Organizers of Pevely Days looked to America’s 250th anniversary for the theme of the 2026 festival.
Pevely Days takes place Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 20-22, mainly at Pevely City Park, 60 Main St. There is no fee to enter the fairgrounds or for some of the activities offered, but other activities have a charge.
“We’re kind of celebrating along with the 250th anniversary of America, with a patriotic theme,” said Linda Miles, Pevely’s deputy city clerk and an event organizer. “We’re celebrating with a red, white and blue patriotic theme. The theme has more to do with the decorations. The event staff T-shirts will be red, white and blue along with the decorations.”
This year’s Pevely Days fest is taking place about a week later than last year’s.
“We work with the availability of the carnival, Fountain City Amusements (of St. Louis),” Miles said. “It’s been a successful partnership.”
One change is the schedule for this year’s festival has its opening ceremony/flag-retirement ceremony on Friday evening, instead of on Saturday morning as has occurred at previous Pevely Days.
“We’ve moved the opening ceremonies-flag retirement to Friday evening,” Miles said. “The flag retirement is open to anybody who has flags to be retired. Please bring them.”
She said regular attendees of the festival will find the same kinds of fun as offered at previous Pevely Days. Among those are: carnival rides, free caricatures, a mechanical bull, a free petting zoo, a cornhole tournament, and food and craft vendors.
“Last year, we had 89 vendors,” she said. “That again will be our cutoff.”
She said 83 of the vendor spaces had been claimed as of July 30.
Carnival rides are offered each day of the festival.
Aug. 20 is “Family Night,” the only day of the festival wristbands for unlimited carnival rides will be offered for purchase. The other days, rides are sold by ticket.
It is also free to come hear the live music throughout the festival. Performers are: EARCANDY on Thursday, All4nothin on Friday and Steve Kirn on Saturday afternoon and Crossroads on Saturday night.
“All of the acts played last year,” Miles said. “They all went over well.”
Pevely Days ends with a fireworks show Saturday night.
The St. Louis Stangs car club, along with the city of Pevely, will host a car show Saturday morning along Pevely Main Street.
There is no cost for spectators, while the fee for those showing off their vehicles is $10. Proceeds will benefit Pevely’s parks.
For more information, go to the city website at cityofpevelymo.gov or visit the city’s Pevely Days 2026 page on Facebook.
Schedule of events
Thursday, Aug. 20
■ Carnival rides, 5-9 p.m.
■ Bubble party, 5-7 p.m.
■ Free caricatures, 5-9 p.m.
■ Mechanical bull, 5-9 p.m.
■ Pony rides, 5-9 p.m.
■ Free petting zoo, 5-9 p.m.
■ Food and craft vendors, 5-9 p.m.
■ EARCANDY performs, 5-9 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 21
■ Carnival rides, 5-10 p.m.
■ Free caricatures, 5-10 p.m.
■ Mechanical bull, 5-10 p.m.
■ Pony rides, 5-10 p.m.
■ Free petting zoo, 5-10 p.m.
■ Food and craft vendors, 5-10 p.m.
■ Opening ceremony-flag retirement ceremony, 6 p.m.
■ All4nothin performs, 6-10 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22
■ Pevely Days Car Show presented by STL Stangs; registration 8-11 a.m., winners announced noon-1 p.m.
■ Cornhole tournament, noon (registration opens at 11 a.m.)
■ Carnival rides, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
■ Free caricatures, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
■ Mechanical bull, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
■ Pony rides, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
■ Free petting zoo, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Food and craft vendors, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
■ Steve Kirn performs, 1-5 p.m.
■ Crossroads performs, 6-10 p.m.
■ Fireworks, 9 p.m.