JOUR DE FETE COMES TO STE. GENEVIEVE

STE. GENEVIEVE -- The 32nd annual Jour de Fete will be held Saturday and Sunday featuring the state's largest arts and crafts show.

The mile-long arts and crafts fair consists of more than 500 booths manned by vendors from more than a dozen states.

The fair stretches from the Mill Antique Mart on North Main Street to the green Tree Tavern on South Main.

Jour de Fete is a celebration of the city's French heritage. Many historic houses will be open to the public, including the 1780s Bolduc House and the Felix Valle State Historic Site, a stone building that dates to 1818.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Tourist Information Center, Main and Market streets. The Ste. Genevieve German Band will play in the streets throughout the celebration.

A detachment of French Marines will be encamped behind the Shaw House along with a company of Spanish soldiers, who occupied the town under Carlos III of Spain.

Other attractions are races, a birds of prey exhibit, a steam engine exhibit, colonial crafts demonstrations, a classic car show, antique displays and many food booths.

Visitors can leave their cars at the Eric Scott Leathers lot on State Route M, a half mile west of Highway 61. Shuttle bus service is 50 centers per round trip.