Late Summer and Fall Festivals Around Missouri and Illinois

It’s been a long, hot, and very dry summer in St. Louis. Of course, every summer is long, hot, and dry here. But now at least we know in our hearts, if not by our body temperatures, that fall is just a few short weeks away. The first sign of hope for some harried parents is the start of “back to school” specials at a lot of the retail stores around town. The stores try to help the parents by starting the sales earlier and earlier each year, and now the Missouri government is trying to help boost sales by declaring a sales tax free weekend, whereby consumers can save about 6 or so percent on back to school purchases. A few scroogy local municipalities decided not to go along this year, so you still had to pay local tax in some communities.

So, what do you do with those extra hard-earned dollars that you saved by not paying the tax? With gas prices at an all time high, I think a lot more people will be staying closer to home this fall. That said, if the weather gives us a break, more people should be attending the fall festivals and outdoor events this autumn. Most everyone who hasn’t spent the summer hiding out in a cave has heard of the major events like Strassenfest, Live on the Levee, and The Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Just like the big summertime festival; Fair St. Louis, some of these have had their share of problems this year. Live on the Levee features lots of music, food, and fun down on the riverfront and runs for a couple more weeks in August. This year the historic Eads Bridge across the Mississippi River was closed down and turned into the “Eats Bridge.” This kind of event has worked on bridges in other cities and is generally a good idea, but this year they didn’t foresee closures of lanes on the main Poplar Street Bridge. They also started the festival on Friday, which made the commute home a nightmare for a lot of people. Better luck next year.

There’s not much to say about the Strassenfest except be sure to go if you like polka, beer or bratwurst or have a pair of lederhosen hanging in your closet.

I used to look forward to the Japanese Festival every year, but the crowds have grown so large there the past couple of years, it’s made it somewhat difficult. Like a lot of the large festivals, by the time you walk the seemingly endless trek from the parking lot, you’re ready to go home. Besides that, after a few times, you can kind of figure out how that Japanese street magician does the trick with the origami. I believe the Chihuly art glass exhibit is still there, and that’s worth the trip alone, but maybe when it’s less crowded. But if you’ve never been, then it is still highly recommended. Here are a few of the lesser known fairs and festival around the two state areas of Missouri and Illinois:

If you haven’t been down on the farm in awhile, then the Missouri or Illinois State Fairs are always a kick. Both run for a week or so in mid-August. You can check out the carnival rides, food, and the steer competition. If you are planning on entering the canning competition, (it’s called preservation now), a word of caution; crabapple and rhubarb were big in 1900, but the hot item this year is salsa. Good old applesauce is still in vogue, though.

There are two tomato festivals of note in Missouri this year. That’s right tomato festivals. The Clayton Framer’s Market is having theirs on August 12th. Eight local chefs are offering up tomato-based recipes and there is also an amateur cooking contest. On the 13th, Iron Barley restaurant is having its second annual tomato fest. There will be music, food, and contests.

On September 23rd and 24th you can attend the Illinois Wine and Art Festival at Rend Lake. This is the premier wine and art event of the year and features samples from more than a dozen Illinois wineries. The festival also has over 50 artist booths including ceramics, glassblowing, and blacksmithing. Several local bands will also be performing.

On August 17th the St. Louis Crisis Nursery’s 16th Annual Celebrity Waiters and Waitresses Night will be held at the Monarch Restaurant in Maplewood. Be waited on by some of the of the region’s top TV celebrities and local politicos. Tip big, even if one of them spills wine on your lap, because the tips generated will all go to charity.

Over the river and through the woods, the National Sweet Corn Festival takes place Sep.2-6. For 50 years, the Hoopeston children of the corn have hosted a beauty contest that has spawned some three winners who have went on to become Miss America. There’s also an art show, carnival, demolition derby, a parade, and best of all, 29 tons of free corn.

I love Renaissance fairs and on Sept 4th and 5th there will be one on the Champaign County Fairgrounds. The Illinois Renaissance Faire features Celtic music, jousting, and live theatrical performances.

Sept. 10-12, offers the Indian Pow Wow/ Atlatl Association Contest at Cahokia Mounds State Park. Atlatl is an ancient device for slinging spears. (You may want to bring a helmet and body armor for this one.) After the contest, one of the biggest pow-wows in the area is going down with dance and drum circles, trading, and music.

On Oct. 8th and 9th you can go to the Scarecrow Fest in Shelbyville. You can dress your mother-in-law up and enter her in the scarecrow beauty contest. She might just win first prize! If she’s not up for that, take her along for the car show, tractor pull, parade, bingo, and three different lumberjack shows.

You may have noticed that a lot of these fall and late summer festivals have food as their theme. That’s because it’s harvest time folks. So it’s ok to store up a few extra pounds of fat for the long, cold, winter ahead. Now doesn’t that make you feel coolerâÂ?¦and hungry?