From Country Days to Jour De Fete

The Little Miss and Master Country Days contest is normally part of the Country Days fun every year in June.

Cruisin’ for a Cause has become an annual fall fundraiser for the Park Hills Senior Center.

By Sarah Haas

Thousands of visitors flock to the Parkland throughout the year for its peaceful landscapes slower pace and laid-back vibe.

But don’t let the rural nature of this region fool you into thinking it’s sleepy. Now that the pandemic has diminished cancelling powers, residents are more than ready to resume throwing their annual civic events, festivals and fairs. Almost every town has at least one big, annual party – or more— and they’re inviting you to attend.

You can always count on Christmas parades and merchant-organized, fun shopping weekends around the holidays. You can also bet that each spring, Easter egg hunts will bring out the little bunnies and chicks seeking candy and treasures.

But some events require teamwork and hard work that are the hallmark of small towns in rural areas. Here are the highlights of the bigger events taking place annually around the Parkland. This list of free fairs and festivals isn’t exhaustive, though, and the creative fun-seekers who live here are always dreaming up new, bigger and better events.

Ste. Genevieve’s Jour de Fete every August has been described as the premier arts and crafts fair in the Midwest. Face-painting is just one of the activities at Desloge’s annual four-day Labor Day Picnic.

Arcadia Valley

Occurring every spring and fall, thousands flock to the Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival around the Iron County Courthouse Square in Ironton. Missouri bluegrass, old-time mountain and Americana music is played by a series of bands over the course of two days. There are vendors, crafters, kids’ activities and dancing in the street. There’s even an area set aside for pickers, so bring along your guitar, banjo, harmonica or washboard. The next festival is Oct. 15-16.

Bonne Terre

During the Big River Chautauqua, held annually in July over the course of three days, hundreds flock to Veterans Park behind City Hall to watch and listen to scholars offer fascinating, impersonating interpretations of the world’s most famous people, all under the canopy of a huge tent. Authors, professors and history lovers dress as the person they’ve extensively studied, taking on their persona and offering insightful takes on historic figures. It’s as entertaining as it is intellectually stimulating, with local singing groups and bands performing, as well. Skipped for two years because of the pandemic, it will be back in 2022.

Caledonia

It might be the smallest town on this list, but Caledonia’s Pumpkin Fest packs a wallop, when it comes to attendance. Every October, thousands of people clog this small hamlet, taking advantage of the good times in small spaces, the corn maze, crafts, concessions, music, petting zoo and their charming parade.

Desloge

Everyone knows, Desloge owns Labor Day in the Parkland. Bringing in thousands of people from surrounding areas, the town festival salutes the working men and women who make our country strong. A parade, beer garden, rides, bands, games and competitions, dancers, merchants and tons of kids’ activities make it a popular capstone to most of the summer fairs, festivals and events in our area.

Farmington

Summer wouldn’t be complete without early-June’s Country Days, which attracts thousands from surrounding towns and counties to its parade, concessions, beer garden, rides, games, myriad bands, talent contest, vendor booths, car shows and other activities geared to fun for the whole family. Be sure to wave to Mr. and Mrs. Country Days, the weekend’s special ambassadors.

Fredericktown

One of the first to kick off the cavalcade of festivals and fairs, the Azalea Festival happens in early May with activities mostly contained in the aptly-named Azalea Park. An Azalea Festival Queen reigns over the proceedings of the weekend, with her little prince and princess to keep her company, and thousands flock to the rides, concession stands, games, car show, crafters, vendors, concession stands, truck and tractor pull, kids’ activities and parade.

Park Hills

For the last couple of years on the first Saturday of October, Cruisin’ for a Cause has brought hundreds of people to the historic downtown area for hot-rodding, cruising Main Street, funny contests, cornhole tournament, vendors, crafters and concessions, bands, and a car show.

Potosi

The illustrious history of this old lead-mining area is celebrated with Moses Austin Festival which takes place over two days in late June downtown. A parade, games, demonstrations, kids’ area, petting zoo, race, car show and old-time demonstrations of arts and crafts of the past are all part of this unique festival.

Ste. Genevieve

Recently named a national park, Ste. Genevieve is the last word on the area’s French colonial history. Jour de Fete takes place every August and features several days of concessions, vendors, crafters, a parade, live music, competitions and you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for figures dressed in colonial costumes. Ste. Genevieve takes its heritage seriously, but they also know how to throw a great party.

As said before, this is not an exhaustive list of all the great fairs, festivals and events each of these towns can offer in a year. Be sure to regularly consult your local media, Chambers of Commerce and local Facebook pages to stay up-todate on additional, unique events. PL