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Harvestfest Theme This Year Urges All To ‘Experience Hazelwood’ on Sept. 8
The City of Hazelwood is gearing up to celebrate its biggest event of the year on Saturday, Sept. 8, with the annual Hazelwood Harvestfest at Howdershell Park, 6800 Howdershell Road next to Fire Station #2. This year’s theme is, “Experience America, Experience Missouri, Experience Hazelwood.”
City officials are giving a call to action for residents to show their pride in being Americans and to discover everything that Hazelwood has to offer. “The City of Hazelwood offers ‘much more than you imagine’ and we’re challenging residents to seek adventure in their own hometown and to get involved and enjoy all of its first-class amenities,” said Mayor Matthew Robinson of Hazelwood. “We want residents to not only be proud of being Americans and living in Missouri, but also be proud of being citizens of Hazelwood.”
American patriotism is at an all-time high after the recent gold-medal performances of several U.S. Olympic athletes. U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time by winning a total of 21 Olympic medals of which 17 are gold. The 2012 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team, a.k.a. the “Fab Five,” won the gold medal to become America’s second Olympic all-round team champions since 1996. Plus, there have been stellar performances by many other U.S. athletes during the Olympic Games in London.
Some of the fun things they can experience in the community range from seeing the legendary BIGFOOT™ to making a splash at the Aquatic Center, working out at two recreation centers to playing 18 holes of disc golf, viewing the multi-colored light show at Musick Park Sprayground to shopping for bargains at St. Louis Mills, and racing go-karts at NASCAR Speed Park to skating at the IceZone and watching a 3-D movie at Regal Cinema 18,” Robinson added.
PARADE ENTRES
As in years past, a big parade kicks off Hazelwood’s 2012 Harvestfest from the City Hall parking lot at 9 am. The best viewing areas for the parade can be found along Town and Country, Holiday, Imperial, and Village Square Drive.
Businesses, civic groups and nonprofit organizations are invited to participate in the parade by decorating floats and automobiles that represent this year’s Americana theme. Residents can also arrange for their scout groups, athletic organizations and student clubs to participate as marching units.
Application forms were available at Hazelwood Community Center, 1186 Teson Road, or Civic Center East, 8969 Dunn Road. Five cash prizes will be awarded to the best decorated/themed parade unit. The deadline for submitting applications is August 24.
Music will be performed by the Hazelwood West High School Marching Wildcats as well as the John Ford Highland Band. After the parade ends, the bag pipers will stroll around Howdershell Park and play mini-concerts for the fair goers.
MISS HAZELWOOD CORONATION
At 10:30 a.m., the reigning 2011 Miss Hazelwood Samantha Rieke will host this year’s coronation ceremony on the stage of the St. Louis County Bandwagon located near the tennis courts. To qualify as a participant, contestants must be young women between the ages of 15 and 19, as well as residents of Hazelwood. A $500 scholarship and other prizes will be awarded to the new queen.For more information, contact Jake Junghanel at (314) 731-0980.
Three New Activities at this Year
Three new activities coming to Harvestfest this year should satisfy both the adventurous and not so adventurous.
There will be a climbing wall, zip line, and Cabela’s fishing trailer. Participants scaling the climbing wall will be wearing harnesses for safety purposes. The zip line will be inside an inflatable structure. Participants will strap themselves into a harness before being attached to the line. They can ride from one end to the other.
Cabela’s, one of the anchor stores at St. Louis Mills, will set up a large portable basin filled with fish. Fish poles will be provided for catching fish.
Horseshoe Tournaments
The Harvestfest will feature two tournaments, one at 10:30 a.m. and one at 1:30 p.m., at the horseshoe pits at the park. Partners will be randomly drawn. Registration for both events will begin a half hour before the event. Admission is free and open to all ages. Trophies will be awarded to the top finishers.
Bingo
The Hazelnuts will continue their tradition of sponsoring two Bingo sessions at noon at 2 p.m. underneath the new park pavilion. Anyone can play. Gift cards, small household items and snacks will be given away as prizes.
Music Headliner
Trixie Delight will be the headline band this year at Harvestfest. The band’s performance will begin at 2 p.m.
Trixie Delight is a four-piece St. Louis premier cover band. They play the hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now. Formed in 2001, the band features some of the best musicians in town. They are Kelly Wild, Lead Vocals/Keyboard; Steve Bunck, Drums/Vocals; Logan Detering, Bass/Vocals; and Clint Wilson, Guitar/Vocals.
The band appears regularly at Busch Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome, and the Scottrade Center. In addition, the lead vocalist, Kelly Wild, performs at two Pageant tributes on a yearly basis for Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd.
Children’s Activities
Younger children can enjoy an inflatable obstacle course and giant dual slide (above photo) . An arts and craft section will be set up inside the tennis courts where kids can decorate three giveaway item, including collapsible Fisbees and water squirt guns shaped like fish.
For the early birds, a petting zoo will be available for children between 10 a.m. and noon. Free pony rides will be offered from 1 p.m – 5 p.m.
For older children, ages 7-12, the Home Run Derby begins at 11 a.m.
Community Enrichment Commission’s Arts & Crafts
The Community Enrichment Commission will host its annual Used Book Sale under a big tent with hundreds of donated books in good condition that can be purchased at a discount price. All proceeds will be used to purchase newspaper and magazine subscriptions for Hazelwood’s two recreation centers, to support the Commission’s “Reading is Elementary Program,” and to provide resources for the Garden Club.
On the north side of the park, guests can browse an An Arts and Crafts show. There will also be an area will be on the north side of the park. An area will also be set up for local for local companies to promote their products and services, as well as for charity groups to raise money with game or food booths.
Stop by the City Services tent, where Parks and Recreation staff will be giving away aluminum water bottles, personal first-aid kits and flashlights with Hazelwood’s ‘H’ logo.
