It’s hard to think of a more appropriate place to hold a train festival than De Soto.
The town, which centers on the railroad tracks that run between its east and west side, will host its first ever Train Days Festival on Saturday (June 2) on De Soto’s Main Street.
During the day-long festival, Main Street will be closed from Boyd Street to Miller Street to make way for train displays, vendors, a wine garden and live music performances. Patti Heath, the owner of The Odd Duck in De Soto, said it’s the first time the street has been closed to traffic in over 25 years. “The excitement’s just growing,” Heath said. “We’ve already sold out of vendor space.”
Heath is a member of Mainly De Soto, a group of Main Street merchants that is planning the festival. The event, which will feature 60 craft and food vendors, will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. LaChance Vineyards of De Soto will host the wine garden.
The Arlington Hotel will host one of two model train displays during the festival. The Mississippi Valley N Scalers Model Train Club “will have a huge display at the Arlington,” Heath said. Then on Main Street, a miniature steam engine train will be set up. In addition, the Lions Club will give children rides on a small train, she said.
The Misfits, an old-time country band, will perform from 5-9 p.m. at the Arlington, which will also host a beer garden. Meanwhile, on Main Street, The Hound, a rock band, will perform on stage from 5-9 p.m.
There will also be a petting zoo, old-time games, a chess tournament at the library, a basketball tournament for children in fifth through 12th grades, a soccer tournament and a dance performance by Bordeau Dance Studio. J.C. Corcoran of 93.1 Radio will be doing a live remote broadcast.
All in all, Heath said, “I think it’s going to be a good day.”
For more information about the festival, call Patti at The Odd Duck at 636-535-4039 or Katie at Mimi’s Place at 636-586-0800.