Valley of Flowers Celebrates the Saint Louis Zoo,

Queen Coronation, Festival Dates Pending

Spring would have marked the arrival of the 58^th celebration of the Valley of Flowers Festival, however, together we continue to face a truly unprecedented situation. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected our families, our jobs, our communities, and our way of life.  The most visible impact is the cancellation or postponement of many of the Valley of Flowers Festival activities.

Nonetheless, plans are still underway for the 2020 queen crowning, and a scaled back festival in late summer complete with the annual parade. Dates and details to be determined.

Eight young women who have applied to be candidates for the Queen and Court who will represent the City of Florissant in community and area-wide activities over the coming year. The candidates were interviewed (by a Zoom tele-conference to comply with “stay-at-home” orders from the State of Missouri) on Sunday April 19. Five impartial, independent judges (who are not on the Festival Committee) interviewed the ladies and made their selections.

The results will be announced at the crowning event as the Queen and her Court are installed for the 2020-2021 year. When is the crowning event? The festival committee will arrange a venue and a date as soon as Missouri and Saint Louis County give the “all clear” to move forward with non-essential gatherings of large groups. The committee is in the process of determining what the Valley of Flowers Festival may look like. At a minimum the Grand Parade will be scheduled. Currently, a target timeframe is the end of summer.

The parade theme is the “Saint Louis Zoo” so decorations on floats and units reflect this theme. The Saint Louis Zoo will be highlighted in the parade and perhaps with some other activities. There will be a Band Competition during the Grand Parade. The three winning bands will each receive a cash prize through the courtesy of Florissant Valley Fire Protection District Community Outreach and Music & Arts (on St. Charles Rock Rd.).

Participating in the parade will be many city officials, local municipal emergency responder vehicles, the Valley of Flowers reigning Queen and Court and this year’s candidates, car clubs, walking units, horse groups, dog clubs, dance schools (only on floats), and scout groups. Groups that make up the fabric of our community participate and create a colorful and fun parade each year. Residents can loo forward to one of the largest and most colorful spring parades in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.

The 2020 Parade Marshall is Jeffrey P. Bonner

Jeffrey Bonner, Ph.D., is the Dana Brown President and CEO. In April 2002, Dr. Bonner was appointed President and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo. In 2009, his position was endowed by the Dana Brown Charitable Trust. He has chaired the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Amphibian Ark, the International Species Information System, and the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group. He has served on the board of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and currently serves on several boards, including the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, BioSTL, Higher Education Channel TV, Forest Park Forever and St. Louis Regional Chamber of Growth Association (RCGA).

Bonner is a member of The Explorers Club, the Academy of Science and the AZA. Dr. Bonner received his doctorate from Columbia University in New York. He is a Burgess Fellow, Traveling Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, President’s Fellow and a recipient of the National Research Service Award. Dr. Bonner is the author of numerous articles and books, including “Sailing with Noah, Stories from the World of Zoos.”  Bonner as the parade marshall for the 2020 Grand Parade.

The Valley of Flowers Festival is sponsored by area businesses and organizations. The Festival would not be able to provide as much no cost entertainment to the community without them. As always, a special “Thank  You ” goes out to the Florissant Police and Fire Departments for their help and service.

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