The 2025 WinterFest coming Saturday to downtown Festus will continue its purpose of offering free or low-cost family-friendly activities, said organizer Barb Lowry.
This year’s WinterFest offers activities beginning at 8 a.m. and running through 6 p.m. Saturday at locations along the city’s Main Street. Most activities occur on the parking lot of the Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main St., or across the street at the parking lot of First United Methodist Church, 113 S. Grand Ave.
“December is a very expensive month,” said Lowry, the Festus recreation and tourism director. “Festus Tourism works hard to provide an event where families can come and have a fun day without breaking the bank.”
As usual with WinterFest, skating on an artificial ice rink will be offered on the library parking lot.
“The skating is free, with free skate rental,” she noted. “It’s a 40-by-50-foot artificial ice rink.
Inflatables on the First United Methodist Church parking lot also are offered at no cost, she said. Some are strictly for youngsters, while others are available to anyone, she added.
“There’s a Jumpin’ Gingerbread inflatable,” Lowry said. “There are bounce houses. One is for little kids. There is an Everest Climb N Slide. You climb up 30 feet and slide down.”
Other features of the day include face painting, balloon twisting and a petting zoo.
“The face painting and balloon twisting are free,” Lowry said. “The petting zoo is free to visit, but there is a slight cost to feed the animals.”
Pony or camel rides may be offered for a fee.
“Actually, we’re not sure if they will bring ponies or camels,” she said.
Craft and food vendors will sell their wares during the festivities.
Breakfast with Santa once again takes place in the morning inside First United Methodist Church. There is no charge, but freewill offerings are accepted.
The annual Decorated Cookie Challenge happens inside the Festus Public Library. Different age classes (13 and younger, 14-17 and 18 and older) vie for a $50 prize in each class, with winners decided by public vote during WinterFest.
Another feature, fire performers, happens at 5 p.m., on the library parking lot.
“They’ll do all kinds of things with fire,” Lowry said.
In addition, Santa Claus makes his initial visit of the season to the Santa House in Schneider Park at the intersection of Main and Mill streets during WinterFest. He is scheduled to receive visitors of all ages, including “well-behaved, leashed pets,” at the Santa House, Lowry said.
There is no charge to see Santa or for people to take their own photos of their children, pets or others with him, but canned food or other nonperishable food donations are encouraged, with the donations going to the Ozark Food Pantry.
“We also will have roaming (costumed) characters for photos,” she said. “That is free.”
Below is the WinterFest schedule of events:
■ 8-10:30 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa, First United Methodist Church.
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Craft/food vendors, balloon twister, voting inside the library for the Decorated Cookie Challenge.
■ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Skating, inflatables, petting zoo, pony/camel rides.
■ noon to 6 p.m.: Santa will receive visitors in the Santa House in Schneider Park.
■ 5 p.m.: Fire performers at the library parking lot.
Santa House schedule
Santa resumes his visits to Santa House in Schneider Park after WinterFest to hear the Christmas wish lists of youngsters.
His scheduled visits at Santa House after WinterFest are: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 20.
For more information on WinterFest or Santa’s visits to Santa House, visit festusmo.gov.
The Festus Tourism Commission also sponsors this event.
A related activity, Santa’s Mailbag, may be seen on the Festus YouTube channel. Santa will read letters to him dropped off at the mailbox at Scheider Park with the videos of the readings posted on Dec. 12 and 19. For information about city of Festus events, go to festusmo.gov and hit the “Around Town” button.