Centennial schedule of events

These events are open to the public. Events are free unless otherwise noted. A registration package of $200 includes access to all forums plus two meals.

Daily Tours

  • MU campus: Walking tours of the campus will be led by members of the MU Tour Team. Guides are undergraduate students from all over the state of Missouri and throughout the country. The 60-minute tours begin in the Jesse Hall rotunda. Times are 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., 3 and 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fridays.
  • School of Journalism: Self-guided walking tours of the journalism complex will offer historical context as guests stroll through Neff Hall, Neff Annex, Walter Williams Hall, Gannett Hall and Lee Hills Hall. A map is available at the registration desk in Neff Hall.
  • Reynolds Journalism Institute: Tour includes new facilities such as the Futures Lab and Demonstration Center where new ideas for journalism will be tested; the new Frank Lee Martin Journalism Library, the world's largest journalism library; and the new headquarters for the Freedom of Information Coalition and Pictures of the Year International. A map is available at the registration desk in Neff Hall.

WEDNESDAY

10 a.m.: Missouri Press Association Centennial Golf Classic, A.L. Gustin Golf Course. Call 449-4167 to register. $60.

2 p.m.: Walt Whitman documentary, Jesse Auditorium. Filmmaker Mark Zwonitzer, BJ '84, will present his PBS documentary followed by discussion. The event is co-sponsored by the MU Department of English. Free.

6 p.m.: Barbecue Bash, Mizzou Arena. Barbecue by Grand World Champion pitmaster Mike Mills with ribs, smoked pork and chicken, side dishes and vegetarian options. $100.

8 p.m.: "Freedom Sings," Mizzou Arena. "Freedom Sings," a multimedia experience co-hosted by Ken Paulson, BJ '75, with live performances by songwriters and Grammy Award winners, along with video and live narration about the First Amendment and three centuries of banned music. The evening includes a performance of the official Centennial song, "Coming Back Again," by Nashville songwriter Jenn Schott, BJ '97, and adjunct professor Jack Smith, BA '62.

THURSDAY

2 to 4 p.m.: "The Front Page," performance by Columbia's Maplewood Barn Theatre, Missouri Theatre, 203 S. Ninth St. Call 875-0600 for tickets. $8 to $10.

7:30 p.m.: Documentary on Vincent T. Hamlin, former MU student and creator of the long-running comic strip "Alley Oop," Ragtag Cinema, 10 Hitt St.

8:30 p.m.: The Party of the Century, The Blue Note. Son Venezuela, a nine-piece salsa band from Kansas City, headlines the dance party in honor of the Columbia Missourian's 100th anniversary. The event is co-sponsored by the We Always Swing Jazz Series, www.wealwaysswing.org. $10 to $30 with limited table seating.

FRIDAY

6 p.m.: Taste of Missouri, Mizzou Arena. Menu of local and regional products, from artisanal cheeses and local wines to farm-raised meats and seasonal produce. $100.

8 p.m.: "Telling the Story, Fair and True," Mizzou Arena. Premiere performance of the Pictures of the Year showcase of 200 photographs with narration and music. Also, Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko will perform "The Lead Honorarium," a commissioned poem he wrote in honor of the centennial.