STE. GENEVIEVE — One of the Midwest’s most celebrated holiday events is returning to historic downtown Ste. Genevieve the weekend of Dec. 6–7, as the community hosts its 41st annual Holiday Christmas Festival — recently recognized by AAA magazine as one of the top two Christmas festivals in the entire Midwest, alongside St. Charles.
The festival’s reputation draws thousands of visitors from across the country — from Wyoming and Colorado to Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and New York — all eager to experience a holiday weekend filled with live music, history, food, shopping and old-fashioned Christmas charm.
This year’s celebration features more than 40 free events, including concerts showcasing violins, guitars, cellos, saxophones, harps, steel drums, pipe organs and a full symphonic wind ensemble. Guests can enjoy Renaissance, Baroque, sacred, country, jazz, classical and pop music with a Christmas theme. Families will find free Santa photos, children’s crafts, a magician, free hot dogs for kids, a live Nativity, a hayride, historic demonstrations and French Colonial Christmas experiences at several museum sites.
The festival also hosts the largest Christmas parade in Southeast Missouri, stepping off Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
Below is the full schedule of weekend events.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
9:00 a.m.
■ Weihnacht Market (Christmas Market) – NE corner of Main & Merchant. (Ends 5 p.m.)
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
■ FREE Read Me a Story – Friends of the Ste. Genevieve Library, The Anvil, 46 Third St.
■ FREE Winter Traditions Exhibit: “Around the World” – Shaw House, 200 Merchant St.
■ FREE Hands-On Paper Marbling Demo – John Bielik, Ziegler Gallery, 200 Merchant St., 11:00 a.m.
■ FREE Christmas Parade – Through the Ste. Genevieve Historic District. Noon.
■ Lions Park Spectacular – FREE Santa photos, hot chocolate, hot dogs and chili. Kids under 12 eat free with an adult. Live music by Vernon Flieg.
■ FREE French Colonial Christmas – Linden House, 116 S. Main. (Ends 5 p.m.)
■ FREE Children’s Christmas Crafts – Diane Wilson, The ORRIS, 265 Merchant St. (Ends 2 p.m.)
1:00–1:45 p.m.
■ Magician Bruce Dyvig – Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center, 360 Market St.
■ Southeast Chamber Choir – Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church, 49 DuBourg Pl.
■ Fountain Street String Quartet – Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 200 Merchant St.
■ Chad Stephen Stafford (Acoustic Pop & Christmas) – Welcome Center, 66 S. Main.
■ Gerry Huggins, Saxophone – Music, Art, Love, 137 N. Main.
■ Paper Filigree Craft with Lisa Palmer – Shaw House. (Ends 3 p.m.)
2:00–2:45 p.m.
■ Repeat performances: Chamber Choir, String Quartet, Chad Stephen Stafford, Gerry Huggins, and Magician Bruce Dyvig.
■ FREE Dance Discovery Troupe – Felix Valle Site, 198 Merchant St. (Ends 3 p.m.)
3:00–3:45 p.m.
■ FREE Pipe Organ Concert – Matt Palisch, SEMO professor. Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church. (One performance only; ends 4 p.m.)
■ FREE Hailey Jane & Nathan Schultz – The ORRIS.
4:00–4:45 p.m.
■ Repeat performance: Hailey Jane & Nathan Schultz – The ORRIS.
4:00–6:00 p.m.
■ FREE Guibourd House Holiday Reception – Colonial décor, hors d’oeuvres, violinist Steve Schaeffner.
■ FREE Art Guild Reception – Cello performance by Jake Brookman. Museum Building, 310 Merchant St.
■ FREE Academy Hill (Alt-Country Music) – Music, Art, Love, 137 N. Main.
6:00 p.m.
■ FREE Community Christmas Tree Lighting – Welcome Center, with Santa & Mrs. Claus, SGHS Madrigal Choir.
■ FREE Live Bethlehem Nativity Scene – First Presbyterian Church, 160 S. Main.
■ FREE Le Réveillon French Christmas – Felix Valle Site. (Ends 8 p.m.) ■ Lynn, Jack & Jen Trio – Audubon’s Grill & Bar.
■ FREE Christmas Hayride – Hosted by the Ste. Genevieve Park Board.
7:30 p.m.
■ Trans-Siberian Orchestra Tribute: Livin’ Tale – The ORRIS.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7
12:30–1:15 p.m.
■ FREE Violin Solo – Steve Schaeffner, Welcome Center.
■ FREE Classical Harp Concert – Elaine Pontious, Holy Cross Lutheran Church. 1:30–2:15 p.m.
■ Repeat performances: Violin & Harp.
■ FREE SEMO Steel Drum Band – DuBourg Center.
2:30–3:15 p.m.
■ Repeat performance: SEMO Steel Drum Band. 3:00 p.m. ■ FREE Stanhope Recorder Consort – Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church.
6:00 p.m.
■ FREE Municipal Band Symphonic Wind Ensemble – Ste. Genevieve R-II Performing Arts Center.
ALL WEEKEND
■ Ste. Genevieve Art Guild Christmas Show – Museum Building, 310 Merchant St.
■ Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
■ Sunday: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
