Florissant Pride Shines on What Would
Have Been Valley of Flowers Weekend

by Pat Lindsey

Florissant’s annual Valley of Flowers celebration has been the highlight of the community’s social calendar since 1963. It celebrates the joys of spring on the first full weekend in May–rain or shine–and gives the city an opportunity to highlight its best qualities.
Thousands of residents and visitors typically participate all weekend long in the scheduled activities, including the carnival, plant sale, car show, baby photo contest, wine and cheese garden, and then line the streets of Old Town Florissant on Sunday afternoon to watch the big parade and get a glimpse at the Valley of Flowers Queen candidates.
This year, the festival was postponed to a date still to be determined due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stay-at-home was not the order however, as residents showed their Florissant pride and established the hometown feel of the Valley of Flowers on the streets of Florissant.
Many carried out this year’s theme, Saint Louis Zoo, by decorating their front lawns and storefronts. Others came on foot, by golf cart or in cars to view their creativity. Hippos and flamingos, marine life, monkeys hanging in trees, a train of stuffed animals, painted murals, chalk drawings, and lots of flowers all helped brighten this special Florissant weekend and bring many memories of past Valley of Flowers festivals.  Florissant Old Town Partners and Valley of Florissant office displayed posters of the queen candidates on their lawn of the Girardeau House.The signs were put up by members of the Valley of Flowers committee

Eight young women, sponsored by local businesses, were selected for the Valley of Flowers court on April 19. They are Brooke Strautmann (Locker Room); Kate Stevens (Boyle Law Firm); Natalie Schaljo (VFW Post #4105); Holly Reedy (L.A. Dance School); Emma Quinlan (Handyman Hardware); Megan Jarzenbeck (Goldmark Enterprises); Brianna Gregory (North County Churches United); and Kylie Carpenter (Cannoli’s). One will be crowned at a later date to be announced. The Valley of Flowers committee will also be awarding cash prizes to the best decorated homes and businesses in Florissant.