Recreation ==
Boonville is near the middle of the [[Katy Trail State Park|Katy Trail]], a 225-mile state park enjoyed by cyclists and hikers. [[Missouri-Kansas-Texas Bridge]] in Boonville, which crosses the Missouri near the Isle of Capri Casino and Historic Selwyn Shoe Factory (which has been refurnished as apartments), has been subject of controversy. The Union Pacific Railroad had planned to remove sections of the bridge and reinstall them at Jefferson City, which would sever the route and possibly eliminate the [[railbank]] protections and allow the right of way to revert to adjacent property owners. However, Friends of Historic Boonville and others across the state oppose the idea. Governor [[Jay Nixon]] announced in 2010 that Union Pacific would transfer ownership of the bridge to the City of Boonville.

Annually, Boonville celebrates Boonville Heritage Days. This is a summer weekend event that focuses on heritage. Activities include a parade, craft booths, a carnival and much fun for people of all ages. On the last evening there is a fireworks show.

Other annual events include the Festival of the Leaves, which is held on the last Saturday in September, and The Festival of The Lights, which is held every Thursday night in September. Shops stay open late, and there are booths with food, free stuff, and games. The historic [[Lyric Theater (Boonville, Missouri)|Thespian Hall]], located downtown, is used for concerts, art shows, and plays.

The annual Halloween parade features the award-winning Boonville Silver Pirate Band dressed up in a variety of fanciful maritime costumes.

Twillman Field in Harley Park is also a source of local pride, as it hosts several baseball tournaments every year, including state and regional championships, with ages ranging from 13 to 18. At one time in the late 1980s through 1990s, it was considered by some to be the third best baseball field in the state, trailing only the [[Major League Baseball|Major League]] parks in [[Busch Memorial Stadium|St. Louis]] and [[Kauffman Stadium|Kansas City]].