A number of people disregarded wet weather this morning, Sept. 10, to take part in early activities of the Twin City Days festival.
The rainy skies seemed to have a negative effect on the attendance, but forecasts for the rest of the festival call for nice weather, attendees noted.
The 2026 version of the annual events offer more than 50 activities from today through Saturday at various locations around Crystal City, Festus and surrounding areas.
The Twin City Days Free Community Breakfast and Adult Big Wheel Tricycle Obstacle Course Race between Festus and Crystal City that served as this year’s Mayors Challenge took place at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park. Crystal City won.
Shortly after, the Seniors in the Park activities organized by First State Community Bank began with bingo under a big tent and a performance by JB Louis and the Legends band next to it at the Ballpark Pavilion.
As the bingo was about to start, Sandy McKinney looked around and thought she might have a chance to win as rain appeared to keep down the number of players.
“I come to the bingo every year,” said McKinney, 88, of Hillsboro. “I never win. I play at (Leader) Senior Expos. I haven’t won there either. But this is my lucky day.
“I just do the bingo at Twin City Days. I used to come to the other Twin City Days events. I like it. We meet with friends we haven’t seen in a while.”
Another bingo player, Mark Wehner, 68, of the Festus area said he looks forward to Twin City Days every year.
“I come to Twin City Days usually on Friday and Saturday,” he said. “This is my first time at the Thursday events. I usually come with my wife, but she had to work today. I like the activities. I like the car show and the music.”
The Friends of the Library Book Sale for the Festus Public Library annually held during Twin City Days also began this morning and people started flooding into the building as soon as the doors opened, said Kathy Stoll, the Friends of the Library president. The book sale occurs each day of the festival.
“We’ve had a crowd all morning long,” she said. “We’re selling books of all genres each day, until noon Saturday, when we close up until the next year’s Twin City Days.”
All proceeds go in support of the library, she said.
“Everything goes back to the library for things not in their budget,” said Stoll, 76, of Festus. “Like, the club chairs in the front of the library, we bought. We also pay for the summer reading program for kids and young adults.”
She said the book sale has been popular over the years.
“I’ve been doing it since 2010, and it was going before I got involved,” she said.
Janet Darby, 62, of Hillsboro, was patronizing the book sale and said she is a regular at Twin City Days.
“We go to Twin City Days because it’s a great time,” she said. “We’re also going the Riverbend Books (scavenger hunt) Saturday.”
Also today, MRV Banks was having its annual Tailgate Kickoff at its Festus location, 1319 Truman Blvd., until 3 p.m., offering free food and games.
At 11 a.m., Dan Abts, the MRV Banks Festus market president, said he was looking forward to meeting the members of the public that would be stopping by the bank’s back parking lot. He just hoped people understood the construction work happening at the front of the building did not mean it was closed.
“We call it Tailgate Kickoff because the NFL season started last night, and it’s the kickoff of Twin City Days,” he said. “We were a little worried (about people realizing the Tailgate Kickoff) was happening because of the construction.”
He said he enjoys Twin City Days.
“I was talking to a guy about all the events,” said Abst, 65. “There’s over 50 events. We like to walk through (the Main Street Market of vendor booths) and the car show on Saturday, and the food trucks.”