A packed slate of activities once again will be offered in the city of Festus in 2026, and the schedule kicks off even earlier than usual with several things on tap in February.
Barb Lowry, the Festus recreation and tourism director, said new events are emerging to join some old favorites.
“I’m excited about new events coming,” she said. “It keeps things fresh, keeps people looking forward to something new. At the same time, I enjoy events that happen year after year. It’s a good mix of new and continued traditions.”
The 2026 offerings begin Saturday with Gals on Main: A Galentine’s Day Out from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Main Street.
The event is sponsored by the Festus Main Street Association and the Festus Tourism Commission. Tricia Nelson and Cortney White are co-chairs of the event for the Festus Main Street Association.
“It’s going to be similar to Ladies Night Out (an established fall event),” Nelson said. “Galentine’s Day is geared to women, a fun shopping event. Most of the Main Street businesses will participate. We’re looking to bring the community together during the colder months with something on Main Street.”
Among the event’s features listed are local businesses offering special Galentine’s sales and promotions, indoor and outdoor vendors, food trucks and a craft fair inside Frederick’s Banquet & Catering, 201 E. Main St.
“Galentine’s Day is partnering with Frederick’s on an indoor craft fair,” Nelson said.
She said attendees also should enjoy free live music from a DJ, as well as free henna tattoos, chair massages, tarot card readings and other activities.
“We are also offering tickets for a VIP experience (for $25),” Nelson said. “This gets you a swag bag and a raffle ticket.”
For more information, visit the Festus Main Street Association page on Facebook or go to festusmainstreet.org.
Other activities scheduled to happen in Festus, most of which are at least partially sponsored by the Festus Tourism Commission, are listed below.
■ Feb. 14, Taytro’s Second Twin City Mardi Gras Parade along Crystal City Bailey Road-Festus Main Street. The parade kicks off at noon. Luke Tetrault, whose family owns Taytro’s Bar & Bistro and Petit Paree Restaurant and Lounge, both in Festus, leads the Taytro’s team that organizes the parade and related activities.
Jen Wynn, part of the organizing team, said last year’s debut Mardi Gras Parade was well-received and she expects even more interest in this year’s event.
“This should be similar to last year’s parade,” Wynn said. “It will be a similar route. We have more than 50 (parade units) signed up already. We’re taking reservations through Feb. 6.”
The parade’s theme is “Pirates, Love & Mardi Gras.”
Participants gather in the general area of Mall Street behind Twin City Mall in Crystal City, Wynn said.
A free live concert and kids’ art and fun activities will be held from 1-3 p.m. on parade day in The Contrarian Concert Hall & Theater, 125 E. Main St.
More free concerts will be offered starting at 2 p.m. and running through the evening at Taytro’s, 331 N. Creek Drive, Festus.
At 10 p.m., Steve Ewing will perform at The Contrarian. General admission tickets cost $15.
A related event, a concert featuring the Funky Butt Brass Band, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Taytro’s. Tickets cost $18 in advance.
Shuttle transportation is available to take people between locations, including parking areas, during the Mardi Gras festivities. There is no cost to ride the shuttles.
To register to participate in the parade or for more information about all of the Mardi Gras festivities, go to twincityfun.com.
■ Feb. 15, Mardi Gras Pet Parade, a new event the city of Festus will stage along more or less the same route as the human parade the day before, Lowry said. This parade starts at 12:30 p.m. Pets and their people gather at noon in the area behind U.S. Bank, 550 Bailey Road, Crystal City, she said.
“I’ve seen they’ve had (a pet parade) in St. Louis, and it’s been a big success,” Lowry said. “I’m a pet lover and just thought it would be fun. I thought other people would feel that way, too.”
She said a wide range of animals may participate.
“Any kind of leashed pet for the parade (is eligible),” she said.
In addition to the Pet Parade, there will be pet-item vendors available behind Main Street, on the South Second Street side, she said. There is no charge for vendors this initial year of the event, she added, but they need to register by Feb. 11 by sending emails to barb.lowry@festusmo.gov.
For more information about events put on by Festus, go to festusmo.gov and hit the “Around Town” button.
■ April 11, Mead on Main Sigurblot. An annual Viking-themed spring event held behind the building of sponsor Four Brothers Meadery, 124 E. Main St.
■ May 1, First Fridays at Turtle Cove, a first-time monthly series of events at the new Turtle Cove at Lucas Field in Larry G. Crites Memorial Park along Old Hwy. A offering DJ music and food trucks. Lowry said the start times are to be determined for the events in the area of the new all-inclusive playground, which opened in September 2025, and a splash pad area, which is targeted to open in the spring of this year. First Fridays at Turtle Cove events will take place through November.
Lowry said holidays or other events will affect the schedule. In July, it will be held the second Friday, July 11 (the first Friday being Independence Day). In September, it will be the third Friday, Sept. 18 (because Sept. 4 is the start of Labor Day weekend and Sept. 11 is during the Twin City Days festival).
■ May 2-3, Festus Art & Music Festival. The art event held along Festus Main Street will include live music along with the art presented. The Festus Main Street Association sponsors the city-sanctioned event. Lowry said the association is expanding the event from one day to two this year.
