Plans are revving up for the 29th annual Twin City Days celebration, scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 5-7, at a wide range of venues across Crystal City and Festus.
The festival is sponsored by the Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce and includes many activities, exhibits, contests and competitions, along with food, shopping and live music, culminating in a concert on Sept. 7 featuring the Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys Band.
“I know people look forward to this,” said chamber assistant director Nina Buehre. “We see the hotels booking rooms for people who used to live here coming back for this event. They know they will be able to get together and hang out with the people they grew up with or to reconnect with their family. It’s a lot of fun.”
It’s also a lot of work.
Buehre said she and chamber executive director Mary Zebrowski, along with dozens of volunteers, start early in the year planning for the festival.
“We start in late February, early March to get things going,” she said. “It takes several months to get the license for the beer tent all processed from the state and then the county. We have to have license information from all the vendors and insurance information from all the activity sponsors.
“We find businesses that want to help us with things like getting portable toilets, and we have the Boy Scouts who come and take care of the trash. Registration opens for the craft vendors in April, and we were booked full by July. We still are getting people requesting a spot. We’ve had to put them on a wait-list.”
Some new goodies
There are a couple of new things this year, Buehre said.
A tailgate kickoff event is slated for 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at MRV Banks in Festus.
“They’re going to have a barbecue in the parking lot and a bunch of games,” she said. “The meat is provided by John’s Butcher Shoppee. It’s free, but you need to register if you want to attend so they can be sure and have enough supplies on hand.”
Another new activity takes place on the morning of Sept. 7 in the Crystal City Park. A sidewalk chalk competition will have age categories from babies to adults, and will offer prizes for individual and family efforts.
“I think we’re going to see a lot of really neat pictures on the sidewalks,” Buehre said. “I’m kind of excited to see what they come up with.”
Visitors to the events at the park on Sept. 7 will have the opportunity to enjoy a cool refreshment while they take in the sights.
“We talked about how there hasn’t been any food or beverage opportunities in the park for the Saturday stuff,” Buehre said. “So we reached out to an ice cream vendor, and we’ll have volunteers handing out free ice cream at the gazebo.”
Although it’s not a new event, this year’s pickleball tournament, set for Sept. 5-8, will take place on the spiffy new courts at Jokerst Memorial Park in Festus.
And, the food court setup during the Main Street craft fair and car show on Sept. 7 has been relocated to a better spot nearby.
“The tent and seating area will be set up on North Adams, between Celebrations and the Farmhouse building,” Buehre said. “We’re moving the food trucks to the parking lot behind the chamber office, at North Adams and North Second. It’s a nice, big parking area that is a little more flat, so we can enlarge our space versus what it’s been in the past. We have nine food vendors registered for this year, versus five last year.”
Sept. 3-4
The fun kicks off a few days earlier when the first clues in the Hunt for the Red Bird scavenger hunt are broadcast starting on the morning of Sept. 3 on local radio station KJFF.
Sept. 5
Festivities will kick off in earnest Sept. 5 with the Twin City Days Breakfast, featuring a challenge pitting Crystal City against Festus in a winner-take-all, bragging rights contest. This year the cities once again square off in a cornhole battle.
The United States Senior Pickleball Midwest Regional Championships and Twin City Invitational will run from Sept. 5 through Sept. 8 at Jokerst Memorial Park, 525 S. Mill St.
The Festus Public Library will open its three-day book sale, and Seniors in the Park will round out the morning, with bingo, food and music.
The tailgate kickoff event at MRV Banks will take place in the afternoon, and a Trivia Night event at Elks Lodge 1721 in Crystal City will round out the evening.
Sept. 6
The Sept. 6 events start early with the annual four-person scramble golf tournament. Competitive eaters may take part in a ravioli-eating contest at Pasta House in Festus during the afternoon, while families can head to Quonset Lanes in Crystal City for free family bowling. The evening will be busy with a wine tasting event at Petit Paree in Festus and the annual free bike ride followed by a movie (“Barbie”) in the park at Crystal City Park.
