With fall already in the air, Eureka Days organizers are taking inspiration from the season for the upcoming three-day festival.
Eureka Parks and Recreation Coordinator Lizzie Roberds said this year’s event has an Oktoberfest theme. The festival is scheduled to be held Friday, Sept. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 1, at Legion and Lions parks.
The parks are located across from each other on Bald Hill Road.
“We’re leaning into that a bit more on Sunday,” Roberds said of the Oktoberfest theme.
A beer stein holding contest will be held at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 1, Roberds said.
“A 44-ounce glass beer stein will be filled with water, not beer, for the actual challenge,” she said. “You will have to hold the glass straight out in front of you and whoever holds it out the longest wins.”
Roberds said there will be plenty of beer available during the festival with a bar and beer garden operating in Legion Park all three days.
“Freestyle Brewing Co., previously known as Melvin Brewing, will be pouring their craft beer,” she said. “Red Door Liquor will be doing a bar on (Sept. 30), and (on Oct. 1), On the Rocks will be setting up their mobile bar.”
Eureka Days will offer more than beer and a beer-themed contest.
The annual event will feature carnival rides, vendors, live music, knockerball, kickball and children’s activities, Roberds said.
Food vendors will include All Seasons Cafe, Brown Jerry’s BBQ, Grillin’ & Chillin’, Honey Bee Tea and Singers Ice Cream.
Artisan vendors include Baskets by Design, Brownbottle Burlap, Flowers by Jill and STL Brick Fanatics.
Roberds said Eureka Days will have a slightly different layout than usual because of renovations that are nearing completion at Legion and Lions parks. She said the Lions Park baseball fields and pavilion are ready for use during Eureka Days.
“Things will be cleaned up and ready for the party,” Roberds said.
Attractions
Eureka High School football fans will not have to worry about missing the action from the Wildcats’ homecoming game on Sept. 29.
An inflatable screen will be set up in Legion Park, and a streaming broadcast of Eureka High’s game against Pattonville will be shown. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
The first day of the festival also will feature a co-ed adult kickball tournament from 6-11 p.m. on the Lions Park fields.
Teams will play 30-minute games or four innings in a double-elimination tournament. Teams can sign up by emailing recreation supervisor Luke Hollman at lhollman@eureka.mo.us.
“We are trying to get teams registered right now,” Roberds said. “Anyone can register a team and win bragging rights.”
American Banner Amusements will provide carnival rides, which will operate from 5-11 p.m. Sept. 29, noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 30 and noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 1.
Roberds said a ticket booth will be set up on the fairgrounds during Eureka Days. Tickets are $20 for a sheet of 24 tickets during the festival.
Advance tickets are on sale until Wednesday, Sept. 27, for $18 per sheet of 24 tickets. Advance tickets may be purchased at The Timbers of Eureka, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Commerce Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank, First Community Credit Union and Lindell Bank. Cash and checks are accepted at all locations, according to the city’s website.
Admission for rides varies for the first two days of Eureka Days, but Oct. 1 will be $1 ride day when admission is only one ticket for each ride.
Music acts
Bands are scheduled to perform on the main stage every day of the festival.
Local band The Count of Monte Carlo is scheduled to play from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 29.
“We are family-friendly,” said Kelly Lemon, one of the lead singers of the band. “We do a variety of music, everything from jazz and country to blues and rock.”
Diamond Empire is slated to perform from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 30. According to their website, Diamond Empire plays high-energy music for events across the country.
The Tailgators will perform from 2-6 p.m. Oct. 1. The five-piece band plays dance and rock music in the St. Louis area, according to its website.
Parade
The Eureka Days parade will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 30 along Central Avenue in downtown Eureka. Participants are encouraged to decorate float and vehicle entries with Oktoberfest themes.
Roberds said Mayor Sean Flower, city dignitaries, Board of Aldermen members and representatives from the Eureka Police Department and Eureka Fire Protection District are expected to be in the parade.
She also said representatives from the high school, middle school and elementary schools serving the city will be in the parade, along with the marching band, choir members and cheerleaders from Eureka High School.
“It’s so important to see them out and participating,” Roberds said.
The parade will start on Central Avenue at Third Street and move south toward Hwy. 109. It will include floats, antique and sports cars, and participants will hand out candy.
Floats will be entered into a competition for a cash prize, according to the city’s website. The first-place float will receive $400.
Those wishing to march in the parade may sign up at eurekadays.com.
“It’s wonderful for the community,” Roberds said about the three-day event. “We have people from all over come in which is so much fun. It’s amazing to see the community come out to kick off the Scarecrow Festival and kick off the fall. We love it when people come out, it makes it all worth it.”
Eureka Days is the start of the city’s annual Scarecrow Festival, which starts Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 31 and features weekend events as well as scarecrows set up throughout the city.
Parking
There is accessible parking for people with disabilities available at Geggie Elementary, 430 Bald Hill Road.
Roberds said parking also is available at The River at Eureka, the United Methodist Church at 215 N. Central Ave.; in the Legends Corporate Center shopping plaza off of Hwy. 109; and weather permitting on the hill near City Hall, 100 City Hall Drive.
Other events
■ Knockerball will be available at Legion Park from 6-11 p.m. Sept. 29, noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 30 and noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 1.
“It’s a huge hit,” Roberds said. “(Knockerball) sets up boundaries and they have these giant inflatable balls that you run into each other with and play games. Daily wristbands can be purchased on-site.”
■ The Business Person and Citizen of the Year awards winners will be honored at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 on the main stage.
The Eureka Chamber of Commerce named Cheryl Parrish, the owner of The Rose and Hook and Lillie James Boutique + Gifts, the Business Person of the Year.
The city had not named the Citizen of the Year award winner by the Leader’s deadline.
■ A fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. Sept. 30 at Legion Park. Roberds said the show will last about 10 minutes.
■ The Kid’s Korner will be set up from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Lions Park Pavilion. Roberds said there will be a magician, airbrush artist, yard games and crafts as well as a bubble bus.
“They have interactive stations to make giant bubbles with wands,” Roberds said.
■ The fifth annual Chicken Wing Eating Contest will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Main Stage.
