I don't know why I've never been to this festival until this year. Maybe the very strange…read morepromotional art? I thought it was going to be very hippie, and it was in a way, but it brought out a lot of people...and not all of them were hippies. I do love the idea though: arts and crafts through upcycled material...how much cooler is that? Getting there is somewhat of a pain because Highway 50 narrows down to one lane each way when you get close to the park. Add to that Oktoberfests galore, and you have a very nice recipe for "traffic jam". Everyone parks everywhere, but surprisingly enough, parking wasn't that big of a deal. It is really a family thing too. They have arts and crafts for the kids, indie bands playing, lots of picnic tables set up with the usual assortment of fair foods, an alpaca petting zoo, and of course, Girl Scouts selling cookies. But the booths themselves are the showcase, and the media is quite varied, even though I heard a booth owner complain, "It is so hard nowadays to be original." She was selling wire jewelry, so I guess I can see her point. And really, my favorite booths are really the unique ones like Beqi Clothing and Newberry Furniture. The Newberrys repurpose old wood for new stuff...their current thing consists of Adirondack chairs made from an old barn. And Beqi takes vintage clothing and changes it all around..she has quite the gift. The whole thing is pretty big, and it really does impress me that there are so many craftsters in the area.

The Strange Folk Festival is the COOLEST shopping festival I've ever attended. The wares are the…read moresort of thing you'd find on Etsy. Great place to get Christmas and birthday gifts. From what I understand, artisans come from all over the US to sell at this event. There is a huge variety and it's so much fun. Cool crowd too. I only wish it was a regular fixture rather than once a year in one place. 17/100 Yelp Challenge 2015

They were hosting a Forever Vintage Market day this weekend. This was a very easy place to find,…read moretons of brown road signs. Lots of parking, and nice bathrooms (bonus) Worth the drive.

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.

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.

My husband and I booked a cabin at Hidden Lake Winery for our anniversary at the recommendation of…read morefamily who raved about their experiences there (although it had been a few years since they'd been). After reading some concerning negative reviews, especially with a very rainy weekend forecast, we worried about a lackluster atmosphere and being confined indoors. We even agreed to cut our losses on the cabin and leave early if the experience was truly as bad as some reviews suggested. Thankfully, our stay was the complete opposite--a delightful surprise that exceeded all of our expectations! The cabin was spotless, cozy, and beautifully maintained, with no bugs inside (despite plenty outside, as you'd expect with any cabin in the woods). The jacuzzi was clean and relaxing, and we enjoyed complimentary breakfasts of bottled water, orange juice, and delicious muffins. We were even charmed by playful and curious baby foxes outside the cabin one morning. One of which came right up and peeked through our door window! The winery itself was a highlight. The food and wine were phenomenal. Quick and good service as well. We didn't do a wine flight, but requested to taste different wines at the bar before buying a glass and there was no deposit charge for the glasses as some reviews mentioned. There was plenty of covered outdoor seating that let us enjoy the views and atmosphere, despite the rain. Indoors, the upstairs offered board games and stunning views. Bartender Jeremy and owner Steve were friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to accommodate us with anything we needed, and even offered some great conversation! Steve's 3 dogs often accompany him to the winery and they are so gentle and sweet! You'll also find pictures of them throughout the inside of the winery! While heavy rain prevented us from hiking around the lake or to the waterfall, we had an amazing weekend. We can only imagine how amazing of an atmosphere it must be on a sunny day with live music! We left feeling grateful for such a wonderful anniversary and eager to return. I truly don't understand the negative reviews. Give this place a shot!

Absolutely beautiful location with nice areas to sit, relax and enjoy the outdoor atmosphere…read more Definitely recommend it for a venue or a place to relax and enjoy the afternoon. Unfortunately, all of the wines were slightly less than just OK. Definitely don't recommend any of them which was disappointing. The biggest negative was the fact they charge a five dollar glass fee for every glass to ensure you return it when you do a tasting. I've never seen this at a winery before. Frankly, most vineyards encourage you to take their glass so they have the enduring advertising. The highlight of our visit was the patriotic theme and sincere appreciation for our service members. Thank you for that.

Festival of the Little Hills is an annual event on historic Mainstreet and Frontier Park in St…read more Charles with hundreds of craft, art, seasonal, food booths along with music and entertainment. For those not from the area, St. Charles riverfront is one of the best places to see what a midwest river city town looked like during the expansion west of the United States. Fun time!

What a fun way to spend an afternoon! I love supporting local artisans. You'll find a mixture of…read morehandcrafted items, food, and entertainment at this huge, annual event off Main Street St. Charles. This year, there were over 300 vendors, and while it was hot and suffocatingly humid, we still had a great time. My favorite vendor hands down was Nature's Lot from PA who specialize in white birch wood decor (also on etsy.) Check it out next Aug!

