All Entries Tagged With: "dog-friendly"
WOOF! Hazelwood Harvestfest goes to the dogs…
On the schedule for this year's Hazelwood Harvestfest: four amazing canine agility shows from the national touring Purina Incredible Dog Team
In 2010, the city of Hazelwood’s annual Harvestfest went green, celebrating the joys of our beautiful planet Earth. I happened to think that was pretty cool, and I was really looking forward to hearing what this year’s theme might be. Imagine my delight then, after just finishing a six-week agility class with my mutt/superstar, Butchy, to learn that the 2011 theme is DOGS! Or should I say… “Tribute to Man’s Best Friend.”
That’s right, Hazelwood is going “paw up” on September 10, hosting a full day of family activities that honor the loyal animals who often love us more than we love ourselves. The highlight of the festival, which takes place at Howdershell Park, is a visit from the Purina Incredible Dog Team, a phenomenal group of 30 shelter-rescue dogs and eight trainers who perform all over the country.
I’ve seen these guys in action – they are awesome! You’ll have four chances to watch them at Harvestfest: 11:30am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm on September 10.
And here’s what else you can see and do at the festival, courtesy of Hazelwood’s Tim Davidson…
Harvestfest Parade
As in years past, Hazelwood’s 2011 Harvestfest will begin with a lively parade that begins at Hazelwood City Hall, 415 Elm Grove Lane, at 9 a.m. The best viewing areas for the parade can be found along Town and Country, Holiday, Imperial and Village Square Drives.
Groups and organizations are invited to participate in the parade by decorating floats and automobiles that represent this year’s event theme. In fact, designers of the preschoolers’ float have made plans to throw dog collar bracelets to the crowds of spectators along the street. Five cash prizes will be awarded to the best decorated/themed parade unit.
Music will be performed by the John Ford Highland Pipe Band and the Hazelwood West High School “Marching Wildcats.” After the parade ends, the bagpipers will roam around the park and play mini-concerts for the fair goers.
Miss Hazelwood Coronation
At 10:30 a.m., the reigning 2010 Miss Hazelwood, Nikki Napolitano, will host this year’s coronation ceremony on the stage of the St. Louis County Bandwagon located by the Howdershell Park tennis courts. To qualify as a participant, contestants must be young women between the ages of 15 and 19, as well as residents of Hazelwood. A $500 scholarship and other prizes will be awarded to the new queen.
Children’s Activities
The Children’s Activity Area will feature an inflatable obstacle course, a giant dual slide, and a Jurassic Zoo Play area for younger kids. An arts and crafts section will be set up inside the tennis courts where youngsters can get a stuffed, white autograph dog. They can color it with markers or use decorations.
For the early birds, a Petting Zoo will be available for the children’s entertainment between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Free pony rides will be offered to kids from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, the Home Run Derby for kids age 7-12 begins at 11 a.m.
Another attraction added this year helps to promote and conserve the tradition of hunting. The St. Louis Gateway Arch Chapter of Safari Club International is bringing its 28-foot trailer that showcases 50 mounts of wild animals for people to see up close and touch. Kids can even have their picture taken standing next to a stuffed grizzly bear.
Horseshoe Tournaments
Two tournaments will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the horseshoe pits at the park. The format will involve random draw partnering. Registration for both events will begin a half-hour early. Admission is free and open to people of all ages. Trophies will be awarded to the top finishers.
Bingo Sessions
The Hazelnuts will carry on the tradition of sponsoring two Bingo sessions at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. underneath the new park pavilion. Anyone can play. Gift cards, small household items and snacks will be given away as prizes.
Musical Entertainment
The headline band for this year is NONSTOP ROCK, which delivers a 9-piece Classic Rock experience performed by some of St. Louis’ best musicians. According to La•De•Da Entertainment, NONSTOP is the Top Shelf Classic Rock Band in St. Louis. This group will perform from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the stage of the St. Louis County Bandwagon. NONSTOP features the music of Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Blues Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and Aretha Franklin. It also plays the popular hits of Motown, R&B, Southern Rock, Funk, Blues, and Jazz which elevates their “live” performance to a whole new level of entertainment.
ALL DAY ACTIVITIES
Used Book Sale
At Harvestfest, the Hazelwood Community Enrichment Commission plans to host its annual Used Book Sale under a big tent. Fair goers can browse through hundreds of donated books in good condition and purchase them at a discount price. All proceeds will be used to purchase newspaper and magazine subscriptions for both recreation centers, to support the Commission’s “Reading is Elementary Program” and to provide resources for the Garden Club.
Arts & Crafts Show / Information Booths
An Arts and Crafts Show will be ongoing on the north side of the park. Also, an area will be set up for local companies to promote their products and services, as well as for charity groups to raise money with game or food booths. To reserve a booth space for any of these activities, call the Parks and Recreation Office at (314) 731-0980.
City Services Tent
Since they were so popular last year, the Parks and Recreation staff will be giving away grocery bags with Hazelwood’s “H” logo printed on them. Other items such as Frisbees, plastic bags used for pooper scoopers, and dog biscuits will be distributed as well. The City Services tent will also be the collection site for retired American flags. Residents with faded or tattered flags can bring them to the tent throughout the day. The collected flags will be given to the VFW for a proper disposal ceremony.
Hazelwood Harvestfest will take place Saturday, September 10, 9am-6pm at Howdershell Park, 6800 Howdershell Road, 63042. Admission is free.
The Gardens of NoCo: Imperial Crown
Down this pathway lies one of North County's most peaceful gardens...
