Historical Children’s Festival in St. Charles
Ray and I returned on Tuesday from a fun six-day trip to the St. Louis/St. Charles, Missouri, area to visit our son John and his family. We enjoyed special times with our precious ones, including celebrating the upcoming 10th birthday of their youngest and attending the annual Historical Children’s Festival in St. Charles where John’s performance dance group was participating.
The dancers’ costumes made the experience extra fun.
Ray and John
John’s group did a great job.
In addition to performing, they gave festival goers of all ages opportunities to dance with them. We enjoyed some of those audience participation dances. The next day we also got to attend a session of the traditional dance class John co-teaches. It is wonderful having Ray well again and able to dance!
One of John’s fellow dancers told me that she has been coming to the festival since she was a child. It was very well done. Ten young members of a fife and drum corps in beautiful Revolutionary War costumes performed several songs from the balcony of an historic home that served as Missouri’s first state capitol. Our grandsons enjoyed playing with traditional toys, including a Jacob’s Ladder, a cup and ball toss, and the Game of Graces (which involves using two sticks to toss a beribboned hoop back and forth between two players). I was impressed by their dexterity.
One booth explained beekeeping and even handed out free honey sticks and bottles of honey.
Other stations demonstrated more traditional skills, interests, and trades.
Blacksmithing
Dulcimers
Leather Working
Making Bows and Arrows
Tanning
Making Baskets
Working with Wool
The wool station was even looking for a new home for this fuzzy fellow.
All of us depend on God for every big and little thing we need. Festivals like this help us and our children see that more clearly.
The eyes of all look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:15-21