I know this festival has had some pretty negative reviews in the past, but I honestly think it was…read morea nice time. Was it the best ever? No, certainly not. But I did have a nice time and found it to be enjoyable despite the number of people, the craziness of parking and the jam packed booths in such small spaces. Depending on where you park, you may need to wait and take a shuttle, or you can likely walk if you are up for it, which is what we did. Paying to park was easy and the lot was semi easy to navigate, but I am thankful that my friend with her SUV drove because I really think my car would have gotten stuck in the grass. Entering the festival is overwhelming. I think they may have had too many vendors (which is not a terrible thing), but when I say it was crowded, I really mean it. Walking in the narrow lanes with vendor booths on both sides was chaotic and really stressed me out a bit. There were so many people walking each and every way with no order whatsoever so I found myself walking behind some of the booths just to avoid people. The food section had tons of options that were mostly like any kind of traditional fair food you can imagine. We did not order anything to eat or drink so we avoided that area. I really just wanted to watch the making of apple butter which I did (quickly) and I managed to find a booth where they were selling apple pie moonshine (so so good)! Lots of the booths had a ton of cheap items that anyone can probably find online through shein or temu so we walked right past those. The booths that we did visit were ones where we can tell the vendor was actually doing the craft. I purchased a hand carved bear and a hand carved snowman by some of the woodworkers and I was very happy with those purchases. My friend also purchased some of the hand crocheted items for her kiddos from a woman who was actually crocheting while in her booth so we know it was made by hand and so cute. There were a few booths selling pet treats and pet items so I did purchase my little pup some treats (he was also with me walking around that day). He liked the treats a lot and was really excited to get so many pets from people and he got to meet a few other dog friends too. Walking around was getting overwhelming for all of us, so we eventually found the little play area where we would rest and the kids could play so that was a nice way to finish out the day. Overall, I liked this festival for what it was. I just wonder if they can do something about the space to maybe spread out things some more net year? It's just really crowded and some of the booths are not necessary IMO.

This is genuinely the largest festival I've ever been to. The town and school have it very well…read moreorganized. Be prepared to deal with heavy auto traffic, lots of pedestrians, and crowds. We parked at the high school fire $10 and ride a shuttle bus to the festival area and back. Very handy!! 500 or so vendors for real. Townspeople were very friendly and friendly in their shops. Found out the Christmas festival is smaller and lots of fun so we'll likely be back for that. When they say they are expecting 100 thousand visitors over the weekend believe them. Certainly worth a visit.

This is such a fun and cute Christmas light experience! It's definitely crowded but so so fun and…read morefree! My kids loved it and we will absolutely be back. It was such a great experience. The streets around also have jumped in so you can literally look at lights around there for hours. Highly recommend!

We traditionally do a walk through Candy Cane every Christmas season. One of my top favorites! Get…read moreyou some piping hot chocolate at Ted Drewes be for you start to keep warm. The residents of this two block go over the top in Christmas decorations. Be careful of uneven pavement and occasional electrical cords crossing the sidewalks. Other than that, love this colorful display. It will get you in the holiday spirit! And, also nearby Angel Lane is worth the walk. More religious and angelic Christmas decorations.

This can be a good family outing and I hope it stays this way. I attended on a Friday evening and…read morebecause of the okay weather it was crowded. I was thinking wow all these people to see balloons glow? Is it the food and higher prices or drinks? Nope, it's the time we all come out to support and come together without judgement and feel safe. we can stretch out on the ground and bloop just about anywhere and bring our own or buy to support ( because that's what we are doing when we pay those prices) We choose to battle the traffic and walk through the people to gather for something to do without nonsense. Don't get me wrong yes, we have our few a holes and it is what it is especially when so many cultures cross without regard. However it does not stop us from the thing to do in September right before we know summer will end now .... but tell that to STL... LOL!

This is one of the many fun and free events in St Louis and it pains me to say that having lived in…read morethe area for almost a decade, this was my first year checking this event out. My friends dragged me here, albeit not kicking and screaming but there were definitely some initial resistance due to crowd and traffic. The usual introverted enemies. I'm glad I allowed them to drag me here though. While I totally missed out on the Glow activities, I got to witness the actual race which was fun, filled with entertainment, and a few choice food trucks and vendors to satisfy some of your food and drink cravings while enjoying some fanciful balloons. Yes, parking can be a slight mess but if you come early and exercise patience, the event is actually quite enjoyable. There were face painting booths for the young ones, bunnies to pet, drink trucks for your imbibing needs, and food booths and trucks for your hungry bellies. Walking around the part of Forest park where they held the races is also quite fun. I got to meet some friendly corgi owners and most importantly, their corgis! It is a dog friendly event which means, for you non-people lovers, there is a great chance of meeting a four-legged friend or two. After the races, the inflated balloons did stick around for the general public to check out. I had a great time and got to marvel at the colorful hot air balloons. Did I mention this event is free?!

