Located around the Dunklin County Courthouse in Kennett, Just a Small Town Christmas converts the city's square into a scene from a Hallmark movie with artificial snow, an ice skating rink, carriage rides, food trucks, a festival of trees and a long list of vendors offering holiday treats.
The flatlands of Southeast Missouri have long been recognized as prime ground for cotton and rice, and with landowners flooding their fields during the winter, the area has also become a waterfowl hunting paradise.
The Little River Drainage District, featuring more than 1,000 miles of channels cut deep into the earth in the early-20th century, converted the swamps of Southeast Missouri into fertile farmland. It has been said that more dirt was moved for this project than was moved during the construction of the Panama Canal.
“Visiting Grammy” takes on a new meaning in Kennett, hometown of nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow. This one-of-a-kind rock star, with a classical music degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, has performed all over the world, but she has never forgotten her hometown. Fans can even soak up the sun at the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center that she helped finance and where she performed a grand-opening concert alongside her dad’s band.
Nothing quenches the summertime heat better than a watermelon. While Missouri ranks seventh in watermelon production in the United States, Dunklin County produces more melons than the state’s other 113 counties combined.
Cotton is king in Kennett, and it’s the fabric of life in Missouri’s delta. The rich soil of Dunklin County makes it the state’s top cotton producer—and ranks it 10th nationally in the number of cotton bales harvested.
A massive drainage effort dating back to the late-19th century and continuing on through The Great Depression turned original swamplands into some of the most fertile farm fields in the entire state of Missouri and created the nation's largest drainage district.
While agriculture is the fabric of life in Kennett, the fields lined with cotton, rice, watermelons, peanuts, and other traditional crops are just a small portion of what makes this area unique.
The water here may be magical as the area is famous for another export: our music. Kennett is hometown to Grammy Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow, celebrated country artists David Nail and Trent Tomlinson, and operatic tenor soloist Limmie Pulliam. Their talents grew from a long-standing local musical tradition that remains vibrant today, thriving in Kennett's schools, churches and homes up and down the block.
December 10
5-9 p.m.
Located around the Dunklin County Courthouse on the Kennett square, the festival features an ice-skating rink and snow-tubing hill enhanced by artificial snow that is pumped into the air by machines located on top of the courthouse. Horse-drawn wagon rides carry passengers around a three-block area to view decorations and the memorial tree park. Camels, donkeys, shepherds and wisemen bring to the life the Nativity on the lawn of First Presbyterian Church where a re-enactment of the first Christmas story takes place every half hour. An ugly sweater contest, dog show, Christmas tree decorating contest, free games for kids and hot chocolate and other seasonal refreshments add to the excitement of the evening.
Kids can also share their wish lists with and have their pictures taken with Santa, who is joined by Mrs. Claus and a reindeer.
1601 First Street
Kennett, Missouri 63857
(573) 888-5828 • Contact Us
