An estimated 400 people attended the Swingin’ Under the Stars big band music concert, held Sunday at the Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus.
The free concert, sponsored by the Festus Tourism Commission, was the first in-person, city-sponsored music event since the COVID-19 pandemic began..
For the concert, the MOBB (Missouri Big Band) performed, under the direction of Joe Pappas and featuring vocalist Joe Scalzitti.
Festus recreation and tourism director Barb Lowry said the heat of the day broke just in time for a nice evening of tunes.
“We had beautiful weather,” she said. “About 4 o’clock, when the sound guys set up, I thought we were going to melt. But, by 6 p.m., the sun was going down and it cooled off.”
She said attendees brought lawn chairs and blankets so they could comfortably sit and listen to popular big band songs.
“(Scalzitti) sang songs by people like Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin,” Lowry said. “He sang ‘Mack the Knife,’ ‘Witchcraft.’ He sang ‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home.’”
She said it was easy to see people appreciated the chance to attend a public event.
“People were excited to be out,” she said. “They were excited to be at a music event at the park.”
Lowry said MOBB fans can see the band again at 6 p.m. Aug. 29, when it performs at Sunset Park in Festus, as part of the city’s Sundays at Sunset Concerts, also a free event sponsored by the city and the Tourism Commission.
Car cruise on tap next
The next Festus city-sponsored event will be the Mayor’s Summer Car Cruise & Car Show set for Saturday, June 5, on Festus Main Street.
Lowry said the occasion marks the return of the city’s car cruises (one in the summer and one in the fall), which were scrapped along with all other in-person city-sponsored events in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“The last one we had would have been held in September of 2019,” she said.
The event includes a car show at 2 p.m. outside the Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main St., and the car cruise starts at 6 p.m.
“It will be a cruise down historic downtown Main Street. The car cruise is open to all licensed and insured vehicles,” Lowry said. “It typically starts winding down at 10 p.m.
“If you just want to watch, bring a lawn chair.”