Affton Chamber of Commerce announces theme for 2013 Affton Community Days parade & festival

On Saturday September 21, 2013, community members and organizations will unite for the annual Affton Community Days Parade and Festival. This year’s theme is: “Affton Community Days is Out of This World.”  The committee expects to see many floats decorated with the organization or businesses favorite aliens. The event is sponsored by the Affton Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with St. Dominic Savio Parish.

The parade, begins at 10:00 a.m. at Affton High School (8309 Mackenzie) and travels south on Mackenzie to Gravois, then heads east on Gravois to Weber Road, turning west on Weber Road back to Mackenzie where it will continue on to St. Dominic Savio Parish parking lot at 7748 Mackenzie Rd.

With the music from local high school bands and the entries from various schools, churches, businesses, and organizations, the parade draws a crowd of all ages. Chief Tim Fitch and Capt. Chris Stocker of the St. Louis County Police are expected to lead the parade, along with the County Police Honor Guard and Bagpipers.

Following the lead car will be the VIP convertibles carrying the 2013 Chamber President, Jake Baretich, owner of J & J Construction & Remodeling St. Louis LLC; the 2012 Business Person of the Year, Timothy Weinmann, President of Kenrick’s Meats & Catering; and the 2012 Citizens of the Year, Larry & Pamela Knox, volunteers with the Affton School District.

Parade entry is free, but a registration form, found on the chamber web site, must be completed, signed, and sent to the parade chairperson, as noted on the entry form.

The festival booths open at 11 a.m. and the festival officially begins at Noon with Steve Stenger, County Councilman, 6th District, singing the National Anthem. There will be continuous entertainment from Noon to 9 p.m., closing time for the festival.

The festival offers activities for all ages to enjoy, including food, games, inflatable rides, entertainment, and a beer garden. This year there will be a climbing wall, and a dunking booth to attract young and the young at heart. New this year will be a mechanical bull. How long will you be able to stay on the bull? Inflatable ride tickets can be purchased at each inflatable for $1.00 each or purchase a strip of tickets 12 tickets for $10.00 at the Chamber booth. For the second year, the chamber booth will have T-shirts with the new logo in sizes from Youth Small to Adult XXXL. The free 2013-14 Community Directory will also be available at the booth.

The SMASH Band, sponsored by Harster Heating & Air Conditioning will entertain from 5:15 p.m. until the close of the festival at 9 p.m. As we have final confirmations, other entertainment acts will be listed on the chamber web site, www.afftonchamber.com. The most up-to-date information can always be found on the Affton Days Facebook page.

Chamber members receive information about the benefits of sponsorships which give cost effective exposure to their business and build name recognition in the community in their newsletter, on their web site, and at meetings. Event director, Tim Kinealy, said, “Any business, whether they are a chamber member or not, can become a sponsor and take advantage of the low cost advertising to visitors to the festival by calling the Affton Chamber of Commerce at 314-631-3100 and ask for a return call from the volunteer sponsor coordinator. The event is not a fund raiser for the chamber. The cost to put on this community event is funded by the sponsors.”

Everyone is encouraged to support the sponsors during the year–without the sponsors, there would be no Affton Community Days Parade & Festival. The sponsors all receive an ad in the program distributed along the parade route and at the festival, plus signage at the festival or in the parade, and a listing in the ad in the local newspaper the day before the event. They are also listed on the chamber’s web site until May of the following year and receive recognition at the chamber’s general meetings.

Entry in the parade is free--the application is available on the chamber web site www.afftonchamber.com. Click on “forms” and click on parade application. There is a cost for booths at the festival and those applications are also found on the Chamber’s web site.  

The annual parade began in 1984 and has traveled over many different routes during those 30 years. The festival was added in 1993, being held at the Affton High School until the festival was moved to the Affton White-Rodgers Community Center when the center opened in 1999. In 2006 the festival was moved to St. George Parish parking lot due to lack of space at the community center. This is the first year the festival will be held at St. Dominic Savio Parish parking lot.