On the historic cobblestones at the other end of Crystal City, the Blues on the Bricks event will include food, drinks and live music by David Kalz opening for the band Anthology. This is an event for those 21 and older, and no coolers or outside beverages are allowed.
Sept. 7
Things start early on Sept. 7. A free pancake breakfast (donations accepted) is on the schedule at First United Methodist Church of Festus-Crystal City in Festus. The more sports-minded may take part in the 5K run walk, drop a line in the lake during the kids’ fishing tournament or reach for the sky in hoops. More sedate athletes may choose washers or cornhole, all of which will take place throughout the day.
In Festus, the Main Street Market craft and vendor show, a classic car show and a food court with a dizzying array of choices will be open all day.
Across town, the Crystal City Park will host a baby-crawling contest, kids’ games, sidewalk chalk drawing, free ice cream and, of course, that Twin City Days tradition, the kids’ money pit.
Elsewhere, festivalgoers may find a grip strength challenge or take part in Hot Wheels racing. Or they may find a new pet and safeguard the ones they already have at an animal adoption and vaccine clinic, sponsored by local animal control departments.
The final event of Twin City Days is a concert in the park featuring the Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys Band. There will be food trucks on hand and the chamber-sponsored beer tent will be up and running from 6 p.m. on.
For more information, contact the chamber at 636-931-7697 or visit twincitychamber.com.
The chamber website at twincitychamber.com has a downloadable schedule of events that is updated frequently.
Click here for pictures from last year's events:
Festivities for this year's Twin City Days included a breakfast at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus; free bowling at Quonset Lanes in C…
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, during the Main Street Market, First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City will have free family activities at 107 N. Truman Blvd. in Crystal City.
Twin City Days to offer lots of activities for children
By Goldie Lowe
If you have youngsters at home, you might want to take them to Twin City Days on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7, when plenty of family friendly events and children’s activities will be held at various locations.
Children may take in an outdoor movie, try their hand at fishing, race some Hot Wheels, play games, create a chalk masterpiece or dig for money. A baby-crawling contest will be held, too.
In addition, families will have the opportunity to get a children’s ID kit.
Sept. 6
Free snow cones, cold beverages and glow bracelets with be available at the Movie Night Under the Stars event to be held at the Crystal City Park ballpark near the park pond. The movie “Barbie” (PG-13) is scheduled to start at dusk, around 7:45 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, snacks and drinks. The event is organized by the Crystal City Parks Department and the Twin City Chamber of Commerce.
Pam Meese, manager of The Summit at Crystal City Park event and meeting room, said attendees should get to the ballfield by using Park Drive by the Summit. She said the Lake Drive entrance will be closed before, during and after the movie for the safety of those attending.
Sept. 7
■ The Hooked on Fishing event will be held from 8-11 a.m. at the Festus Crystal City Conservation Club, 2567 Hwy. 61, south of Festus.
It’s free to participate in the event, which is open to children 16 and younger. The club will provide lunch and drinks after the event. Pre-registration by Wednesday, Sept. 4, is preferred.
Those who want to fish may register by emailing the club with the name and age of the participating child at fccconservationclub@gmail.com or by calling and leaving a message for the club at 636-933-0908.
Participants need to bring their own fishing gear and bait, club secretary treasurer Rhonda Mitchell said.
She said prizes will be awarded in different categories, such as heaviest fish, longest fish and heaviest stringer.
Mitchell said about 40 children typically participate in the event.
“This is an opportunity for kids who don’t normally get to go fishing to come down and fish for a couple of hours,” Mitchell said. “The idea when it started was to get kids hooked on fishing and not drugs. It started for kids to get out and enjoy the outdoors and the fun of catching fish.”
Mitchell said the pond will mostly have bluegill, and children will be allowed to keep the fish or release them.
