• Neosho's Dogwood Tour Returns: A Tradition Rooted in Beauty and Community

Neosho's Dogwood Tour Returns: A Tradition Rooted in Beauty and Community
NEOSHO, MO — April 7, 2025 — The City of Neosho proudly kicks off the 2025 Dogwood Tour this week, inviting locals and visitors alike to explore the blooming beauty of Missouri’s official state tree. This free, self-guided driving or walking tour showcases the stunning white and pink dogwoods that line the hills, neighborhoods, and parks of Neosho — a sight that has drawn visitors for generations.
🌸 A Tradition Since 1961
First organized by the Neosho Rotary Club, the Dogwood Tour has become one of the community’s most beloved traditions. But the story of Neosho’s dogwoods began even earlier.
In 1946, Hazel Warden formed a Campfire Girls group that began selling dogwood trees for just a dime each as a fundraiser and community service project. The top seller was crowned Dogwood Queen, and the girls planted many of the trees themselves in and around the Central School neighborhood. Their names live on, etched into engraved bricks around a redbud tree at Big Spring Park, a testament to their lasting impact on our town's landscape and spirit.
🌿 BONUS SPRING EVENTS – Celebrate in Full Bloom
🎣 Neosho National Fish Hatchery Open House – Sunday, April 13, 2025 | 9 AM – 2 PM
Start your Dogwood Tour week with a visit to the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, America’s oldest federal fish hatchery. Their Open House is a family favorite filled with outdoor fun and conservation education.
📍 520 Park Street, Neosho
🎶 Live music
🌭 Free hot dog lunch
🎨 Chalk art & fire trucks
🌿 Booths on pollinators, habitat restoration, native trees & outdoor skills
💯 All activities are FREE and open to the public

info@neoshocc.com