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‘Valley of Flowers Celebrates . . . The World of Entertainment’
Annual Festival in Florissant Promises a Weekend of Fun
Since 1963, the Valley of Flowers Festival celebration has been the “first festival of spring,” featuring a variety of events, including a superb parade. Events included in this three-day celebration are a flower and plant sale, culturally diverse performances, baseball games, a classic car show, a vendor/craft fair, flea market, a pretty baby photo contest, children’s activities and, of course, good food. Carnival games and exciting rides are featured at the Duchesne Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds.
The official parade on Sunday, May 8 is a highlight of the weekend that leads up to the crowning of the Valley of Flowers Queen and Court at the Duchesne Knights of Columbus Pavilion. This year’s parade will feature more than 100 participants. Mobile units will depart from the James J. Eagan Center at 1:45 p.m. Decorated vehicles and ?oats will proceed west on Parker Road to New Florissant Road where youth and walking units, as well as the marching bands, will merge in. The complete parade will then travel south on New Florissant Road prior to turning west on rue St. Francois past the of?cial parade reviewing stands, then left on St. Ferdinand, proceeding then to Washington Street and concluding at the Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds.
The theme for the 2016 Valley of Flowers Parade is “Valley of Flowers Celebrates…The World of Entertainment.” The many ?oats and units will be decorated to re?ect the arts, movies, music, plays, etc. This parade will celebrate the impact that the arts have on people, both to challenge and to enrich lives.
Among the participants in the parade will be many city of?cials and local municipal emergency responder vehicles, the Valley of Flowers reigning Queen and court, and all twenty 2016 candidates as well as car clubs, walking units, horse groups, dogs clubs, dance schools and scout groups. A colorful and fun parade is promised.
When the parade concludes at the Knights of Columbus Grounds, the candidates will proceed to the pavilion stage where Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider will crown the 2016 Valley of Flowers Queen and Court at 4 p.m. Before the crowning ceremony, awards will be presented to the various winning parade units and their sponsors, as well as the Pretty Baby Photo Contest winners.
Spectators should plan to arrive early to get good seats along the parade route for one of the largest and most colorful spring parades in the St. Louis Metro area. Plan to join the celebration at the Knights of Columbus Pavilion for the awards and crowning ceremonies.
Many Events Planned
Other events scheduled for the Valley of Flowers Festival include: a “People’s Walk” sponsored by the St. Louis Stuttgart Volksmarch Club; a car show courtesy of Florissant Old Town Partners; a “Pretty Baby” photo contest for children ages 2 years and younger; a food court with multi-cultural flavors; a craft fair, vendor fair and flea market, sponsors’ informational booths; high school baseball games; and a digital mobile mammography service health screening by Missouri Baptist Medical Center’s Breast HealthCare Center.
“Once again the City of Florissant is pulling out all the stops to provide a wonderful weekend of family entertainment with many free productions and events,” said Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider. “All of these fun activities will culminate with the annual parade and crowning of the Valley of Flowers Queen and Her Court on Sunday, May 8 at the Duchesne Knights of Columbus fairgrounds. We invite all of our residents, neighbors and friends to join us for this annual salute to spring in Florissant.”
The City of Florissant presents its festival performing arts events with financial support from the Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council. For information on the Valley of Flowers Festival at the James J. Eagan Civic Center, the Duchesne Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds, St. Ferdinand Shrine or in historic Old Town Florissant, call 314-837-0033 or www.florissantvalleyofflowers.com”
No event as large as the Valley of Flowers celebration can be staged without the guidance of a dedicated team of leaders. The 2016 Valley of Flowers Committee consists of Chairman Laurie Lowery, Coordinator, Kati Mahoney, and Board Members Kathy Blasingame, Kelly Eagan, Vicky Egan, Mary Gettemeier, Mike Kubiak, Michael O’Fallon and Ron Peach.
