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 The Smash Bands opens Celebrate St. Peters, the city’s annual party at the lake from 7 to 11 p.m. tonight, Friday, Sept. 14. The weekend’s event happens at 370 Lakeside Park. Parking is free and shuttle buses will transport visitors to the site.
St. Peters is in St. Charles County just west of St. Louis.
The band’s appearance is sponsored by Mid Rivers News Magazine, KFAV and 100.7 FM.
On Saturday, KSHE radio will present country rock legends Poco and Pure Prairie League. Poco will take the Main Stage around 7:30 p.m. Around 9 p.m. there will then be brief intermission for fireworks around followed by Pure Prairie League’s performance.
A variety of music acts playing polka, country, rock and samba will appear on the Celebrate Stage while Joy Nack will bring her “Live Your Dreams” puppet show to the Community News Family Stage at noon. From 1 to 4 p.m. on the Community News Family Stage the Patt Holt singers will presentfamily entertainment with a Disney theme.
Carnival rides and inflatables have been added this year. Tickets or unlimited ride wristbands may be purchased.
Home Depot will offer a free kids workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will make a project to take home.
Bass Pro Shops will hold a free kids fishing event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Bass Pro Shops will provide bait but kids are encouraged to bring their own fishing poles.
 Get in the Mardi Gras spirit with SSM Cardinal Glennon Family Winter Carnival, a free family-friendly event in the Soulard neighborhood that includes a children’s parade and a day full of activities held in a large tent.
The event begins at 11 a.m. in St. Louis’ Soulard Market Park at 8th and Lafayette.
Rally Squirrel and Fredbird will make special appearances at the carnival. Entertainment includes Muny Kids and Bobaloo.
Activities include:
- Decorate Your-Own Masks
- Decorate Your own Crowns
- Make Your Own Beads
- Decorate Your Own King’s and Queens Capes
- Face painting
- Art wall on which children can create their own piece of art
- SSM Cardinal Glennon Safety Corner offering safety tips for children and parents
- Interactive games
The children’s parade starts at 4 p.m.
Hours are 5-11 p.m., Friday; 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday and noon-8 p.m., Sunday.
Saturday’s event begin with a free children’s fishing tournament. The St. Louis Longbeards will provide fishing poles to those without them–while quantities last.
Other events on Saturday:
9 a.m., Car Show
10 a.m., Carnival Rides and The Edge
10 a.m., Helicopter Rides and Segways
10 a.m., Craft and Food Booths Open
11 a.m.., St. Louis Longbeards (free children’s activities and crafts)
Noon-1 p.m., Dance Productions Unlimited performs at main stage
3:30-6:30 p.m., Jessie Kohut & the Boys perform
7-11 p.m., Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys perform
8:30-9 p.m. (approximate), fireworks
Sunday events
Noon, carnival rides, activities, booths open; helicopter rides and Segways
1 p.m., parade begins at Wilde Conference Center (Fox Campus) and finishes at Arnold City Park
Although St. Charles’ Riverfest is just one day this year compared to three days in the past, it is packed full of fun.
A carnival runs from July 1 through July 4 at the south end of Frontier Park but the Riverfest event will be on July 4 only.
The event kicks off with a parade kicking off from Blanchette Park at 10 a.m. It reaches Main Street at approximately 10:45 a.m.
At noon, the Mayor will make her welcome address at noon, the parade winners will be announced and the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps will perform.
The entertainment schedule:
- 12:30-2:30 p.m., Pat Holt Singers & Dancers (dancers age 6-college age in a patriotic tribute)
- 3-4:30 p.m., David Cattani Band (easy listening)
- 4:30-5 p.m., Progression (four-piece quartet from the Ambassadors of Harmony)
- 5-6 p.m., Saint Charles Municipal Band (patriotic music)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m., Pearl Handle Band (country/western)
- 8-9:15 p.m., Fabulous Motown Review
- 9:15 p.m., Mayor’s welcome, national anthem sung by local singer Mary Barfield who is part of the St. Charles Christmas Traditions Characters
- 9:20 p.m., fireworks
- 9:45-10:30 p.m., Pearl Handle Band
(All of the entertainment is on the Jaycee Stage. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.)
