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Rides, games, entertainment and plenty of food and beverages will be included at the 53rd annual Valley of Flowers Festival in Florissant May 1-3.  The theme of this year’s event is “Valley of Flowers Celebrates Those Who Serve.”

Events and activities throughout the weekend will be held at five locations: The James J. Eagan Community Center at the intersection of Parker and Waterford; the Duchesne Knights of Columbus grounds on Washington Street between St. Charles Street and Lindbergh Blvd; Old Town Florissant along Rue St. Francois; Koch Park at Howdershell and Charbonier; and Saint Ferdinand Shrine on Rue St. Francois next to the Knights of Columbus grounds.

James J. Eagan Community Center

Long-time Circus Flora performer Nino the Clown is bringing his Zoppe Italian Family Circus back to Florissant for several free performances at the Valley of Flowers Festival on May 1 and 2.  New this year is the addition of aerialist Nathan Valencia and his chair-balancing act as well as Nathan’s aerialist duo partner and wife Tatianne Nascimento. Also performing with Nino and his circus will be St. Louis native Carlo Gentile, his wife Orlene and their children Gianluca, Giulia and Gioa.  The acrobatic family uses their hands and feet to juggle, toss, spin, kick and pass objects including cloth circles, vases and people.

Zoppe an Italian Family Circus pays homage to the first circus that traveled the cobblestone roads of Italy centuries ago. Nino, whose real name is Giovanni Zoppé, is the sixth generation of his family to lead Zoppé an Italian Family Circus.  A one-ring circus that honors the best history of the Old World, Italian tradition, it traces its roots back to 1842 when a young French street performer named Napoline Zoppé eloped with an equestrian ballerina known as Ermenegilda to Venice and founded the circus that still bears their name.

“Nino the Clown has delighted audiences for decades in St. Louis, around the country and throughout Europe,” said Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider.  “Last year’s performances filled the big top quickly, so Nino has added a fifth weekend performance in 2015.  We encourage people to arrive early for a chance to see this wonderful circus at one of its five free, public performances.”

Zoppé an Italian Family Circus performs in its own, 500-seat, black-out tent, which will be erected at the Eagan Center.  “No seat is further than 20 feet from the action,” says Zoppé. Free public performances of the 60-minute circus will be held at 4 and 7 p.m. on Friday, May 1, and at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.

Also on the Eagan Center grounds will be the Children’s Celebration of Performing Arts on May 1 and 2. It features such acts as Babaloo Music and Fun, Kaput, Doktor Kaboom!, RW Magic, Los Patrones, the Kincaid Karacter Puppets, the Gypsy Rose III Pirate Ship and the Bubble Bus.

The City of Florissant presents its Festival performing arts events with financial support from the Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council. For more information on the family performances scheduled for the James J. Eagan Civic Center grounds, contact the Florissant Civic Center Theatre box office staff at 314-921-5678.

Duchesne Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds

Many activities will take place at the Knights of Columbus Duchesne Council grounds from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 1; from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 2; and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 3.  Children and teens 18 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult to enter the Knights’ grounds.

The Valley of Flowers parade begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eagan Center and ends at the Knights of Columbus grounds, where the Queen’s Crowning Ceremony and award presentations take place at 4 p.m. The winners of the Pretty Baby contest will also receive their awards at the fairgrounds.

For information on all the Valley of Flowers Festival performances and events, visit www.florissantvalleyofflowers.com, call 837-0033 or e-mail valley-of-flowers@sbcglobal.net.

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