The city of Eureka is gearing up to hold some traditional events.
Eureka Mayor Sean Flower said the city will hold the annual Independence Day Celebration and Eureka Days this year.
City officials canceled the events last year because of restrictions St. Louis County government and health officials placed on gatherings because of the spread of COVID-19.
“The rest of the state is coming back to normal,” Flower said. “We’re at a point where St. Louis County and the city have to catch up to what is going on and allow people to start planning and doing the things that are going on. So, I’m glad to do it, but I mean, it’s just time. You just can’t skip two years of everyone’s life.”
The Independence Day Celebration will include a fireworks show staged by the city, Flower said. Parks and Recreation director Kristin Christenson said plans for the celebration have not been finalized, including the date.
Eureka typically holds the celebration from 7-10 p.m. July 4, which is on a Sunday this year, at Lions Park, 340 Bald Hill Road, with fireworks launched from Drewel Park, on Hill Drive in Shaw’s Garden Subdivision, and Legion Park, 333 Bald Hill Road.
Lions Park is across from Legion Park, and Drewel Park is less than a half-mile west of Lions Park.
Fireworks typically start at about 9:15 p.m. and last about 20 to 25 minutes.
Eureka Days is usually held over the first weekend of September. The event typically includes a parade through Old Town that leads to Lions and Legion parks, where carnival rides, vendor tents, live music and other forms of entertainment are set up. The parade traditionally is held on Saturday.
Flower said the typical lineup may change.
“We’re starting to kind of get the schedule together,” he said.
The traditional events are not the only things returning to the city this summer.
Eureka Parks and Recreation coordinator Lizzie Roberds said the Timbers of Eureka’s pool, which remained closed last summer, will reopen. Roberds said an opening date and health guidelines will be released soon.
Flower said the pool did not open in 2020 because requirements set by St. Louis County to limit the spread of COVID-19 were “so difficult” to follow.
The Timbers is at 1 Coffey Park Lane.
The Eureka Board of Aldermen was scheduled to vote on contracts for Eureka Days and pool management services on Tuesday night, after the Leader deadline.