The 2025 Sundays at Sunset concert series kicks off Sunday with a performance by the Crossroads band. Admission is free for all four concerts in the series, which will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Sunset Park, 816 Sunset Park Drive, in Festus.
The city of Festus and the Festus Tourism Commission sponsor the concert series.
The rest of the concerts in the series will be held on Sept. 14 when the MOBB (Missouri Big Band) plays; Sept. 21, with Dear Darla taking the stage; and Sept. 28, when the Funky Butt Brass Band performs.
Barb Lowry, the Festus recreation and tourism director, said the Festus Tourism Commission has provided grant funding for the well-attended concert series since 2018. For 2025, the city received a $17,500 grant from the commission to help stage the concerts.
“The Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce used to sponsor the concerts; then there was a break and we began staging the concerts in 2018,” she said.
Lowry describes the concerts as laid-back events.
“Bring your blankets or lawn chairs,” she said. “You can bring your own food and coolers.”
Lowry said Crossroads plays fan favorites.
“They’re a party rock cover band from southern Missouri,” she said. “They’ve played this before, but not since the early years of Sundays at Sunset.”
The MOBB is a big band, and most of its members are from Jefferson County.
“They play Sundays at Sunset almost every year,” Lowry said. “I think they’ve missed one. They draw some of the largest crowds to our events. They also play at our Swingin’ Under the Stars event every Mother’s Day.”
Dear Darla, a popular band in the region, is a new act for Sundays at Sunset, Lowry said.
“I don’t believe we’ve had them before,” she said. “They’re an ’80s cover band.”
Dear Darla covers “a wide spectrum of artists,” according to the band’s Facebook page.
Closing out this season’s series will be the Funky Butt Brass Band, which plays brass, funk and soul music. Its members are from St. Louis and Jefferson County, including its percussionist, Ron Sykes, who is the band director for the Jefferson R-7 School District, Lowry said.
“They say they are blues, funk and soul,” she said. “They’ve been popular at Sundays at Sunset.”
Fall Car Show & Cruise
The Mayor’s Fall Car Show & Cruise is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20.
Festivities start at 2 p.m. with an informal car show at the Festus Public Library parking lot, 400 W. Main St. The fun continues through the evening when a parade of vehicles cruises back and forth along Main Street in Festus.
Spectators may watch the cruisers from the sidewalks.
There is no charge for those participating in or viewing the car show, which Lowry describes as a “display show” as opposed to a competitive show. The Festus Tourism Commission awarded a $4,050 grant to the city to help fund the event.
She said a DJ will play music from 2-8 p.m. and a Messy Bettie’s Smash Burgers food truck will sell its wares during the same time frame (or until sold out) on the library parking lot.
Cruising on Main Street officially begins at 6 p.m.
“The crowd always depends on the weather,” Lowry said. “If it’s good weather, the crowd will be shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk, and the cruisers will be bumper to bumper.
“Our cruises (an annual Mayor’s Spring Car Show & Cruise is also held) are very popular. People come from all over the place to be in the cruise or watch it. Come early, stay late.”
For more information about these or other Festus events, visit the City of Festus Facebook page or go to the city’s website at festusmo.gov and click on “Around Town.”