All Things to Do

Celebrate the sweet bounty of Missouri’s beekeeping heritage at the annual Honey Festival + Market, a delightful community gathering sponsored by Harold’s Famous Bee Company. This beloved event transforms historic downtown Ste. Genevieve’s Market Street into a vibrant celebration of all things honey, bringing together families, friends, and honey enthusiasts for a day of discovery, flavor, and fun. Traditionally held the last weekend in June, this year’s festival was moved to the first weekend in October, offering visitors the chance to enjoy this sweet celebration amid the beautiful fall season along the Mississippi River. A Festival for the Whole Family Running from 10am to 4pm on Saturday in June or October, Market Street comes alive with the sights, sounds, and tastes that make this festival a highlight of Ste. Genevieve’s event calendar. Live music fills the air, creating a festive atmosphere as you explore everything this unique celebration has to offer. Honey in All Its Forms At the heart of the festival is, of course, honey itself. Discover the remarkable variety of local honey, from delicate wildflower varieties to robust buckwheat and everything in between. Learn about the subtle flavor differences that come from different nectar sources and seasons. Sample Read more…

Jean-Baptiste Vallé House – Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Standing as one of the most architecturally significant and historically important structures in Ste. Genevieve, the Jean-Baptiste Vallé House represents both the architectural sophistication of French Creole building traditions and the political power that once resided in this Mississippi River community. Now part of the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park and operated by the National Park Service, this imposing residence tells the story of colonial governance, architectural evolution, and the dedicated preservation efforts that saved it for future generations. Architectural Significance: Poteaux-sur-Solle at Its Finest The Jean-Baptiste Vallé House stands as a large and impressive example of “poteaux-sur-solle” (post on sill) construction—one of the distinctive French Creole building methods that make Ste. Genevieve architecturally unique in the United States. Unlike the rarer “poteaux-en-terre” (posts in earth) construction where vertical logs are set directly into the ground, the poteaux-sur-solle method places vertical log posts on a horizontal wooden sill beam that rests on a stone foundation. This elevation above ground level protects the wooden posts from moisture and rot, resulting in far greater durability—which explains why this particular house has survived for more than two centuries. The house’s size alone commands attention. Read more…

Jour de Fête – Ste. Genevieve’s Grand Celebration Every year on the second full weekend in August, the streets of Historic Downtown Ste. Genevieve transform into a vibrant marketplace and festival ground for Jour de Fête—southeast Missouri’s largest and most beloved outdoor crafts fair. This spectacular two-day celebration draws thousands of visitors who come to experience the perfect blend of artisan craftsmanship, delicious food, live entertainment, and the unique historic charm that only America’s oldest town west of the Mississippi can provide. A Feast for the Senses With over 150 vendors lining the historic streets, Jour de Fête offers an unparalleled shopping experience for lovers of handcrafted goods and unique artisan work. Stroll beneath the shade of century-old trees as you discover an impressive array of arts and crafts: hand-thrown pottery, custom jewelry, woodwork, paintings, textiles, metalwork, folk art, home décor, and so much more. Each booth represents the passion and skill of talented craftspeople, many of whom have been returning to Jour de Fête year after year, making it a beloved tradition for vendors and visitors alike. Whether you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind gift, looking to add to your art collection, or simply enjoy browsing beautiful handmade items, you’ll Read more…

Birding in Kaskaskia – Where the Mississippi Creates a Haven for Waterfowl and Rare Visitors In the heart of the Mississippi River Valley, where the river’s powerful currents once carved through a peninsula to create an island, lies one of the region’s hidden birding treasures. Kaskaskia Island and the surrounding wetlands managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offer bird enthusiasts a remarkable opportunity to observe herons, egrets, waterfowl, and—if fortune smiles—even the magnificent and critically endangered whooping crane. This is birding with history, where sloughs and backwaters that once sustained a thriving French colonial settlement now provide essential habitat for migrating and resident birds along the Mississippi Flyway. A Geographic Anomaly Creates Birding Opportunity Kaskaskia Island holds a unique place in American geography: it’s the only inhabited piece of Illinois located west of the Mississippi River. This geographic quirk resulted from the New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-1812 and subsequent flooding that dramatically altered the river’s course. What was once a peninsula became an island, separated from mainland Illinois but accessible only through Missouri. This isolation and the island’s low-lying, flood-prone nature have preserved it as largely agricultural land interspersed with wetlands—exactly the kind of habitat that waterfowl and Read more…

The King’s Ball – Sainte Geneviève’s 250-Year-Old Mardi Gras Tradition Where Fiddlers, French Colonial Costumes, and King Cake Crown Missouri’s Oldest Twelfth Night Celebration On the first full weekend in February, hundreds of costumed revelers crowd the VFW Hall in Sainte Geneviève for one of Missouri’s most distinctive cultural celebrations: the King’s Ball. This isn’t some recently invented heritage festival designed to attract tourists—it’s the authentic continuation of a French colonial tradition that’s been celebrated for over 250 years, marking the Epiphany (Twelfth Night) and serving as the region’s traditional close to the Christmas season. Think of it as Sainte Geneviève’s answer to Mardi Gras: music, dancing, elaborate costumes, and the ceremonial serving of King Cake (Galette des Rois) complete with hidden bean or baby Jesus figurine that determines who’ll reign as royalty for the coming year. Purchase tickets here. While most Americans associate King Cake exclusively with New Orleans Mardi Gras, the tradition actually originates in French Epiphany celebrations—and Sainte Geneviève’s King’s Ball represents one of the oldest continuous observations of this custom in North America. The cake, the hidden prize, the crowning of royalty, the communal dancing—these aren’t borrowed from Louisiana. They’re direct inheritances from the early French Read more…