3 outdoor events planned for Labor Day weekend

Russ Burns aims for the chains at the conclusion of the ninth annual Jefferson City Disc Golf Open on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 at Binder Park.
Russ Burns aims for the chains at the conclusion of the ninth annual Jefferson City Disc Golf Open on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 at Binder Park.

Jefferson City residents won't lack things to do this Labor Day weekend.

Although it's not happening on its namesake weekend, Jefferson City's annual Labor Day Parade is set for 11 a.m.-noon Sept. 9. The parade will begin at High Street and Broadway Street, then head east on High to Adams Street, north on Adams to East Capitol Avenue, go west on East Capitol and end at West Main Street and Missouri Boulevard.

Here's a look at what's happening this holiday weekend.

Missouri State Horseshoe Pitching Championships

For the second year in a row, Jefferson City is host to the Missouri State Horseshoe Pitching Championships.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, throwers will be at Washington Park looking for ringers on a higher level. The tournament will take place through Monday.

The Missouri Horseshoe Pitching Association is the largest charter in the National Horseshoe Pitching Association and has the largest sanctioned club in the United States. The state tournament will have doubles and singles competitions.

MOHPA President Ron Highley said they expect 160 pitchers from all over the state.

"This weekend's tournament will feature competitors as young as 7 and as old as 90," he said. "You are really not ever too young or too old, as long as you can throw a horseshoe."

The tournament continues with competitions Saturday starting at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. More pitching takes place starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, and the champions will compete at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and at 9 a.m. Monday to wrap up the tournament.

Highley said they expect almost all, if not all, members of the Capital City Horseshoe Club will participate.

Prison Break

The sixth annual Prison Break Race at the old Missouri State Penitentiary takes place Saturday. Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau officials said there is still time to register for the event.

Racers begin by emerging from the 180-year-old prison's dungeon, sprint through Housing Unit 4, and set out on a course more than 5 miles in length - designed to make runners feel they are actually making a break from prison.

The course features hilly terrain combined with several obstacles. At each obstacle, participants will be given maps and directions for where and why to scale a fence or trudge through a mud pit.

The Prison Break is scheduled 9-11 a.m., and the first runners could complete the course within an hour.

Recommended viewing for spectators is at 115 Lafayette St., from the Optimist Sports Complex south of Ellis-Porter Riverside Park, and at the finish line on Ash Street.

Participants must be 18 years or older. Online registration will continue at jcprisonbreak.com until 5 p.m. Friday, and people can register 7:30-8:30 a.m. the day of the race with cash or check at the prison entrance on Lafayette Street.

Jefferson City Disc Golf Open

The 10th annual Jefferson City Disc Golf Open will take place Saturday and Sunday at Binder Park.

Last year, there were 93 competitors. This year, organizers hope to do better. Several participants are coming from out of state.

The tournament includes three courses - one in Holts Summit and the Joseph C. Miller and Binder Lake courses at Binder Park.

The game shares many similarities to golf. Players use different discs for different purposes. Some fly farther, while some are more stable for up-close accuracy. A throw off the tee pad is a "drive," and close-up tosses are "putts." A hole in one is called an "ace."

The goal is to throw the disc in the basket, which has chains above it to stop the discs.

Professional players will be at the Joseph C. Miller course Saturday morning and in Holts Summit in the afternoon. Amateur players will be at Binder Lake then Joseph C. Miller. On Sunday, the pros will be at Binder Lake and amateurs at Holts Summit.

Online registration is available until midnight today at discgolfscene.com. On-site registration will be 8-9 a.m. Saturday.

Competitions start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and at 10 a.m. Sunday.