■ The First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City, 107 N. Truman Blvd., in Crystal City, will host a free Family Fun Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Greg Sullivan, head of the evangelism and outreach team, said activities will include a bounce house, inflatable maze, obstacle course, slide, a scavenger hunt, an inflatable volcano-themed climbing wall and free snacks and drinks. Music with Kenny Evans will begin at 11 a.m.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 people typically attend the family fun day every year, he said.
Sullivan said the play area is completely fenced in area.
“Most people say how happy they are that there’s a place their kids can go, where they know they’re safe and they can just run and play,” he said. “And we’re always told that they can’t believe that it’s all free,” he said.
Sullivan said the church is happy to provide the event for families to enjoy.
“We’re just trying to connect with our community,” he said.
Sullivan said the church also will hold a free concert featuring Kenny Evans at 6 p.m. on the following day, Sunday, Sept. 9.
■ A Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Contest will begin at 9 a.m. at Crystal City Park, 1400 Dick Cook Drive. The contest is a free event, and the chalk will be provided for free. Registration will be at Gazebo 2 near the playground, with categories for children up to 5 years old, 6-11 years old, 12-18 years and 19 and up. Both family and individual registrations will be available. Each participant will be assigned a spot on the concrete sidewalk around Crystal City Park to create artwork.
Meese said the contest is a fun event suitable for people of most ages and abilities. The park will provide concrete backer board to any artists who use a wheelchair and want to participate without getting onto the ground.
“This event is easy to participate in and helps create a positive experience and encourages artistic expression,” she said. “Come with your originality.”
Meese said Patrick Doran, a park board member, will lead the event, and park board president Jimmie Henson will present certificates of excellence to winners in each category.
■ The annual Baby Crawling Contest is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Crystal City Park, 1400 Dick Cook Drive, near the pool. Registration will start at 9 a.m. The free event, sponsored by Pony Bird, is open to any child who is crawling but not walking.
The babies will crawl on an approximately 20-foot-long canvas tarp, and all will receive a prize for participating. Additional prizes will be awarded to the babies who finish first, second and third in the race.
■ The Festus Crystal City Kiwanis Club organizes kids’ games and Money Pit activities for children 10 and younger. The activities will run from 9-11 a.m. at Crystal City Park, 1400 Dick Cook Drive, near the sand volleyball courts.
Some of the games include soccer, bowling, putt-putt golf, bean bag toss, said Kiwanis member Ryan Vangilder.
For the Money Pit, children will get a minute or two to dig in sand to uncover $300 in coins buried there, and they get to keep the money they find. Typically, 50 to 125 children take part in the activity each year, Vangilder said.
■ Hot Wheels races will be held for children between the ages of 3 and 15. Children are encouraged to bring their two fastest Hot Wheels vehicles to race at Twin City Toyota, 301 Autumn Ridge Drive, in Herculaneum. Each child may only enter two Hot Wheels in the race.
The dealership will hold the free Hot Wheels racing event, with children asked to donate a canned good or nonperishable food item to enter the race. The donated food will benefit the Ozark Food Pantry.
The St. Louis Hot Wheels Club will help with the event.
Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, soda and water will be served while supplies last. Vendors and collectors will be on hand selling Hot Wheels.
Children will be divided into two age divisions. Ages 3-7 register at 10:30 a.m. for the races at 11 a.m. Ages 8-15 register at 11:30 a.m., with races beginning at noon. Trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in each age group.
“It’s a fun event for the family,” said Shelley Sharp of Twin City Toyota. “The kids really get into it and seem to enjoy it tremendously.”
■ Members of the Crystal City and Festus police departments will have Children’s ID Kits available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a booth on South Adams in Festus during the Main Street Market.
Parents may use the kits to fingerprint their children and collect DNA samples. The kits may be completed at the booth with help from police officers, or parents may take the kits home to complete at a later time.
