The annual Festus WinterFest, set for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, will offer plenty of family friendly activities on and around Main Street.
“We are dedicated to keeping this an affordable event for families,” said Barb Lowry, Festus recreation and tourism director. “Most everything is free or for a nominal fee.”
This will be the fifth time the Festus Tourism Commission has sponsored the event, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A few new activities will be included in this year’s festival.
“We have added some street performers,” Lowry said. “We’ve added characters for photo opportunities that will roam through the festival. We’ve got jugglers and Jack Frost, the magician, which are new. The performers come from Circus Kaput.”
Once again, free inflatable “bounce house”-type rides and games will be set up on the First United Methodist Church parking lot across the street from the Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main St.
Ice skating on an artificial surface, a crowd favorite, will return, Lowry said.
The fee to ice skate is $2 for 30 minutes for those who need to rent skates and $1 for those who use their own skates.
A petting zoo will be included for free, but there will be a small fee to feed the animals. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered for a fee.
“We have at least four food trucks,” Lowry said Nov. 15.
Craft vendors will be included, and the Santa House in Schneider Park at Mill and Main streets will be open during the festival, as well as at other times throughout the Christmas season.
A schedule of events:
■ 8-10 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at First United Methodist Church (donations accepted).
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Balloon twister, face painters, petting zoo.
■ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Bounce houses, inflatables, street curling at First United Methodist Church parking lot.
■ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Concessionaire Extraordinaire, The Cheese Shack, Missouri Pitfire Mobile BBQ and Yo Dawg Catering food trucks.
■ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Ice skating.
■ noon to 1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.: Holiday juggling duo.
■ 1-2 p.m.: Tappy the Penguin photo op.
■ 1-7 p.m.: Santa Claus at the Santa House.
■ 3-7 p.m.: Horse-drawn carriage rides.
■ 3-4 p.m., 5-6 p.m.: Abominable Snow Man photo op.
■ 4-5 p.m.: Jack Frost magic show.
■ 6-7 p.m.: Fire performer show.