With all of this snow, I figured you might need a little warming up, NOCO fans. And what better way to catch some sunshine than to take a stroll through a garden? I haven’t done a Gardens of NoCo story for quite some time, and I suspect you’ll find this installment a bit surprising, maybe even odd. But I also hope you’ll see the beauty in this unique place, which truly is one of my favorite “secret” spots in North County.
If you’ve driven down Lindbergh near the Florissant Dierberg’s, you’ve probably passed right by and not even noticed. But tucked away (almost invisibly) behind a battery store and an apartment complex, you’ll find the beckoning pathway and towering trees of Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery, the oldest pet cemetery in St. Louis.
Founded by veterinarian Charles Bauer in 1924, Imperial Crown sprawls over 2.6 lush acres and would be an impressive garden in its own right. But add in the fact that more than 10,000 dogs, cats, gerbils, birds and other family pets have been lovingly put to rest here, often with very touching monuments, and the beautiful heart energy of this special haven is impossible to deny.
The city of Florissant recognized that in 2002, when the cemetery was designated a historic landmark and given irrevocable protected status. I discovered it a few years later, following the death of my cat Bailey, who became one of many cherished pets my family has buried at Imperial Crown since the 1960s.
I’ve visited here countless times since then, often when I’m feeling down, and I have to say….the sense of pure LOVE emanating from this magical woodland never fails to cheer me up. On this cold winter evening, here’s hoping it brings you joy as well…
Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery is located at 115 N. Hwy 67, 63031. It is open for visitors every day of the year.
Fall Photo Essay: Fort Belle Fontaine
Hiking trails, river views and a wealth of history - you'll find all that and more at one of North County's finest parks, Fort Belle Fontaine
These days, I get a lot of emails asking for my “best of North County” list. Apparently more and more St. Louisans are eager to explore NoCo, which is fabulous, but they’re worried about missing the really good stuff. You know, like Fort Belle Fontaine.
I’ve loved this exquisite county park since I was a kid, when I would hike there along the banks of Coldwater Creek. Today it remains one of my very favorite places in North County, so much so that I’m almost hesitant to write about it.
I love the rich history of Fort Belle, the natural beauty, the “haunting” atmosphere. I also relish the fact that I’m usually the only one there. But hey, if you’re looking for a true NoCo gem (and you promise not to visit on Friday mornings), this 305-acre park with wetlands, prairies, architectural treasures and a three-mile rustic trail definitely fits the bill.
Here’s a fun look at Fort Belle Fontaine, courtesy of my talented husband, Keith Howard…
Fort Belle Fontaine is located at 13002 Bellefontaine Road, 63138. Hours are 8am to 30 minutes past sunset. After signing in at the gate, I recommend proceeding to the Grand Staircase and then hiking the area below the bluff. Go left at the bottom of the staircase to see the WPA structures and Coldwater Creek.
Celebrate Nature at the Watershed Festival on September 25
Come explore one of North County's hidden gems! The Watershed Festival returns to Little Creek Nature Area this Saturday, 10am to 3pm.
Unless you know a Boy Scout or someone in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, there’s a good chance you’ve never even heard of Little Creek Nature Area…and yet it’s probably one of the coolest places in North County. An “outdoor classroom” sprawling over 96 acres of forests, prairies and farmland, this school district-owned educational center has offered hands-on learning in ecology, biology and environmental science since 1974 and now welcomes more than 12,000 students every year.
Tucked away on Dunn Road in unincorporated NoCo, Little Creek is actually open to the public every weekday, free of charge, but from what I can tell, many local residents don’t even know it exists. What a shame! Talk about a great place to take a peaceful hike…there are five trails to choose from! You can also see a working farm, a butterfly garden, an arboretum, a restored prairie, a museum and a 19th-century log cabin. And if you visit this Saturday, you can participate in Little Creek’s second annual Watershed Festival!
Meant to raise public awareness about “the many ways we can enjoy, conserve and protect nature’s most precious resource – water,” the event will feature interactive displays, indoor and outdoor “sensory tables,” arts and crafts, puppets, live animals, fun exhibits and hands-on activities, and 20 local environmental organizations hosting games and prizes. Exhibitors include Missouri American Water, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, World Bird Sanctuary, Butterfly House, Saint Louis Zoo, Audubon Society of Missouri and Missouri Department of Conservation, among others.
“The Watershed Festival gives us a unique opportunity to share all that Little Creek has to offer with the community,” says Eric Hadley, Science and Little Creek Coordinator for the Ferguson-Florissant School District. “Most people wouldn’t expect to find a ‘natural treasure chest’ in the middle of a bustling city, but here we are. We have winding creeks and beautiful ponds. We have farm, prairie and forest land. We are the home to countless living creatures…You can’t help but feel a sense of peace, calm and connection with the earth when you visit. Everything at Little Creek points to nature.”
Amen, brother. And did I mention it’s free?! Come to the festival this Saturday and you’ll also get to see the newly unveiled Raccoon Bridge and a six-foot metal Heron statue made by local artist Luke Schroeder!
Little Creek Nature Area’s Second Annual Watershed Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, 10am – 3pm, @ 2295 Dunn Road, 63033. Rain or shine. Parking is available at McCluer High School’s M4 lot (off of Elizabeth Avenue). Shuttles will run from here every 15 minutes beginning at 9:45 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. Parking at Little Creek is limited to those with handicapped license plates or hang tags.
The public is also free to explore Little Creek from 9am to 4 pm every Monday through Friday, but groups of five or more should check in at the office. For more info, call (314) 831-7386.
