All Entries Tagged With: "festivals"
Valley of Flowers Festival celebrates 50 years
Here's me and my Rambler in the 2010 Valley of Flowers parade, with Stonehenge on the roof. Just wait 'til you see what's in store for 2012!
Several readers have asked me if I plan to participate in the Valley of Flowers parade again this year, and my answer has always been the same: Let’s wait and see what the theme is. Well, the theme has been announced – Valley of Flowers Celebrates 50 Years of Festivals – and I can’t tell you how excited I am!
Why? Because the event committee is letting parade participants choose from all the previous themes of the past 39 years!
Valley of Flowers has actually been celebrated every year since 1963, making this the 50th anniversary, but themes weren’t introduced until 1973. So check out this list of gems to choose from. I have it narrowed down to two for my parade entry, but how about you? What creative masterpiece can you dream up?
- 1973 That Wonderful Year -
Remember? - 1974 Happiness Is…..
- 1975 Freedom
- 1976 1776, A Past to Remember, A Future to Mold
- 1977 Love is…..
- 1978 Florissant Sings
- 1979 A Child’s World
- 1980 Family Life in Florissant
- 1981 Friendship
- 1982 Festival of Nations
- 1983 Mother’s Day in Florissant
- 1984 Where Rivers Meet
- 1985 Florissant Salutes International Youth
- 1986 Florissant Celebrates 200 Years
- 1987 Silver Jubilee
- 1988 Mothers are Special
- 1989 Holidays in Florissant
- 1990 Wake Up to Missouri, Wake Up to Florissant
- 1991 My Favorite Book
- 1992 Florissant Travels Around the World
- 1993 Famous Mothers -
Real or Fiction - 1994 Florissant Salutes Competitive Sports
- 1995 America the Beautiful
- 1996 Florissant…Past, Present and Future
- 1997 Valley of Flowers…35 Years and Still Growing
- 1998 My Favorite Nursery Rhyme
- 1999 Florissant Salutes the 1900’s
- 2000 Valley of Flowers Celebrates 2000
- 2001 Favorite Cartoon Characters
- 2002 Valley of Flowers Festival Celebrates Its 40th Year
- 2003 Florissant Salutes America’s Heroes
- 2004 Valley of Flowers Celebrates the Lewis & Clark Expedition
- 2005 A Dream Vacation
- 2006 My Favorite Decade
- 2007 My Favorite State
- 2009 Florissant Goes to the Movies
- 2010 Florissant Salutes Landmarks of the World
- 2011 Valley of Flowers Mothers Love…..
If you want to register for the parade, which takes place Sunday, May 6, you have until April 6 to get your application in. The online form is right here. You can also call (314) 837-0033 for more info.
Personally, I’d love to see some really fun entries this year. With so many options, we have no excuses. And besides, happiness really is a motorized sofa, right?
Despite the cold, Northern Lights draws a crowd
Hundreds of onlookers lined the sidewalks along Florissant Road last night for Ferguson's annual Lighted Holiday Parade.
Well, at least it didn’t rain. Much. But it was still a pretty cold evening for Ferguson’s Northern Lights festival. Crowds grew steadily all afternoon, until the fairgrounds were finally buzzing with activity right before parade time. In case you couldn’t make it, here’s what you missed…
Holiday fun lights up NoCo this weekend
Happy Thanksgiving, NOCO fans! Today is the day to be extra thankful for all the blessings in your life, including this wonderful community of ours!
North County offers up lots of beautiful eye candy throughout the seasons, but I have to say, it’s especially dazzling during the holidays. Driving up Florissant Road, with lights twinkling on nearly every building and pole, I’m reminded of all the reasons I love Ferguson. Our history, our architecture, our community spirit….it all comes into focus this time of year, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
That’s why I’m delighted to share news about this weekend’s local holiday festivities, where you can get out and mingle with your neighbors….
In Ferguson, Northern Lights returns on Sunday, November 27, with a full lineup of fun things to see and do. Dress warm and bring your camera for this annual outdoor celebration, which features live music, free cookies and hot chocolate, a market full of great vendors, and Ferguson’s famed Holiday Light Parade.
Northern Lights takes place at 20 S. Florissant Road (the farmers market lot) and runs from 2-7pm.
Also happening Sunday, just up the street from Northern Lights, is a new event from the Northern Arts Council. Called “NAC at the Corner,” this gathering of local artists offers fine arts and crafts for purchase, hands-on activities for families, and still more live music and entertainment. It runs from 2-6pm at the Corner Coffee House, 100 N. Florissant Road, and like Northern Lights, admission is free.
Around the same time, the city of Florissant is hosting its own holiday event: the return of the Green Line Tour, a free bus ride showcasing 40 of Old Town’s finest historical buildings. Originally launched in 1965 by Florissant’s Business and Professional Women’s Club, the tour is being revived by Historic Florissant, Inc and the Landmark Historic District Commission, and it literally follows a painted green line on area streets.
If you’re interested in riding along, it’s probably a good idea to reserve your seat. Four 30-minute tours are available – at 1:15pm, 2pm, 2:45pm and 3:30pm – and they all depart from the historic Gittemeier House, 1067 Dunn Road. For more information about the free Green Line Tour, or to make a reservation, call Historic Florissant at (314) 921-7055.
Florissant celebrates 225th anniversary as a city
All are welcome at St. Ferdinand Shrine this Friday, where the city of Florissant is hosting a 225th anniversary celebration.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe, but the city of Florissant was actually founded in 1786, just ten years after the birth of the United States. Originally named “St. Ferdinand” in honor of Spain’s King Ferdinand III, the town was dubbed “Fleurissant” (or “blooming”) by its early French settlers and remained a largely French-speaking area throughout the 19th century.
Today, of course, Florissant is one of the largest municipalities in St. Louis and continues to be a strong anchor for the North County community. That’s why it’s such great news that the city is celebrating its 225th anniversary!
This Friday, November 18, the St. Ferdinand Shrine is hosting a public birthday party for Florissant, and all are invited. It also happens to be the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (the French nun who founded Florissant’s first school), so the event will have a decidedly Catholic feel, but people of all faiths are welcome to attend.
Here’s the schedule of activities:
4-10pm Fish fry with clam chowder, beer & soda, courtesy of the Duchesne Knights of Columbus
5-10pm French wine tastings from Hendel’s and the Shrine Foundation
5-10pm Birthday cake with coffee and cocoa in the school house
4-7pm and 8-10pm Live music from Dan the Piano Man, also violin and cello in the museum
6pm Walk of Fame plaque dedication for Father Pierre Jean DeSmet & St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
7pm Mass in honor of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Parking will be available on the Knights of Columbus grounds at Washington & St. Charles. The St. Ferdinand Shrine is located at #1 rue St. Francois, 63031. Admission to the anniversary celebration is free.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K