A free family bowling event will run from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Quonset Lanes, 2004 N. Truman Blvd., in Crystal City.
Twin City Days chock-full of sports, contests
By Kevin Carbery
The 2024 Twin City Days, set for Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 5-7, will offer a variety of sporting activities and contests, including some just for fun and others for those with a more competitive spirit.
There should be something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s playing pickleball or golf; taking the family for a free game of bowling or bike ride; or competing in a 5K run or washers, cornhole or basketball tournament.
The events are held at various locations around Festus and Crystal City.
Sept. 5
■ The United States Senior Pickleball Midwest Regional Championships and Twin City Invitational kicks off and continues through Sept. 8 at Jokerst Memorial Park, 525 S. Mill St.
Midwest Regional Bank sponsors both events.
The USSP Midwest Regional Championships event for players age 50 and older is set for Sept. 5-6; the Twin City Invitational for all ages takes place Sept. 7-8.
The entry fee for the USSP tourney is $40, and the entry fee for the Twin City Invitational is $30. There is no charge for spectators to watch the pickleball action.
Organizer Jim Berger said this is the 10th year for a pickleball tournament in some form to be held during Twin City Days.
“It’s the third-oldest pickleball tournament in Missouri,” he said. “You’re going to see some great players.”
For more information or to register to compete, visit pickleballbrackets.com.
Berger said those wondering if slots remain to play in either tournament should contact him at aaolm@att.net or 314-960-1787.
Sept. 6
■ The Twin City Days Annual Golf Tournament at Crystal Highlands Golf Course, 3030 Hwy. 61, south of Festus. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m., and play begins at 9 a.m.
The Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce puts on the event.
Tournament organizer Ethan Bridgewater said on Aug. 21 that slots for the four-player golf scramble event were almost all gone, but there could be cancellations, which would open spots.
“I think last year we had one cancellation,” he said. “We pretty much fill it up every year.”
The entry fee is $600 per team and includes the tournament play, golf court fee, boxed lunches and other refreshments. Prizes are offered to top finishers. Side games include closest-to-the-pin, longest drive and skins game contests.
For more information, call 636-931-7697 or send emails to director@twincitychamber.com.
■ Free family bowling event 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Quonset Lanes, 2004 N. Truman Blvd., in Crystal City. The Twin City Area Optimist Club’s Junior Optimist Club sponsors the event, which offers one free game along with a free shoe rental.
“This is the third year for the event,” said Barb Schumaker, the Junior Optimist Club adult adviser. “The Junior Optimists want to promote family time.”
The first 100 participants age 18 and younger will receive a $5 voucher for food and drinks at the venue.
Call 314-471-7213 for more information or send emails to Debbie268244@gmail.com.
■ Tour de Twin City Days, a free family bicycle-riding event, starts at 6:30 p.m. at Crystal City Park, 1400 Dick Cook Drive. Participants ae asked to gather with their bikes at the park to ride a 2.8-mile loop. Helmets are required. No scooters or skateboards are allowed.
Pedal’n Pi is the event organizer.
Immediately following the Tour de Twin Cities bike ride, snow cones and drinks will be provided, and a free movie will be held at the Crystal City Park ballfield. “Barbie” will be shown. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
For more information, send emails to creed@creedsworld.com.
Sept. 7
■ A 5K run/walk will be held at 8 a.m. at Crystal City Park, 1400 Dick Cook Drive. The entry fee is $20, but there is no charge for those 12 and younger or those 70 and older. Register by Aug. 30 to guarantee a shirt.
The Jefferson County YMCA sponsors the event.
The route runs through Crystal City streets, beginning and ending at the park.
“We had 80 to 85 participants last year,” said organizer Shelley Otec of the YMCA. “We’re hoping to beat that this year.”
She said riders may win medals in different age groups, but the point is less about competition than the camaraderie of participating in a healthy activity.
