If you’re a camping fan but don’t want to travel too far from home, the city of Festus has the answer for you.
The city has added a camping night to the long list of recreational activities it has scheduled throughout the year, said recreation and tourism director Barb Lowry.
“We are going to have a camping night in (Larry G. Crites Memorial Park),” she said. “That’s new. It’s going to be in the fall, but we have not set an exact date yet. It will be one night, likely a Saturday. It’s going to be primitive camping, with no camp fires at specific sites, but we could possibly partner with the Fire Department to have them in charge of a bonfire in one spot.
“I’m thinking we’ll have some yard games for people to play and a storyteller. It’s sponsored by the Tourism Commission.”
Lowry said the city has not determined if there will be an admission fee, but if one is charged, it would be minimal.
She said the city also plans to hold some free outdoor movie nights, which also would be new.
“(The Tourism Commission) has also approved three movie nights at dates to be determined,” she said. “They’ll be at Crites at the stage field. They will be family-friendly movies.”
Lowry said a number of activities that have been popular over the years will return.
The following is a list of 2023 activities scheduled to be held in Festus. Most, but not all, are sponsored by the city and/or the Festus Tourism Commission.
■ May 1, the start of Food Truck Mondays: Lowry said the city again is inviting food trucks to sell their delicacies from the Festus Public Library parking lot, 400 W. Main St., at lunchtime on the first Mondays (or second Mondays in the case of holidays) starting May 1. The schedule is as follows: May 1, Cater Me; June 5, Picture Perfect Panini; July 10, Yo Dawg; Aug. 7, to be determined; Sept. 11, to be determined; Oct. 2, Loot’s Lunch Cart; Nov. 6, to be determined.
■ May 14, Swingin’ Under the Stars: The annual concert will feature MOBB (Missouri Big Band) under the direction of Joe Pappas and featuring vocalist Joe Scalzitti at Crites Park.
“It’s going to be on Mother’s Day this year,” Lowry noted.
■ May 19-21, Relaxin’ in the Park: A mega-car show at Crites Park featuring a wide variety of vehicles.
■ June 3, Mayor’s Summer Cruise; Sept. 16, Mayor’s Fall Cruise: Participants drive up and down Main Street while spectators watch them from the sidewalks. No admission is charged.
“Both events start with a car show at the Festus Public Library Parking lot at 2 p.m.,” Lowry said. “Then, the cruising starts at 6 p.m. We’ll have a DJ at the library parking lot.
■ June 22-24, Firecracker Festival: Most of the activities will take place at Crites Park, while the associated Larry G. Crites Memorial Pickleball Tournament scheduled for June 23-25 will be at Jokerst Memorial Park along South Mill Street.
“The Friday night entertainment will be Trixie Delight,” Lowry said. “They play a little bit of everything. We’re still working on the Saturday night entertainment.”
A fireworks display will be held June 24 at Crites Park.
■ Sept. 8, Blues Funk Festival: “The Twin City Chamber of Commerce is taking over this event,” Lowry said.
■ September-October, Sundays at Sunset concert series at Sunset Park: “They’re free concerts sponsored by Tourism,” Lowry noted. “The concerts are from 6-8 p.m.”
Performers in the series will include: Sept. 10, The MOBB; Sept. 17, Almost Famous; Sept. 24, Funky Butt Brass Band; Oct. 1, Johnny Henry.
■ Oct. 7, West City Trash & Treasure Expo: A communitywide yard sale held annually at Crites Park.
■ Dec. 2, WinterFest: An annual event offering daylong free activities, as well some for a minimal fee, in downtown Festus.
“The skating (on an artificial surface) will return,” Lowry said.
■ Dec. 2 and multiple dates leading to Christmas, Santa House: Santa Claus visits children at the Santa House in Schneider Park at the intersection of Main and Mill streets.
■ Fridays in December: Santa’s Mail Bag: A YouTube online event in which Santa reads letters from youngsters.
Along with sponsoring a lot of the events in the city, the Festus Tourism Commission awarded grants to help with some non-city-sponsored events, like the April 22 Sigurblot, a Viking-themed festival sponsored by Mead on Main, and the Oct. 14 StreetFest on Main Street sponsored by the Main & Mill Brewing Co.
As of March 15, it was not known whether the George Portz Traditional Music Festival held in late September for many years at Crites Park would continue since Portz, the event organizer and a champion fiddler player, died on Jan. 9.
It was not a city-sponsored event, although Portz received some Tourism Commission grant money to promote the festival.
“It’s not yet decided if the Portz family will put it on,” she said.
The event typically draws thousands to Festus.
For more information about the events, visit cityoffestus.org and click the “Around Town” button.