■ May 4, the start of First Monday Food Truck, a monthly lunchtime event, at the Festus Public Library parking lot, 400 W. Main St. If a holiday falls on a Monday, that month’s food truck event moves to the second Monday.
“The only time we have to do that is September this year (to avoid Labor Day),” Lowry said.
The schedule of food trucks will be released later, she said. The event also finishes in November.
■ May 10, Swingin’ Under the Stars, 6 p.m. The free concert takes place at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park, and Lowry said she targets it to happen on Mother’s Day annually.
■ May 15-16, Relaxin’ in the Park car show at Crites Park. A private city-sanctioned event featuring unique vehicles that raises money for charity. Details about a planned vehicle parade have not yet been announced.
■ June 6, Mayor’s Summer Cruise along Main Street. The twice-a-year cruises sponsored by the city begin with a car show at 2 p.m. at the Festus Public Library parking lot, 400 W. Main St., with cruising officially starting at 6 p.m.
■ June 19-21, Quad City Juneteenth Celebration. It will be the fifth annual version of the event. For the first time, organizers received a grant from the Festus Tourism Commission for the celebration. Details of the event are to be determined, but organizers have described it as a homecoming event to celebrate Juneteenth, the national holiday observed on June 19 that commemorates the date in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure all enslaved people were freed.
■ June 26-27, Twin City Firecracker Festival at Crites Park. The two-day event sponsored by the cities of Festus and Crystal City offers carnival rides, games, live music, fireworks and more, Lowry said.
■ July 11, the first night of the 2026 Movies Under the Stars series at Crites Park. The city projects free family-friendly films at Crites Park with the films starting at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Saturdays in the summer. The movies are to be announced later, but the other nights of the series are scheduled for July 25 and Aug. 8, Lowry said.
■ Aug. 16, Bottleneck Bridge Ride, an annual bike ride starting in the morning on Festus Main Street with routes taking cyclists various distances around southern Jefferson County. Working together to put on the event are: Trailnet, a St. Louis-area group that advocates for better walking, riding and transit; the Festus Tourism Commission; the city of Festus and the Jefferson County Growth Association.
■ Sept. 10-12, Twin City Days at various locations in Festus and Crystal City. The Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce event offers live music, arts and crafts and food booths, and many other activities.
■ Sept. 12, Worship in the Park at Crites Park. A private nondenominational event offering Christian music sanctioned by the city.
■ Sept. 13, the start of the annual Sundays at Sunset free concert series put on by Festus at Sunset Park along Parkview Drive. The rest of the concerts are scheduled for Sept. 20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. The performers are to be determined, Lowry said.
■ Sept. 19, Mayor’s Fall Cruise on Main Street. The second cruise of the year staged by the city begins with a car show at 2 p.m. at the Festus Public Library parking lot, with cruising officially starting at 6 p.m.
■ Sept. 26, Cruisin’ for a Cause, a fall car show at Crites Park. A private event sanctioned by the city to raise funds for the Ozark Food Pantry.
■ Sept. 26-27, George Portz Traditional Music Festival at Crites Park. A private event sanctioned by the city brings in a variety of musical acts.
■ Oct. 3, an annual fall Viking Festival staged by and held behind Four Brothers Meadery. An event similar to the Mead on Main Sigurblot.
■ Oct. 3, the annual West City Trash & Treasure Expo 2026 at Crites Park, a large city-sanctioned yard sale-flea market.
■ Oct. 10, Main & Mill StreetFest, an all-day live music festival on Festus Main Street.
■ October and December, the Lenhard Family Light Show-Halloween and the Lenhard Family Light Show-Christmas. The family puts on the elaborate light shows at Crites Park with the help of the city of Festus.
■ Nov. 7, Camp Crites at Crites Park. The free event put on by Festus is family-oriented.
■ Nov. 7, Ladies Night Out. A shopping-oriented event along Festus Main Street/Crystal City Bailey Road sponsored by the Festus Main Street Association.
■ Nov. 26, YMCA of Jefferson County Thanksgiving Day Workout at the facility, 1303 YMCA Drive, Festus.
■ Nov. 28, Festus Main Street Association Adult Stocking Stroll. A shopping-oriented event along Festus Main Street/Crystal City Bailey Road.
■ Nov. 30, Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade along Festus Main Street-Crystal City Bailey Road.
■ Dec. 5, WinterFest. An annual city of Festus festival offering free or low-cost activities, including inflatables, a petting zoo, vendors and artificial ice skating rink on the Festus Public Library parking lot and across the street on the parking lot of First United Methodist Church, 113 S. Grand Ave.
■ Dec. 5, Santa receives little ones to tell their Christmas wishes at the Santa House in Schneider Park in downtown Festus during WinterFest. He appears at the Santa House numerous times until Dec. 19. There is no charge to visit Santa.
■ Dec. 11 and Dec. 18, the city of Festus posts sessions of Santa reading letters to him deposited in the special mailbox at Schneider Park on the city’s YouTube channel.