The Park Forest Spring Jubilee salutes the Park Forest neighborhood
“Coming Together for ’77”. Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1, the Euclid/Laclede intersection hosts the first neighborhood festival of the year. The Jubilee offers the traditional potpourri of food, crafts, music and carnival rides from noon to 8 PM both days. But this year’s festival offers a new excitement — a ride in a hot air balloon which will send you soaring.
Food and entertainment will consist of the usual ethnic blend characteristic of the Park Forest neighborhood. Scheduled entertainment includes Greek belly dancing, Don Kurtz’ ragtime music, and contributions from Ir ternational Folklore, City Players, [word damaged in source] International Institute and the Iowa City [word damaged in source] School Band. Food choices will range from baklava to hot dogs and beer.
The possibility for a ride in a 50′ hot air balloon is already attracting a lot of attention. This year’s Jubilee committee was looking for something “big” and found it with the help of Dan Shelter, co-owner of the Mississippi River Balloon Transit Company. Two lucky people will ride over St. Louis in the style of “Pass Partout”. (Remember “Around the World…”?) A one dollar donation may win the big prize. “Coming Together for ’77” means many things to Park Forest. The Jubilee itself will bring together more than 50,000 visitors in the area just east of Forest Park. This neighborhood has been a melting pot of people, life styles and architecture within the St. Louis community. It comprises the Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment Project. Key redevelopment activity is scheduled to add to Park Forest’ “coming together” with renewed growth.
Jame McFarlane and Mary Dodge, 1977 Jubilee committee chairmen, have worked hard to build on the outstanding work of their predecessors. This is the fifth year of the festival, planned by the Jubilee committee of the Park Forest Improvement Association.
Say the chairmen, “So much work remains. The committee welcomes the assistance from anyone who is willing and able.” The committee is still scheduling entertainment, display booths and volunteer help. Anyone interested, please call 361-1193 for booths, 361-0228 for entertainment, and 361-3975 for volunteers.
Tickets for all rides and prizes can be bought on both days of the Jubilee. Advance tickets can be bought from merchants in the Euclid/Laclede area.
Join the residents of Park Forest in the year’s first festival — “Coming Together for ’77.”
Originally published in The Paper, April 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Damaged performers’ names explicitly marked; no guessed organization or band.
Original source: SD_Times1977_04.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 8; PDF page(s) 1, 8.
