Christmas in Missouri? (Springfield, Rolla, Fort Leonard Wood: sale, new house, live)

[neverwinter2]

Hi guys... I was here a few months ago asking about information on the areas surrounding Fort Leonard Wood, as my husband (Army officer) and I will be relocating. Our new home is in St. Robert. Thanks for all the responses and info you provided - we visited the area, found a new home, and we're looking forward to moving.

Here's my problem: due to Army scheduling () we are driving out to our new home Christmas week - arriving 2-3 days before Christmas. With the way Army transportation works, we will not receive our household goods shipment until after the holidays. So, faced with a basically empty new house for the holidays, a few questions:

- What kind of weather should we be expecting? I want to make sure we pack sufficiently warm clothes to be out and about, since most of our stuff will be packed and unavailable.

- Are there any fun "must do" Christmas or New Year's events/festivals/celebrations/etc? Any towns in the area do a tree lighting or anything that would be good? Our little house will not be very holiday-appropriate so I am looking for anything we can do to enjoy and celebrate the holiday... Last year, my husband was deployed and did not really get to celebrate Christmas so I was looking forward to having a nice Christmas at home for him...

We do have family in Springfield and Bolivar to spend Christmas day with, but need to return home to take care of pets, so we can't just stay with them the whole time. Any ideas on how to make this a fun and memorable holiday would be great - thanks in advance!

[BethP]

Welcome to Missouri (soon)! I live up the road from St. Robert, in Rolla. Around Christmastime we usually have daytime highs in the 40s, nighttime lows in the 20s and don't have snow, but we've had plenty of years that it was below freezing even in the daytime and there was snow or ice on the ground. We've also had years that it was warm and in the 70s. So with that said, you'll probably want to have your winter coat with you, just in case we have a cold snap. A couple of sweaters, some lighter-weight long-sleeve shirts, a jacket, and a couple of short-sleeved shirts would probably be a good mix of clothing to get you through a couple of weeks in MO.

As far as activities go, I don't know what they have in St. Robert. I would recommend visiting the websites for the St. Robert/Waynesville newspaper and Chamber of Commerce over the next few weeks to see what might get posted. The few things I can think of that we have in Rolla will be over by the time you get here...the parade is Dec. 5, as well as several other activities that day, and the Lion's Club "Christmas in the Park" holiday light display is in mid-December. Maybe someone else who is more familiar with St. Robert will be able to help out with this information. If all else fails, you can always just drive around the residential areas and look at the lights and yard displays that the other residents have put up.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by neverwinter2

Here's my problem: due to Army scheduling () we are driving out to our new home Christmas week - arriving 2-3 days before Christmas.

Beth's advice is on the nose. Have your winter coats ready just in case.

By the week before Christmas all the community activities are long over and folks are focusing on their families. You said earlier that you have extended family in Springfield and Bolivar; any chance of getting together with them?

Too bad you can't get here in time for Ozark Christmas. It's lots of fun. Tickets are on sale now. They're going to have a bluegrass ballet (amongst much other stuff on stage). I'll bet you've never seen one of those.

[luzianne]

No telling what the weather will be like. If it were me, I'd wear jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt and take along a sweatshirt or jacket and a winter coat. It could be 60s and sunny or it could be 10 degrees and snowing.

[neverwinter2]

Thank you all for the advice - sounds like the weather will be similar to our current location (meaning - anything is possible!) That will help a lot when we decide what to bring with us as opposed to packing.

I'll start looking at the websites and things you all suggested. Ozarks Boy - nope, never seen a bluegrass ballet... although now that you have mentioned it, I am intrigued!

We will be spending Christmas Day with family but can't take the cat and dog there, so we'll need to be home each night. I will check out the suggestions for holiday stuff closer to our new town... Last Christmas we were in Texas and the holiday is a bit different down there - not too many people do lights or outside decorations. Forgot all about those! :-)

[lifelongMOgal]

Maybe this calender of events will help?
Missouri Events and Calendar - Missouri Life Magazine