An iconic St. Louis team made its way to Festus last week.
Thousands of people gathered July 23 to watch Budweiser’s famous Clydesdales trot down Festus Main Street.
The parade was done in partnership with Folds of Honor, an organization which provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of deceased service members and first responders, and H.W. Herrell Distributing Co. organized the event.
The last time the eight-horse hitch was in Festus was in 1955. While Clydesdales came in 1987, it was not the traditional eight-horse hitch. Clydesdales have been brought to other parts of Jefferson County, as recently as 2021 in Herculaneum.
The Clydesdales were already in the area for the Jefferson County Fair’s 80th anniversary.
Carol (Herrell) Schanz, owner of H.W. Herrell Distributing, said she enjoyed the festivities and appreciated the excitement it was generating.
“I just think this is fantastic for our community,” she said. “It’s been 72 years since this has happened on Festus Main Street.”
Mark Lednick, H.W. Herrell vice president, said the distributorship was happy to get all the Main Street business participation.
“It’s a good chance for us to acknowledge our retailers on Main Street,” Lednick said.
Barb Lowry, Festus director of tourism, said the event ran smoothly and provided the community with an upbeat night.
“Thursday night (July 23) was such a feel-good night in Festus,” she said. “I really feel like we’ve been needing that. It was the most perfect, small-town feeling.”
The parade began after a Folds of Honor ceremony at Festus City Hall. The Clydesdales started down Main Street, stopping at PrimeTime Sports Pub, Pedal’n Pi, Main & Mill Brewing Co., Tanglefoot Dance Hall, The Contrarian, Four Brothers Mead, Pogolino’s, Central Tap and Captain Z’s.
Community members were amazed at being able to see the Clydesdales up close.
For Tracy Patterson, a Festus resident, seeing the Clydesdales brought a strong wave of nostalgia.
“I cry when I see them,” she said.
Patterson recalled spending time with her grandmother, a “huge” St. Louis Cardinals fan, and seeing the Clydesdales together. She saw the Clydesdales at Herculaneum’s Bicentennial Celebration in 2021 and planned to see the horses again at the Jefferson County Fair.
Holly Stever of Ste. Genevieve said the Clydesdales have a special place in her heart.
“My friend and I have watched the Cardinals on opening day for 23 years,” said Stever, 75. “When they’re this close, we have to see them.”
Jim Raspberry, 84, of Hillsboro said he made the short trip from his town to get a glimpse of the famous horses.
“The Clydesdales are what we came to see,” he said.
Frank Brown, 72, of De Soto said he came to the event for the Clydesdales and the Folds of Honor ceremony.
“It’s a thrill to see the Clydesdales,” he said. “I’m also here for the Folds of Honor. My son’s in the Navy.”
Todd Sweet of De Soto also came to see the Clydesdales and support Folds of Honor. Both he and his wife are veterans and say they admire what the organization offers its recipients.
Sweet enjoyed the “nostalgia” the Clydesdales provided.
Judy Simms, a longtime Festus resident, said she previously lived close to the Clydesdales’ broodmare farm and relished seeing the horses parade down Main Street.
“You just wanna cry, it’s so St. Louis,” she said.
