Rainy weather and other obstacles for the most part did not deter people from attending the 37th annual Twin City Firecracker Festival on June 26-27, organizers said.
The Friday-Saturday event took place at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus. The Festus Tourism Commission, city of Festus, city of Crystal City, Festus Parks Department, Festus Parks Board and the public works departments of Crystal City and Festus team up to put on the festival.
“Attendance for the two days was somewhere from 22,000 to 25,000,” said Barb Lowry, the Festus director of recreation and tourism. “Overall, things went very well. But we did face some big challenges over the weekend.”
The most obvious challenges were the periods of heavy rain before the festival began and at times during the event, but other hurdles presented themselves, Lowry said.
“We had 3 1/2 inches of rain that fell before the event even started,” she said. “Then, on Friday, a leg of a transformer went out, and we didn’t have power to the back half of the stage field. Any vendor who paid for electricity on the back half of the field did not have power.
“Ameren sent a technician and found a fuse out and repaired it. It didn’t have anything to do with the rain. By 4 p.m., everything was up and running.”
She said rain forced Dear Darla to stop its June 26 performance about midway for about 40 minutes, but the band resumed playing until 10 p.m.
Other than more periodic rain, the festivities went smoothly until the end of activities on June 27, Lowry said.
“After the fireworks Saturday, a fireworks trailer (caught fire),” she said. “The show ended. The show was fantastic, then the trailer caught fire. There were some fireworks in the trailer that went off, but no injuries. Firefighters did not let people leave as a precaution until it was all put out.”
In addition to Dear Darla on June 26, musical performers at Mayor Mike’s Stage were opening act Ian Ferguson, followed by headliner Pam Tillis.
“Pam Tillis was great, fantastic,” Lowry said. “The entertainment all weekend long was fantastic.”
A new activity for the Firecracker Festival was a drone show the night of June 26 that has drawn rave reviews, Lowry said.
“People wanted it to go longer,” she said. “It lasted about 12 minutes. It’s a light show. They made designs. The first design was ‘Festus Tourism.’ Festus Tourism paid for the drone show and for the headliner.”
A Kids’ Fishing Derby and a Seniors’ Fishing Derby, both held the morning of June 27 at Al Brown Lake in the park, drew strong participation, said Josh Whaley, the Festus parks director.
“We had about 160 kids and 20 seniors registered to fish Saturday,” Whaley said. “The numbers were up slightly over the previous few years.”
Parents and young fishing enthusiasts said they were enjoying that event and the festival in general.
“We’re here for the first time,” said Amy Rivera of Cedar Hill. “I think it’s a good family event. I like the fact the kids are off their phones.”
Carissa Kinder of Festus said she and her son are regulars at the fishing derby and festival.
“My son comes here every year,” she said. “He caught a catfish today. We do this and the car show, then come back for the fireworks. We live close enough to go home and come back.”
Kamden Spruell, 12, of Festus was excited to show off his catch at the fishing derby.
“It’s my first catfish,” he gushed. “It’s our first time here.”
He said he had attended the June 26 night activities, as well.
“I loved the drone show,” he said.
Maggie Bishop of Imperial said she and her four children appreciate the fishing derby.
“We haven’t caught anything yet,” she said. “Last year, they all caught fish. But it’s fun.”
Throughout both days, attendees could visit dozens of craft and food vendor booths. The festival also offered carnival rides and a petting zoo, although wet grounds affected the animal encounters.
“There was no petting zoo Friday because of wet grounds, but we had it Saturday,” Lowry said.
She said she is grateful for all who attended and who helped with the festivities.
“I am very appreciative of the vendors, the people who came to the fair and the Festus Tourism Commission,” she said. “I’m very appreciative of the staffs from Festus and Crystal City, and the police and fire who came to help. I can’t thank them all enough.”
Car Show
Rain undoubtedly affected the third annual Firecracker Festival Car Show presented by the Festus R-6 School Foundation on the morning of June 27 at the ballfield parking lot of Crites Park, said Kevin Pope of the school district.
Nevertheless, it was a positive event, he said.
“We had about 25 entrants,” said Pope, the district’s coordinator of communications and special projects. “I think the rain or threat of rain kept people away.
“All in all, it was a good event. It helped the Festus R-6 School Foundation raise money to provide grants to our teachers. I’d estimate it raised about $700.”
Darren Williams brought his 1953 International pickup to the show.
“I’m a (car show) judge,” Williams said. “I just brought it to display.”
Drew Marlow of the Festus area said he was enjoying the car show after he brought his son, James, to the fishing derby.
“We’re big on the fishing part of the festival,” Marlow said. “But we’ll go home and come back for the fireworks.”
James Marlow said he caught several fish. “I had fun,” he said.
Pickleball Tournament
Jim Berger, an organizer of the pickleball tournament June 25-28 associated with the Firecracker Festival, said hundreds came to play at the annual event even with the wet weather.
The event took place June 25, 27 and 28 at Jokerst Park Memorial Park in Festus, but players were sent to the Missouri Pickleball Club, which has indoor courts, on June 26 due to rain, he said.
“We had more than 500 players,” he said. “We were happy with the participation, especially since there had been rain predicted and we had cancellations. We still drew players from eight states.”
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