Valley of Flowers is May 2-4

Activities For All Ages A Tradition At 3-Day Valley of Flowers Festival

The Valley of Flowers three-day weekend festival (May 2-4) has activities for everyone from a flower and plant sale to culturally diverse musical performances, baseball games, craft and flea market sales, children’s activities and new this year a “Hispanic Festival” at the Eagan Center.

Carnival games and rides are at the Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds. Good food abounds at all Festival locations. The Tot Wheels parade and the official “Grand Parade” beginning at the Eagan Center highlight the weekend.

The festival culminates on Sunday, May 4 with the crowning of the Valley of Flowers Queen and her Court at the Knights of Columbus Pavilion following the parade.

The Valley of Flowers has been celebrated every year since 1963, making this its 46th “First Festival of Spring.” The parade theme for 2008 is “Florissant Celebrates Broadway Musicals.” The Tot Wheels Parade theme will be “My Favorite Song.”

James J. Eagan Center – Friday & Saturday Activities

The James J. Eagan Center will host many activities for young children and families. This is a one of a kind celebration with all the performances being free. The Family Festival of Fun will expand again this year with the addition of the Hispanic Festival’s Cinco de Mayo Village.

Nowhere in St. Louis County will you find an event with all of the wonderfully talented performers that you will find in the Valley of Flowers Festival. Beginning with performances on Friday evening, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. and continuing all day on Saturday, May 3 until 6 p.m. you will find entertainers on the Eagan grounds.

The Festival features on-going performances in several large tents and on the grounds. These free performances include storytellers, puppeteers, music, comedy and circus acts and much more.

The following will be found at the Eagan Center:
Pretty Baby Photo Contest; pony rides – $2 per ride, from 1–4 p.m.; Moonbouncer – $1 per child – 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; train ride and mazes – $1 per child, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Children’s hand-on arts & crafts – Free, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; The Mechanical Man and Roving Variety Artist; Kincaid Puppets – free performances at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.; sponsor and informational booths; and a Florissant Police canine demonstration at 1:30 p.m.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday for the annual Tot Wheels Parade. Step-off is at 9:30 a.m. The two categories include three years and younger or four-six years old. The parade is on the circle drive in front of the Eagan Center.

Decorate your child’s favorite riding vehicle, (bike, trike, big wheels, wagon, stroller, etc.) and join in the fun. The Tot Wheels Parade decorating theme is “My Favorite Song.”

Come join Cookie the Clown for a fun parade where there will be gift bags and refreshments for everyone. Prizes for the winners will include a cash award and tickets to a FCC children’s performance.

There is no registration fee for the Tot Wheels Parade don’t have to be a resident to enter. The Rotary Club of Florissant sponsors the Tot Wheels parade and many of the other children’s activities. Call 314-837-0033 to register for the parade or apply online at www.florissantvalleyofflowers.com

Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds

Knights of Columbus Park is located on Washington St. between St. Ferdinand Street and Lindbergh Blvd. and next to the St. Ferdinand Shrine. The fairgrounds will offer pony rides, 45 game booths and 19 carnival rides including the Century Wheel, Fun Slide and Kite Flyer. Also among the rides will be the STORM that offers riders three separate spinning actions.

On Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. the Knights of Columbus will feature a fund raising charity auction. Also on Saturday, the Knights will host a washer tournament open to all aged 21 years and older. To register, call 314-837-6645.

As in previous festivals, the Knights will be serving their barbecue ribs, pork steaks, chicken, brats, hot dogs and hamburgers. Other food booths will offer a variety of festival foods that will include the ever popular funnel cakes. All food and game booths are sponsored by local not-for-profit organizations that use the festival as a fundraising effort. Fairgoers can also enjoy the beer garden throughout the weekend.

On Sunday, May 4, immediately following the parade, the 2008 Valley of Flowers Queen will be crowned at the fairgrounds pavilion. Awards will also be presented to winners of the Valley of Flowers Parade, Tot Wheels Parade, and Pretty Baby Photo Contest.

Fairgrounds hours are Friday, May 2, from 5-9:30 p.m., Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 4, from noon-8 p.m.

In an effort to maintain a family friendly and neighborhood atmosphere, the festival committee is planning some minor changes to better manage the crowds and traffic flow in and around the festival grounds. The plan includes: temporary traffic regulations to prevent festival traffic from interfering with local businesses including a no parking policy at Florissant Meadows Shopping Center and Dierbergs, a well-enforced dress code and increased overall security.

Additionally, no one will be allowed to enter the Knights Grounds after 8:00 p.m. on any evening. All of these policies were implemented last year and worked very well.

St. Ferdinand Shrine Grounds

St. Ferdinand Shrine located at the foot of rue St. Francois. The shrine is the oldest Catholic Church in the area that was known as the Louisiana Territory. The convent wing was built in 1819 and the Church proper was completed in 1820.

Friends of Old St. Ferdinand will host a variety of fund raising activities with proceeds going toward the preservation of this fascinating historic landmark. There will be concessions, bingo and pull-tabs inside the schoolhouse with game booths outside the historic old brick school building. Shrine volunteers and historic re-enactors will be on the grounds and you will be able to purchase bread made in the outdoor brick oven that has been reconstructed behind the shrine. An added attraction in the Shrine this year will be a Boeing Employees Concert Band concert at noon on Saturday.

Activities at the Shrine begin Friday, May 2, from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday, May 4, from noon-8 p.m. Tours of the shrine will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

Car Show Saturday, May 3

Florissant Old Town Partners, a not-for-profit organization, hosts the car show set against the backdrop of the historic business district of Old Town Florissant. The car show will be on Saturday, May 3, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., on rue St. Francois. There will be 50 classes featuring approximately 200 cars. The car show will line rue St. Francois from St. Ferdinand Rd. to Lafayette St. This section of rue St. Francois will be closed to traffic beginning at 8 a.m. Only cars in the show will be allowed admittance to the street.

Registration for the show is $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event. Trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m. For pre-registration and information call 314-837-0033 or 314-837-2707. If necessary, rainout date has been planned for May 10.

Gardeners Plant Sale

The Gardeners of Florissant has chosen to continue the theme of “A Garden for All Seasons” at their annual plant sale on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 on the ice rink pavilion at the Eagan Center. The plant sale is from noon-8 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday.

There will be a selection of plants suitable for most home environments that include sunny areas or planting sites that are shaded. All flowers and plants will be displayed in blooming order for those who want something continuously flowering in their garden from spring through fall. The sale will feature annual and perennial plants as well as flowering hanging baskets in a variety of colors and plant types. The Gardeners will continue to have available pre-planted decorative containers for those who want an instant arrangement. An additional feature of the plant sale will be herbs and vegetables for those who wish to plant edibles.

Garden club members will be on site to assist with plant selections and they are always willing to share their knowledge of plants and expertise with gardening. The Gardeners of Florissant has several members certified as Master Gardener and are very well-informed about plants.

Craft Fair & Flea Market

The Pre-Mothers Day Craft Fair will be on the ice rink pavilion of the Eagan Center on Friday, May 2, from noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Many local crafters and vendors bring a wide variety of products that make for the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Returning favorites include: jewelry, one-of-kind gift baskets, gourmet food mixes, unique accessories and garden ornaments plus much more. To reserve a booth, call the Valley of Flowers office at 314-837-0033 or apply online at www.florissantvalleyofflowers.com.

Florissant Old Town Partners will be hosting a flea market on the lower level of the Eagan Center on Friday, May 2, from noon-8 p.m., and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Each year this event grows bigger and better with a wider range of items and this year promises to continue that tradition.

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