All Entries Tagged With: "holiday fun"
Laissez les bon temps rouler! FloTown goes Creole
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
The Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is proud to kick-off the Florissant Christmas Walk with a benefit concert Saturday, December 3rd at 1:30 P.M. featuring authentic French Creole music. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. All proceeds from the event will be used on badly needed restoration projects at the Shrine.
Our performer, Dennis Stroughmatt, is the only artist in the world that tours and plays the music of the French Creoles that settled in the Midwest. This music makes your soul jump, your head spin, and your heart at its happiest. Anyone listening can’t help but get up and dance along.
The performance includes the up-tempo music, language, stories and culture secreted away in Missouri that became part of the American fabric at the time of the Louisiana Purchase. The French Creoles, both of French and Spanish descent, were Roman Catholics who were born in the colonies and created their own unique social customs and celebrations.
As a special treat, Dennis will be performing La Guillanee. La Guillanee is the Celtic festival of sharing food and bounty throughout the community during the winter. In France it brought the community together to celebrate the New Year and joie de vivre (joy of life). Share the joy of life and happiness at the Shrine!
There would be no better place to hear this brilliant musical story than at the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine. The Shrine, built in 1821, is the site of one of the earliest French settlements west of the Mississippi. The convent was home to St. Rose Phillipine Duchesne in 1819 when Mass was said for the first time that Christmas Eve. Our Creole Christmas concert includes songs in both French and English not unlike the songs sung and performed at the Shrine during past holidays.
After the performance, the Shrine will have chili and drinks for sale as well as gently used Christmas items and special book-fair event pricing of $4 per bag. Come have a fantastic time, and support this significant historic landmark. For additional information call 314/837-2110; or visit www.oldstferdinandshrine.com.
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…
Hope you have a Happy Halloween, North County!
It’s my favorite night of the year, NOCO fans! Happy Halloween!
I’d love to hear from all the creative souls out there, so send me your best costume photos and I’ll post a special NoCo Halloween gallery! You can email your pics to shannon@NOCOstl.com.
North County cities will be “booming” on July 4th
The weather may be hot and swampy tomorrow but that won’t stop several North County municipalities from celebrating Independence Day. If you’re still deciding where to get your fireworks fix, or you’re looking for a parade to watch, here’s what our local cities have to offer (in their own words):
FERGUSON
Join us for the 35th annual full day of fun on Independence Day!
The day will begin with a parade stepping off at 10:00 a.m. The route starts at Suburban Avenue, heading north on Florissant Road into January-Wabash Memorial Park. Prizes will be awarded to the best parade entries.
Opening ceremonies begin at noon with a presentation of awards to Ferguson’s Citizens of the Year. The event will feature food and beverage booths, contests and an outstanding array of entertainment throughout the afternoon. The festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks display in January-Wabash Park.
All are welcome to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday in Ferguson!
Schedule
10:00 a.m. Parade Starts
Noon – park closing Food, Beverage and Game Booths Open
Live Music
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Stoney End Rock Classics
4:30– 6:30 p.m. Chaz 45 R&B, Funk and Classic Rock
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Bryant featuring Tom Bryant, former lead singer of Head East
Children’s Area
Noon – 7:00 p.m. Free Kids Rides, 62 Sports
Noon – 7:00 p.m. Free Show-Me Safari Exotic Animal Petting Zoo
Noon – 7:00 p.m. Free Show-Me Safari Pony Rides
1:00 p.m. Show-Me Safari Racing Pigs
1:00 – 4:30 p.m. BeBe the Clown – Face painting
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Circus Harmony Performers
1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Dana’s Crafts
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Sheltered Reality – Music with Meaning
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Heaven’s Handful Puppets
3:00 p.m. Show-Me Safari Racing Pigs
5:00 p.m. Show-Me Safari Racing Pigs
7:00 p.m. Show-Me Safari Racing Pigs
Fireworks
9:15 p.m. Fireworks Spectacular in January-Wabash Memorial Park
FLORISSANT
Florissant’s Independence Day celebration will be held on the grounds of the James J. Eagan Civic Center at Florissant Valley Park. Festivities begin with an outdoor concert performance by the Northwinds Concert Band at 7:30pm.
Following the concert, the City of Florissant is sponsoring its renowned Fireworks Presentation at dusk. This year’s extravaganza features a dazzling fireworks presentation combining brilliant shells, color sequencing, dimensional frontage, and low and high level aerial combinations.
Florissant’s show has always been very heavily attended and is widely honored and acclaimed by thousands of Florissant and North County sightseers. So bring out the blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy top notch, free entertainment for the entire family.
In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks display ONLY will be held the following evening (July 5 at 9:30PM). For additional information, please call the James J. Eagan Center at 314-921-4466.
HAZELWOOD
If you thought last year’s Fourth of July fireworks show was awesome, you’re in for a bigger surprise in 2011! Plus, the Hazelwood Parks and Recreation Division still has a full schedule of summer activities planned to keep you and your family busy until Labor Day weekend.
The City of Hazelwood hired Lantis Fireworks of St. Louis to do this year’s pyromusical presentation and the company plans to shoot off twice as many rockets. It’s going to be a thrilling 24-minute red, white and blue extravaganza that will have you mesmerized the entire time!
Hazelwood’s July 4th fireworks show will take place a White Birch Park, 1186 Teson Road, starting at dusk. Admission is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets, snacks and coolers. However, no glass containers are allowed.
Additional parking will be available at Hazelwood West High School and Armstrong Elementary School with shuttle bus service beginning at 7 p.m. More parking can be found at the Knights of Columbus, 1216 Teson Road.
BRIDGETON
July 4th Parade – The theme for this year’s parade will be Let’s Go Green!. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 10 a.m.
Festivities at BMAC
Evening activities will be held at the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex beginning at 6 p.m. with clowns, food vendors, a live band concert by Trilogy and it’s all capped off with a fireworks extravaganza at dark. Parking will be available at the St. Louis Auto Auction and Crane National Vendors parking lots on Taussig Road just south of the sports complex. Please plan to arrive early and follow instructions given by Bridgeton Police Officers. There is no shuttle service from any park facility.
Join us on the Fourth, it will be a blast!
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K