CELEBRATING STE. GENEVIEVE

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- For two days in August, Missouri's oldest town revels in its past and commemorates the journey it made from a pioneer settlement to a community that has survived the rise and fall of the Mississippi River.

Residents in Ste. Genevieve first planned the Jour de Fete as a means of raising money for the city, said Fran Ballinger, one of the original organizers.

The festival began in 1966, a year after the community had been declared a depressed area by the U.S. Department of Labor.

"We needed money," said Ballinger.

Someone suggested tourism as a means of gaining city revenues. So the planners designed a festival that flows so smoothly "we never dreamed it would be this large," Ballinger said.

The name Jour de Fete translates from French as "day of celebration" and has become just that for the city.

This weekend marks the 34th annual event, which includes arts and crafts booths, tours of historic homes, colonial craft demonstrations, a classic car show, French marine drills, music and strolling entertainment. Admission to the event is free. A shuttle service to the historic district is available at a cost.

The opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Great River Road Interpretive Center at Main and Market streets.

Now the community not only gains revenues from the event -- which fills hotel rooms and restaurants for miles around -- but it also gains in population, even if just for the weekend.

Normally, Ste. Genevieve has a population of 5,000 or so residents. During Jour de Fete, the town swells to 25,000 or 30,000 people, Ballinger said.

"We've grown to capacity," she said. There is even a waiting list for crafters who want to set up booths.

Visitors should start at the interpretive center to get an understanding of the city's history, Ballinger said. An exhibit there also details the Native American history of the community.

The town was founded around 1749 as a French settlement. Many of the historic homes will be open for public and guided tours, including the Bolduc House, Felix Valle State Historic Site, Guibourd-Valle House, Bolduc-Lemeilleur House, Amoureux House and the Ste. Genevieve Museum.

A model of the town as it looked in 1832 will debut at Jour de Fete and will be on display at the Amoureux House. It was built by resident Lewis Pruneau from information supplied by the Felix Valle site.

Two of the pioneer families that helped build Ste. Genevieve will be honored during the celebration.

Each year, community members nominate two families -- one German and one French -- that have been instrumental in the development of the town. This year's nominees are the Maurice or Morice family and the Grass family.

Nominations are culled by a genealogy committee.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Catholic Church to honor the families. Relatives from both sides of the family tree are invited to special events during Jour de Fete.

"They come from all over the U.S. and even some from Canada," Ballinger said. "It's a big affair."

The pioneer families, as the nominees are called, also have published family histories available, she said.

For information about Jour de Fete, call the Ste. Genevieve tourism office at (800) 373-7007.

Jour de Fete schedule

Saturday

8 a.m. -- 18th annual 5000 meter and 1 mile Fun Run. Begins and ends at Ste. Genevieve City Park Pool.

10 a.m. -- Opening ceremonies at the Great River Road Interpretive Center. Official welcoming and flag raising ceremony.

5 p.m. -- Memorial Mass at Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church. Mass for members of the Grass and Maurice or Morice families, being honored as part of Project Pioneer.

Artisans and crafters will display their wares throughout the day at booths set up along streets in the historic district.

Also, historic homes will be open to the public. The homes include the Bolduc House, Felix Valle State Historic Site, Guibourd-Valle House, Bolduc-Lemeilleur House, Amoureux House and the Ste. Genevieve Museum. The Holy Cross Lutheran Church will also be open for tours.

Sunday

Artisans and crafters will display wares throughout the day. Historic homes and museum will be open for tours.

10th annual Classic Cruiser's Car Show will have 37 classes of vehicles. Admission fee charged. Show is at Knights of Columbus Hall.

3 p.m. -- Attendance prizes awarded to Project Pioneer families.

Special exhibits

-- Antique steam engine from 1919 that has been restored and will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from a site on South Main Street.

-- Birds of Prey will be on display from the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Mo. Programs will be presented and displays set up behind the Bolduc-Lemeiller House on Main Street.

-- Colonial craftspeople and artisans dressed in period clothing will demonstrate spinning, weaving, pottery making, scrimshaw, wheat weaving and basketry at Felix Valle State Historic Site and the Mammy Shaw House.

-- French Marines encampment behind the Mammy Shaw House. Military drills will be performed throughout the weekend.

-- Exhibit at Interpretive Center on Native American history in Ste. Genevieve.

Entertainment

-- Strolling performers will play all day both days of the festival. Vernon Flieg and Mike Holland will play from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days on South Main Street. Paul Hogenmiller will perform from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Jim Akins will perform from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on Merchant Street.

Admission is free, and shuttle services are available for a fee.

Call (573) 883-7097