All Entries Tagged With: "fun for the kids"
Santa welcomes BIGFOOT #18 this Saturday
Ho ho ho! The 18th Bigfoot ever created will arrive with Santa this Saturday.
When it comes to monster trucks, there is no bigger name than the original, BIGFOOT. As you might remember from my NOCO article last summer, this ground-breaking custom automotive company got its start right here in NoCo, literally inventing a sport that’s now enjoyed by millions worldwide.
Since the mid-1970s, Bigfoot founder and innovative genius Bob Chandler has worked with his talented team to create 17 distinctive Bigfoot vehicles, each more refined than the last. And now, he’s about to bring some serious Christmas cheer to countless monster truck fans around the globe, as his latest creation, BIGFOOT #18, makes its debut this Saturday.
Boasting an all new body style, chassis and paint scheme, #18 is such a big deal for the folks at Bigfoot that they need Santa Claus himself to oversee the unveiling. This is major event in the monster truck world, and guess what North County? You have a front row seat!
So bring the kids by Bigfoot this Saturday, 10am-1pm, and see what all the fuss is about. You might even get to meet veteran Bigfoot driver and Guinness World Record holder Dan Runte, who’s pretty darn charming for a guy who crushes cars for a living!
Bigfoot 4×4 is located at Lindbergh and 270 off of Utz Lane in Hazelwood. Admission to this event is free.
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.
“Huck Finn” comes to the Flo Valley Theatre
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
“Huck Finn,” by Mark Twain takes the stage at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley’s Terry M. Fischer Theatre at 7 p.m. Nov. 11, and Nov. 12 and 13 at 2 p.m. The campus is located at 3400 Pershall Road in Ferguson.
Huck and his pal Tom Sawyer just can’t stop getting into mischief. And when it turns out to be profitable, Huck’s Pa wants in on the action. So much so that he locks Huck in a shed. Managing to escape the makeshift prison, Huck decides he would be better off floating down the river away from home. Along the way, he comes across Jim, a slave escaped from Huck’s aunt’s place. Opening Huck’s mind to the reality of slavery, the journey downriver with Jim is a real education for Huck. The play is directed by Chris Stevens.
“Huck Finn” was adapted for the stage by Greg Banks. The play is a Florissant Valley Children’s Theatre class production and is produced by special arrangement with Plays for Young Audiences, a partnership of Seattle Children’s Theatre and Children’s Theatre Company – Minneapolis. The Nov. 11 performance will be sign interpreted.
For more information, call 314-513-4488.
Bikes, houses, farmers & stars – Another fun NoCo weekend!
Live Well Ferguson's Twilight Ramble returns for its second year, offering cyclists the chance to tour some of Ferguson's many scenic byways. Photo: flickr/livewellferguson
NOCO fans, I sure hope you’re crossing your fingers for more of this beautiful fall weather, because there’s lots to do in North County this weekend! Which of these fun events are calling your name?
Live Well Ferguson Twilight Ramble – November 6, 3-7pm
In case you haven’t noticed, Ferguson is developing quite a vibrant bicycling community. The Ferguson Cycling Club just hosted a bike-in movie and a ghost tour of Bellefontaine Cemetery. Ferguson’s city employees are now using bikes to get around town. And thanks in large part to the efforts of Live Well Ferguson, the city’s healthy living initiative, we just became the first Missouri town to win national honors as a Playful City USA.
To help celebrate these milestones, Live Well is sponsoring another great two-wheel event: the second annual Twilight Ramble. Scheduled for Sunday, November 6, this casual bike ride through the streets and trails of Ferguson offers three options – 1 mile, 5 miles or 15 miles – all with gorgeous scenery. The event is free and open to all ages, but registration is required and you must wear a helmet. The first 100 participants will receive a free t-shirt. There’s also free food and live music. Plaza @ 501, 501 S. Florissant, 63135
EarthDance Farmers Formal – November 5, 6-11pm
As most of you know, I’m a big fan of EarthDance, the progressive nonprofit that works the land at Missouri’s oldest organic farm, just two blocks away here in Ferguson. EarthDance is a regular at the Ferguson Farmers Market, and has also hosted numerous events in NoCo, including the annual Pesto Festo. But this year, founder Molly Rockamann decided to take a different route.
Pesto Festo, EarthDance’s biggest fundraiser, has now morphed into the Farmers Formal…..a slightly more upscale event that will be held at Washington University’s College Hall (as opposed to the Savoy in Ferguson). Tickets are $75 per person and that includes a full dinner courtesy of Bon Appetit, an open bar with beer, wine and cocktails, silent and live auctions, and live music by the One Take Band and the Bottoms Up Blues Gang. Wear your best farmer duds and get ready to feast on local vegetables, meats and cheeses! You can get your tickets and more info right here.
Catch a glimpse of the Andromeda Galaxy at the UMSL Observatory's free open house this Saturday night.
UMSL Observatory Open House – November 5, 7:30pm
If you haven’t been to UMSL’s observatory yet, you’re truly missing out on one of the coolest attractions in North County. It’s just a simple metal shed sitting just beyond a softball field, but its high-powered telescope offers a brilliant view of the magnificent universe that surrounds us. This month, the observatory will offer viewings of Jupiter, Uranus, the Ring Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as the first-quarter moon. And the best part is, it’s all free! Just walk up and get in line, and if you have any questions about the stars, there will be an expert nearby. For directions and more info, look here. Kids welcome!
Discover Your Dream Home in Ferguson – November 6, 1:30 – 4pm
The real estate market may be down right now, but for many people in a decent financial position, the time has never been better to buy! Deals abound all across the metro area, but here in Ferguson you can really stretch your dollar. So why not learn more about the city’s housing stock at this free one-day event, where you can also hear about financing options and local schools and get a tour of various open houses. My own broker, Pearce Neikirk, will be participating. (Can’t wait to tell you about one of his newest listings tomorrow….)
Carmen Dence & Grupo Atlantico – November 5, 7:30pm
Finally, one last event to talk about….and this one is exotic! As part of UMSL’s upcoming Women in the Arts international conference, the university is hosting a very special performance by Carmen Sofia Dence, a Colombian-American folkloric dancer and choreographer who founded the St. Louis-based dance troupe Grupo Atlantico. Free and open to the public, “Bullerengue” is the name of the program, which celebrates the music and dance of Colombia and Panama and of course features beautiful costumes! Unity Lutheran Church, 8454 Glen Echo Drive, 63121
Hope to see you at one or more of these unique local events!
