Your Game Day Guide

Your Game Day Guide: Columbia, MO

Homefield's Can't Miss Kickoff Tour is hitting the road, but we don't need a map--we've got our Game Day Guide. We asked students, alums, and locals in America's premier college towns to help us plan the perfect campus trip.

[blurb about Colombia/the game]

Before we share our recs for your trip, mark your calendars for Homefield's Can't Miss Kickoff tour stops, nestled in the heart of the action:

9/2 and 9/3: Find Homefield in CoMo
ft. Tour Correspondent Lucy Rohden

Wednesday, Sep. 2: Pop-Up Shop, Powered by Rally House

Harpo's (29 South 10th Street, Columbia, MO 65201)
5 to 9 p.m. CT
Drink specials (21+) and Homefield giveaways!

Thursday, Sep. 3: CoMo To-Go

Forget to pack a game day essential? Want free Homefield goodies? Just want to say hi? Get everything you need for Your Game Day at our CoMo To-Go mobile mercantile.

Campus Bar and Grill (304 S 9th St #100, Columbia, MO 65201)
5-7pm CT
Drink specials (21+) and FREE provisions you might need in-stadium!

When we aren't hosting our tour events, you'll find us out and about, taking in Columbia. The intrepid Homefield IRL team compiled a list of places to eat and things to do--a combination of your collective recommendations. We hope you find it helpful, even if you're a Mizzou alum (after all, you might not have needed family-friendly activities the last time you were on campus, you know?).

Family Activities and Landmarks

The Arcade District. Wander the Arcade District, where you can listen to live music, get a drink, eat some BBQ, check out the record store, and even play games at Witches and Wizards arcade.
Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream. Indulge in a sweet treat and make it your own! Sparky's has rotating flavors, including some made from local favorites.
Burr Oak Tree. For the literal tree-hugger! On a short, 20-minute drive out of town, you can visit a legend that will make you feel small in every way. The Burr Oak Tree is estimated to be over 400 years old and stands at 90 feet tall with a 130-foot spread.
MKT Trail. Get your steps in before game day on the MKT Trail! Explore an 8.9 mile nature and fitness trail built on the old railbed of the MKT railroad that begins in downtown Columbia in Flat Branch Park and ends at the State of Missouri’s Katy Trail State Park. It goes right through campus and can be a great way to fit nature into your trip. Boocher's Travel Tip: For cycling, you can rent bikes from Walts or CycleX in town.

Beloved Bars

Willie's. If you don't have a yellow cup from Willie's, did you even go to Mizzou? Stop by, have some wings, get a beer in a plastic yellow cup, and cheer along with college students and alums alike.
Arch and Column Pub. Arch and Column Pub has a little of everything: Karaoke, cheap and strong drinks, drag shows. Enjoy this locally owned, LGBTQ-focused, community-oriented pub where everyone is welcome.
The Heidelberg. The Berg's been aound since 1963, and even survived a fire that led to a rebuild in 2003. Enjoy the rooftop, occasional live music, fried ravioli, and a pregame beer.
Harpo's Bar and Grill. One of THE college bars in Columbia (and one of our stops on the tour!), opened by a Mizzou alum in 1971. Josh's Tour Tidbit: Fans carried the goal post from Memorial Stadium to Harpo's on October 23, 2010 when Mizzou defeated No. 1 Oklahoma 36-27!
Shakespeare's Pizza. If you know Mizzou, you know Shake's. The Masterpiece pizza was called the best college eats in the nation by ABC News and Good Morning America. Plus, their "Raising Dough" program helps fundraise for a number of organizations and non-profits in the community.

Food and Fare

Booches. A beloved bar, grill, and biliards hall, Booches serves some of the best burgers in the city.
Big Daddy's BBQ. This is BBQ worth the drive! Family-style Creole cooking is a four-minute drive from downtown. Owners Lloyd and Fontella Henry started out in a food trailer in 2014, and have expanded to two storefront locations.
Flyover. Take a break from bar-hopping and make a toast to Mizzou with some of the best craft cocktails in the city and a farm-to-table menu of Midwestern food. Boocher's Travel Tip: Recs for cocktails include the Silver Fox, or any on the Frequent Flyer list.
Barred Owl Butcher and Table. Get a taste for seasonal food at Barred Owl, where locals love the cocktails, cheese boards, and classics like shrimp and grits or pimento cheese.
Glenn's Café. The original Glenn's was a diner located next to a gas station that opened in 1942. While this restaurant kept the sign, it's located in the Tiger Hotel and serves up some of the best brunch and margaritas around.

Coffee Shops