The 2024 Sundays at Sunset concert series, a popular free annual event at Sunset Park in Festus, opens this weekend with a performance by the country music band Route 67. Festus will also put on its Mayor’s Fall Cruise and its West City Trash & Treasure Expo events in the coming weeks.
While there is no charge to attend the concert series and the other events, vendors are charged to have space at the flea market.
Sundays at Sunset
All concerts in the series are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Sundays at the park, 816 Sunset Park Drive.
Organizers urge attendees to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets or something else to sit on while they listen to the bands play at the park’s bandstand. Attendees may bring their own coolers.
The city of Festus and the Festus Tourism Commission team up each year to sponsor the concert series.
The performances scheduled are: Sept. 8, Route 67; Sept. 15, The MOBB (Missouri Big Band); Sept. 22, Bad Habit; Sept. 29, The Funky Butt Brass Band.
Barb Lowry, the Festus recreation and tourism director, said this year’s slate of performers includes new acts, as well as veterans of Sundays at Sunset.
Route 67 is based in Farmington.
“We’ve never had Route 67 before,” Lowry said. “They play country songs from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.”
The MOBB, which performs under the direction of Joe Pappas and features Joe Scalzitti on vocals, is a big band with members largely from Jefferson County.
“The MOBB is a local favorite,” Lowry said. “They’ve played in Sundays at Sunset many times.”
The Bad Habit rock band is based in Festus, she said.
“They’re more rock ’n’ roll,” she said. “They’ll be (in the concert series) for the first time. They’re local.”
The Funky Butt Brass Band, which plays brass, funk and soul music, contains members from St. Louis as well as Jefferson County, Lowry noted.
“It’s rhythm and blues,” she said. “They’ve played in Sundays at Sunset before. Their percussionist is Ron Sikes, the band director for the Jefferson R-7 School District.”
The Ozark Food Pantry, which is based at a building in the park near the bandstand, will conduct a food drive during the concerts, as well as offer refreshments for free-will donations.
Mayor’s Fall Cruise
The Mayor’s Fall Cruise, another event from the city of Festus and the Festus Tourism Commission, will take place Sept. 21 on and along Main Street.
There is no charge for those interested in participating in or attending the car show, which opens at 2 p.m. at the Festus Public Library parking lot, 400 W. Main St., and continues through the evening when a parade of vehicles cruises Main Street.
Spectators may watch the cruise from the sidewalks.
“The car show is display only, not a competition,” Lowry said. “A DJ will play music on the library parking lot 2-8 p.m.”
Cruising is normally not condoned along Festus streets outside of the Mayor’s Fall Cruise and the Mayor’s Summer Cruise.
“We hope for good weather,” Lowry said. “It draws good crowds.”
All vehicles must be licensed and traffic laws will be enforced. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or others seating items.
Trash ’N Treasure Expo
The city of Festus on Oct. 5 once again will conduct its large yard sale-flea market event that has retained the name West City Trash ’N Treasure Expo even though West City Park became Larry G. Crites Memorial Park several years ago.
The expo takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the parking lot of the park’s ballfields on the south side of Old Hwy. A on the western side of town.
A space will cost $20, with the deadline to return registration forms and pay on Sept. 30. Lowry said crafters and other vendors typically snatch up the 70 or so spaces available quickly.
“Last year, we sold out of spaces,” she said. “I expect that to happen again this year.”
Vendors are to set up for business from 6-7:45 a.m.
For more information about any of the events, visit the city of Festus page on Facebook or the city’s website at festusmo.gov.
George Portz Traditional Music Festival
The 33rd George Portz Traditional Music Festival is scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park. The Portz festival is a private event held under the city’s auspices. It will be previewed in an upcoming edition of the Leader.