The Children’s Area will be located east of the Katy Depot in Frontier Park where free arts & crafts will be provided by the Foundry Art Centre.
Also at the Children’s Area:
- 1, 3 and 5 p.m., Kincaid Karacters Puppet Shows
- 12:30-4:30 p.m., Balloon Man
- 12:30-6 p.m., My HandyWorks presents interactive art for a nominal fee
See the complete Riverfest schedule.
 Webster Grove’s annual Community Days is a four-day celebration of the Fourth of July at Memorial Park at Elm and Glendale.
Except for the carnival, barbeque and the duck races, the event is free.
The action starts with a music, a pet parade, local high school bands and a duck race. The Lions Club Carnival, Midway booths and barbeque are from 5-11 p.m.
On Saturday the carnival, booths and barbeque run from 1 to 11 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. the Miss Webster Groves Pageant will be held at the Webster Groves Aquatic Center with entertainment by the Webster Groves Jazz Quartet.
On Sunday the carnival, boots and barbeque are underway from 1 to 11 p.m. Entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. in Webster Groves Action Park with Kim Bauer and Gary Mitchell and continues with Phil Stendek, a one-man band action from 8 to 11 p.m. Then get set for fireworks. A “fireworks preview” is slated for 9:30 p.m. at Memorial Park.
On Monday a Community Days Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. going from Lockwood and Selma to Memorial Park. The carnival, booths and barbeque are set for 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Jumbo Shrimp, a cover rock band playing Jimmy Buffett-style music, performs from 7 to 11 p.m. in Webster Groves Action Park with a break for the fireworks spectacular at 9:45 p.m.
View the complete schedule.
 If you missed it on Saturday, you still have two days to make it to the Strawberry Festival at Eckert’s Country Store and Farm in Belleville. This homage to the yummy berry continues from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday with festival foods, live music, free wagon rides, pony rides, children’s play area, petting farm and carnival rides. Strawberry treats will be available for purchase in the bakery, custard shop and restaurant. There is a fee for some activities.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Eckert’s, 951 S. Greenmount Road in Belleville, Ill.
For more information call 618-233-0513 or click here.
 The annual Creve Coeur Days winds up at 7 p.m. today. The event, with entertainment, carnival rides and food, runs from noon until 7 p.m. on the grounds of Barnes-Jewish West Hospital.
The St. Louis Blues Experience featuring Rocking Jake Band and Jeremiah Johnson Band with the Sliders performs from 2-7 p.m. today.
The carnival midway is on Mason Road, south of the hospital’s medical buildings. Parking on nearby designated lots is free.
Creve Coeur Days, four days of entertainment, carnival rides and fun, kicks off on Thursday and runs through Sunday (May 19-22, 2011) on the grounds of Barnes-Jewish West Hospital.
The carnival midway will be on Mason Road, south of the hospital’s medical buildings. Parking on nearby designated lots is free but during office hours, the main hospital lots are reserved for patient and handicapped parking.
The annual parade steps off from Pulaski Bank, 12300 Olive at 1 p.m. on Sunday and heads west to Mason Road.
Carnival hours:
6-10 p.m., Thurs.
6-11 p.m., Fri.
Noon-midnight, Sat.
Noon-7 p.m., Sun.
Thursday night is “Armband Night.” Buy an armband for $15 and ride the rides as much as you want.
Stop by the Creve Coeur Days Information Booth and sign up for prizes donated by area merchants. Drawings will be done almost hourly.
The entertainment line-up:
Willis (classic rock band), 7-11 p.m., Friday
Matrixx followed by Skyline Band, 6-11 p.m., Saturday
St. Louis Blues Experience featuring Rocking Jake Band, Jeremiah Johnson Band with the Sliders, 2-7 p..m., Sunday.
Other entertainment including dance recitals are also scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
The annual Creve Coeur Days, planned and manned by volunteers, raises funds for charitable and philanthropic efforts.
For more information, go to crevecoeurdays.com.
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