As far as festivals go in the area this is one of the bigger interesting ones. They have a big…read moreassortment of what i call "fair food" and it all seemed like it was very likeable and easy on the wallet. They had a huge tent for dancing. We also got to see a kids area that they had dancers in Disney characters contests...they were kindof scary looking characters i guess the costumes are like a knockoff kind or something. The thing they are known for is there giant skillet meal, i had this it was pretty darn good and only $6.00. They also have a chicken dinner which i found out about after I had eaten, there was quite a big line for it and they even have it done by a number series...fyi the kids eat free only works with a paying adult. They also have a huge garage sale type thing, everything you could cram into a brown bag for $5.00. Just a bunch of junk to me, but it could be your treasure! They also have carnival type games here along with bingo at certain times and live entertainment. This place was well worth it to come to, i would come again next year.

This is pretty typical of a small town festival:…read more - over priced food and drinks - crappy carnival game prizes - over priced junk at rummage sale - people selling their homemade junk - local "talent" for the entertainment - lots of drunk people - old ladies playing bingo If you are into all of that, then by all means: have at it. I think I'll stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet.

I chose the cultural experience of going to a small town festival called "Apple Days." This is an…read moreall day event where people from around town go to the Sander's house on Turkey Run Road in Saint Clair, Missouri. The town of Saint Clair is around 2,000 people that have all lived there their whole lives. There is one gas station, one grocery store, one coffee shop, and one school. My whole family lives within a mile of each other in this town, and we have all grown up there on properties that are passed down from generations. Whatever event happens here, everyone knows about it. Apple Days is a tradition that everyone comes out to the Sander's every year for. This is an experience from dawn to dusk that takes days to prepare and set up for. Apple Days is a day of appreciation for all the old, traditional ways of American farmers and workers. Everyone dresses up to be set in an American time period as old as the 1800s. There are different areas of the Sander's property for different traditional ways of life. There is a pie baking station, with an old oven and wood or stainless steel baking tools on a wooden counter. You have to grind up your own flour and go collect your own eggs from the chicken coop. There is a station for old-fashioned stew, where a big pot of freshly grown and cut vegetables are being cooked over a big fire. There are areas with old wooden toys for the kids to play on, and you're transported around the farm on a tractor from the 1930s. But most important of all, there are the apples. A homestead American apple grinder made out of wood and iron is placed in the middle of the farm and is surrounded by a giant bucket of apples from the orchard. The most popular experience is the apple cider, fermented into fresh juice and able to drink straight from the apple grinder. There's not only many variety of apples that are celebrated during this event, but many forms of American culture in past generations as well. All the people in Saint Clair who join the Sanders on their farm for Apple Days are being reminded that the old ways are the good ways. They prefer to grow, grind, and cook their apples into jam instead of going to the store and buying it. Although it takes time and effort, the traditional ways are special and should be passed down to generations so they are never forgotten. Apple Days is a rememberable cultural experience that brings American homestead back to life.

It has been three years since I started this review, and I feel like it deserves to be completed…read moreand posted. The Aviston St. Francis de Assisi Parish Picnic and Festival has become a summer annual tradition for my partner's family for many years. We travel the 4.5 hours from Chicago to the rural town just to take it all in. Here's how it works: -Buy your dinner ticket (just $9 for all-you-can-eat "Thanksgiving-eque" dinner) which runs from 3:30 until 8 pm. They're so organized that you can also get carry-out between the hours of 3-7 pm. The picnic kicks off first with an old school Polka musician playing tunes while you wait under a tent for your dinner ticket number to be called. -Meanwhile, check out the Country Store pitched under a tent with handmade quilted items, pastries and vegetables for purchase. -Once your number gets called, step into the Old School House building, downstairs into the cafeteria to choose one of the many pie slices made by local women. Place it at your seat to save your spot and get in the food line. Fill up your plate with a selection of delicious fried chicken, roast beef, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cucumber salad, cole slaw and bread. Some of the freshest homemade dinners you'll ever eat!! I think the chickens are killed shortly before the picnic, just sayin'. -After filling up on food for the evening, go directly to Kopff Field where wooden benches sit to play several rounds of $1 (per card for 4 rounds) Quilt Bingo, beginning at 6:30 pm. If you are the only round's winner, you'll earn a gorgeous homemade quilt made by ladies within the town. If it's a tie, you used to earn a pair of white towels, but they recently switched it to WalMart gift cards. Just beware of all the chain smokers in the vicinity. -Once you're all Bingo-ed (or smoked) out, step up to play Poker. Winners win a six pack of beer or southern Illinois' own, Ski Soda (a citrus orange-lemon soda similar to Squirt or Mountain Dew). -If you get thirsty and aren't very lucky at playing Poker, visit one of the several Beer Booths to drink your sorrows away (requires tickets to be purchased and sold by the cup or pitcher). There are also a tropical-themed Margarita and a wine booth. -For the kids, there's several small carnival rides, games, basket raffles, and toys for purchase. This will easily keep them busy for hours, plus a field and playground to run around in are also nearby. In the end, it's all about walking out with a quilt in hand, having a good time, and supporting a small town in need of support. If you ask me, it has been worth driving from Chicago--even though we get the occasional, "You ain't from 'round here, are ya?"

The community really works hard to bring this all together. There are rides for the kids and you…read morecan buy a wristband that is good for the whole event. There are games and raffles. There is the country store for those of us not lucky enough to win the things we want. Lol. All and all it is a great family event. There are people who come from all over, you should come too.