Review for 2025. Clayton MO…read more There were fewer restaurants than I expected. There were also some vendors and shops for tshirts. I enjoyed the event but it was hot. I tried places I had not in the past. Peacemaker lobster. So good. Had the mini roll. The bread was fresh, buttery, crispy. The lobster was tasty with the right amount of mayo. Juan tacos. Birra taco was the best. Came out hot. Was not greasy at all. Very tasty. Wools get again. The chicken taco was good. The steak taco was ok. The taste frozen lemonade was very refreshing and good. The creek bros lemonade was good but the sugar crystals were interesting to chew on. Parking can be challenging in Clayton but meters are free on the weekend. There's definitely a lot of restaurants. Quite a few caterers. Some brought their own chairs, else eat while standing. There was some shade which was a welcome relief to the 98 degree heat index. Always a good time when looking to try many new things.

There should have been shaded areas to sit and enjoy the ambience, food & entertainment. Should…read morehave been better laid out similar to the Clayton Arts festival. They could have had air-mist sprayers, cooling off areas, tents, large coverings & concern for the visitors. I went on Sunday because I thought it would be a great time since Clayton is a great area for Dining, shopping. Etc... Only stayed for an hour because it felt like a big cheap food truck(s) gathering without much vision, care & empathy for families - especially with children. Saint Louis is a vastly underrated city that needs to step up for events to attract visitors, locals, farmer markets, more diverse restaurants offerings and affordable Options especially in the grueling heat walking on asphalt with no escape/shade from the 100" degree baked sun! Gus's chicken was excellent, Jon's pipe shop was great & the Make-a-wish charities did a great job!

This was my first time coming to this event. There were vendors from all around the world cooking…read moreup some good food and drinks. There were also vendors there selling clothes, jewelry and other products. There were two stages for the numerous amount of performers that will be there over the span of the weekend. There were also art installations which were great for social media and pic opportunities. I would highly suggest not doing what we did and show up later to this festival because parking is an absolute nightmare. There are vendors selling drinks too (alcoholic and Non-alcoholic drinks). This is a family event or to go with groups of friends.

-- A Passport to the World, Right in St. Louis…read more The Festival of Nations is one of those events that makes you fall in love with St. Louis all over again. For a weekend, the beautiful Tower Grove Park -- a historic landmark and true center of the community -- transforms into a living, breathing celebration of cultures from around the globe. Each tent, stage, and food stand offers a chance to step into someone else's world for a few moments. You can taste flavors from continents apart, hear music that spans generations, and watch traditional dances performed with pride and joy. From the sizzle of street food to the swirl of colorful costumes, every detail feels like an authentic gift from the communities who call St. Louis home. What I love most is that it's not just a food and music festival -- it's a chance to meet your neighbors, learn their stories, and understand the history and traditions they carry. It's a reminder that our city's strength comes from its diversity. The Festival of Nations is more than an event -- it's an invitation. An invitation to listen, to celebrate, and to honor the cultures that make St. Louis a true crossroads of the world. Bring your curiosity, your appetite, and your respect, and you'll leave richer than you arrived.

St. Louis Wine Festival is a great annual event that includes wine sampling from a selection of…read moremore than 200 wines from around the world. Live local music, food from local restaurants, and a beautiful view at the basin of Art Hill are the backdrop for the festival. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations are also included. Ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, ten tastings, & Festival Program. This year the event will be held September 27-28, 2008. Saturday, September 27 12:00 to 7:00PM Ticket sales end at 5:30PM, alcohol sampling and sales end at 6:30PM Sunday, September 28 12:00 to 6:00PM Ticket sales end at 4:30PM, alcohol sampling and sales end at 5:30PM Advance tickets are available for $20 (purchase by 9/26/08) or $25 at the door. Order on-line http://www.stlouiswinefestival.com/InPLAY-FestivalFacts.htm or call 888-210-0074. Volunteers are also needed. Contact Fuel to sign up to volunteer for a shift and attend the event for free volunteer@fuelforthecity.org.

What an awesome event! I can't believe it's been going on for 5 years, and yesterday was my first…read moretime attending! The whole thing takes place on Art Hill. A TON of wineries participated in the event, which was neat. I'm not a huge wine person. I couldn't tell you the difference between pinot grigio and chardonnay. I don't know how to pair wines with particular foods. All I know is that I like sweet wines! Every vendor that I spoke with had representatives working who seemed to be very knowledgeable about wines, which was a plus. I tried lots of tasty wines! The entry fee isn't too bad; $25 a person, which gives you 10 tickets for 10 tastings of wine (additional tickets can be purchased for $5 per 10). This year they also had a Stella Artois beer seminar (free!) which was very interesting and informative. I have so much more respect now for (good) beer! If you're not into wine, they also had booths with food from various local restaurants, as well as live music. Super cool event! Can't wait to attend again next year!