Wildwood Founders’ Day Celebration set for Aug. 25

Wildwood Town Center Plaza will be buzzing with fun, games, concessions, vendor booths, live entertainment and more on Saturday, Aug. 25, the date set aside for the annual Wildwood Founders’ Day Celebration.

“Basically, it’s the birthday of Wildwood,” explained Gary Crews, the city’s superintendent of parks and recreation. “The city’s official incorporation date was Sept. 1, 1995.”

The festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. with a parade featuring dozens of units, including Lafayette High School’s marching band; the National Guard; a mounted color guard; Shriners in mini and classic cars; a 4-H group on horseback; representatives from Metro West, Eureka, and Monarch fire protection districts; St. Louis County Police officials; classic cars; Boy Scouts; Pond Athletic Association representatives; and assorted floats, business groups, dancers and walkers.

Kate O’Connell, varsity field hockey coach at Lafayette High, will serve as the Founders’ Day parade marshal. Current and former dignitaries participating in the parade will include Wildwood Mayor Tim Woerther; David Glaser, the city’s first mayor; Judy Sahm, Wildwood’s first treasurer; current members of the Wildwood City Council; State Sen. Brian Nieves; and County Councilman Greg Quinn.

The parade will step off from New Community Church, located at 16801 Manchester Road. Units will proceed along Manchester to Taylor Road, continue north on Taylor to Main Street, and proceed west on Main to Fountain Place in Wildwood Town Center Plaza.

Founders’ Day opening ceremonies will get underway immediately following the parade, at about 11 a.m., in Town Center Plaza. A bald eagle from the World Bird Sanctuary will be on hand for the national anthem and will remain on display for two hours. The celebration will continue until 5 p.m. with a variety of attractions and activities for all ages.

Highlights include:

• pony rides, bounce houses, a balloon artist, clowns and face painters to entertain the children

• a vintage car show

• fire, police and Missouri State Highway Patrol exhibits

• live entertainment featuring the music of Yessir! and Blues Plus…

• dance exhibition by Wildwood Dance and Arts

• The Traveling Weather Show, featuring information on how to become a weather spotter, identify weather conditions, etc.

• Monsanto Amateur Radio Association

• carriage rides

• The Wildwood Farmers’ Market

• lots of vendor booths featuring products and information from area businesses and organizations

The Wildwood Founders’ Day Celebration was conceived as a way to celebrate the city’s past, present and future. Since its incorporation 17 years ago, Wildwood has sponsored various events to recognize the city as a great place to live, work and play. First, there was Wildwood Days, which later was changed to the Wildwood Celebration. After canceling that event in 2008 due to problems with weather and parking conditions, the city decided to revamp the Wildwood Celebration and organize an annual event that would focus on the city and its heritage.

Come for an hour or plan to stay all day, but don’t miss out on this year’s Founders’ Day fun!