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Florissant celebrates the first Festival of spring on May 2, 3, 4, and 5.   This year’s theme will be “Valley of Flowers Celebrates Children’s Literature.” All parade units are invited to decorate their entries using any form of children’s literature from “Dr. Seuss,” to “Harry Potter,” “Moby Dick,” “Pinocchio,” “Peter Pan,” “Mother Goose,” or any other beloved story.  Parade watchers should see an interesting parade, with many characters from a variety of stories.

The Valley of Flowers Festival began in 1963 as an attempt by local merchants to promote civic beautification in the city.  Since that time the festival has grown to include dozens of events including a very large parade and queen crowning.

Visitors to the annual festival are sure to find something of interest. The festival will have sporting events, a plant sale, a children’s festival of performing arts, a car show, and carnival rides. In addition, there will be delicious barbeque and other foods, arts and crafts, and a flea market.

Applications are currently available for the parade, game booths, food booths, Queen candidates, flea market and craft fair.

The parade will take place on Sunday, May 5. It will travel from the James J. Eagan Center grounds through Old Town Florissant on rue St. Francois and conclude near the Knights of Columbus Park.  There is no entry fee and applicants do not have to be a Florissant resident or business to be part of the parade.

The Queen Candidates must be 16 years of age, a junior in high school and a Florissant resident.  Applications will be accepted until Feb. 8 for the first 25 candidates.  The selections of the queen will take place at the Queen’s Tea and Dinner on Sunday, April 7 at the James J. Eagan Center.  The winning candidates for queen, first runner-up and three special maids are revealed at the queen’s Crowning on Sunday, May 5.

Craft Fair, Flea Market and Food Booth applications are for Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, at the James J. Eagan Center.  The Craft Fair is on the covered Ice Rink Pavilion and the Flea Market is inside the building.  All food booths are grouped together in the Food Tent on the grounds.

Food and game booth applications for the Knights of Columbus grounds are for Thursday, May 2, through Sunday, May 5, at a cost of $125.00.

Applications may be submitted through the festival website at www.FlorissantValleyofFlowers.com or through the office at 601 St. Charles Street. The office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  For more information, visit the website or call 837-0033.