“The atmosphere is noncompetitive,” Otec said. “It’s not intimidating at all.”
She noted that the entry fee was reduced by $5 from the previous year.
“We dropped the price hoping more people will come out,” Otec said.
To register, go to gwrymca.org and go to the YMCA of Jefferson County section. For more information, call the YMCA at 636-931-9622.
■ Athletico Physical Therapy will again hold its Grip Strength Challenge from 9-11 a.m. at its facility, 1300 Veterans Blvd., in Festus. The free event tests grip strength with a force gauge. Prizes are offered for the top two male and female placers in each age category. For more information, call 636-931-2100 or send emails to festus@athletico.com.
■ Washers and cornhole tournaments will be held at the Main Pavilion at the Larry G. Crites Memorial Park along Old Hwy. A in Festus. The entry fee is $50 per two-person team, and the price includes drinks. Participants must be at least 16 years old.
The cornhole tournament’s registration opens at 8 a.m., and play starts at 9 a.m. The washers tournament registration opens at 9 a.m., and play starts at 10 a.m. The double-elimination tournaments are fundraisers for the Andy Habsieger Scholarship Fund, and the organization’s foundation sponsors the tournaments.
For more information, call 314-221-0082 or send emails to jcrites@windsorc1.com.
■ A 3-on-3-basketball and 34 Hoops Basketball Academy event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the courts at Crystal City Park, 1400 Dick Cook Drive. The tournament offers divisions for youth and adult teams. For more information, send emails to Thirty4academy@outlook.com.
Anthology-Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band will play at the Blues on the Bricks event on Friday, Sept. 6.
Blues on the Bricks, Concert in the Park return
By Bailey Becker
Twin City Days will include two nights of live music, with three musical acts performing.
The music will kick off on Friday, Sept. 6, at the Blues on the Bricks, which starts at 6 p.m. on Mississippi Avenue in Crystal City. The event also will include food trucks, and beverages will be sold along that cobblestone street. The event is for adults 21 years and older.
No coolers or outside beverages will be allowed at the Blues on the Bricks. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs.
Crystal City Councilman Rick Fischer, a member of the Twin City Days Committee, said 2023 was the first year for combining the Blues Funk Festival and the Cobblestone Celebration, and it proved popular, with the street filled with people from the stage area all the way to the bridge.
The night’s musical acts will start at 7 p.m. with opening performer David Kalz, who was the founding lead guitarist for Devon Allman’s Honeytribe.
Kalz will be followed by Anthology-Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band, which will play until 11 p.m.
Anthology was formed in 2017 and includes two founding members – vocalist Danny Liston and bass player Dickie Steltenpohl (who were in Mama’s Pride, which toured with Gregg Allman and his band in the summer of 1979). Other current members include Tom Denman (keyboard/vocals); Terry Midkiff (guitar); Matt Rowland (guitar); Joe Meyer (drums) and Rob Lee (drums).
“I really hope people take advantage and fill the street for a band of that quality and production,” Fischer said. “I’m hoping if people come to expect this to be a blues event, then they will continue coming to it.”
Concert in the Park
The Concert in the Park will take place from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park, 2232-2292 Old State Hwy. A in Festus. The event and parking are free. Food trucks will be on hand. Coolers and outside beverages are not permitted.
Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys Band will play rock music. The four-member, St. Louis-based band performs classic rock tunes from the 1970s and 1980s and a few from the 1960s.
Mark “Joey Dirt” Quinn sings and plays guitar; Jerry “JD Dirt” Jost plays lead guitar; John “Johnny Dirt” Pessoni sings and plays the drums; and Kevin “Jethro Dirt” Gagnepain sings and plays bass.
Fischer said both nights of music will have exceptional lights and sound.
“People should come out for a few reasons: It’s here in town, it’s free, there are food trucks and the bands coming are similar to the bands you could see at the amphitheater in Chesterfield,” Fischer said.