The Union Festival of the Little Hills offers a weekend blend of outdoor adventure, local culture, and scenic discovery in Union, Missouri. Rooted in the natural charm of the Ozark foothills, this festival invites visitors to experience the rugged beauty of forest trails, crystalline rivers, and rolling hills that push you to explore with your senses and stride.

The festival spans several days and features guided hikes, artisan markets, craft brews, and live music set against a backdrop that challenges and rewards equally. The terrain surrounding Union ranges from gentle forested inclines to more spirited climbs—expect trail distances between 3 to 7 miles, with elevation gains around 400 feet depending on the route you choose. Trails weave through dense hardwood forests where the trees seem to lean in, daring you onward, while creek beds murmur steady encouragement as you pass.

Planning for the festival means gearing up realistically: sturdy, broken-in hiking shoes to handle rocky stretches; a hydration pack or bottles, as water stations may be spaced out along less trafficked paths; and timing your ascent to avoid midday heat, especially in late summer. The festival’s main hiking events start early in the morning, a practical choice to catch cooler temperatures and clearer views across the hills.

Besides hiking, the festival offers educational workshops on local flora and fauna, allowing you to understand the landscape’s fierce independence—a wooded environment both delicate and determined. Keep an eye out for native wildlife like white-tailed deer and bright flashes of the Missouri state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, which adds bursts of color to the green canopy.

For visitors seeking more, the festival’s artisan market showcases regional crafts and foods that celebrate Union’s cultural fabric. It’s a chance to engage with the community sustaining this land, transforming rugged adventure into a full experience of place.

Whether you’re a casual hiker or a seasoned outdoor devotee, the Union Festival of the Little Hills strikes a balance: its trails are inviting yet demand respect, its environment alive and unyielding. This is an adventure fueled by the urge to move, notice, and connect.

Practical information: plan to spend a full day if you want to take part in multiple hikes and events. Pack layered clothing to adjust to shifting temperatures, and bring a camera or smartphone to capture the moments when the light slices through the leaves and the hills roll beyond to promise more discovery.