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The old St. Ferdinand Shrine at #1 rue St. Francois, which was erected in the 1800s, got a facelift earlier this year ~ new paint, new bathrooms, new landscaping , and more.

You can see the shrine’s new look as you visit during the Old Town Fall Festival on Sunday, October 14 from 11 a.m – 5 p.m.

Several activities are planned at the shrine grounds.

In the shrine, there will be opportunities to take old-time photos; period costumes will be provided. Tours of the shrine will also be available and the gift shop will be open.

At the schoolhouse, enjoy a pulled pork sandwich, hot dog, beer or lemonade. There will be a book sale upstairs at the schoolhouse, with books sold for $4 per bag.

There will be a flea market downstairs.

Outside, enjoy an art and craft fair. At noon and 2 p.m., children ages 7-17 can participate in a free drawing lesson. Members of the shrine Children’s Art Group will have their works displayed, and sidewalk chalk will also be available.

Children can also enjoy storytelling at 1 and 3 p.m. with Miss Jennifer from the Florissant Valley Library Branch.

Elsewhere on the grounds, living history re-enactors will provide demonstrations, including bread baked in the shrine bread oven. A candy cannon will provide a variety of sweets.

A new event this year is the washers tournament, beginning at 1.