Spring For Down Syndrome Marks 10th Year
This year, the 10th annual Spring For Down Syndrome event will take place one week later than usual — on Saturday, June 8, rather than the first Saturday of June.
The change allows individuals to take part in both the Spring for Down Syndrome event and Missouri’s Special Olympics, which was switched to the weekend of June 1 this year.
Organizer Chip Marzuco said flooding has been the only new issue to crop up this year. Changing the date has not proved difficult.
“We had to change our UTV route, because the route that we had originally planned was flooded,” Marzuco said. “We wanted to make sure everyone was available to go for that [June 8 date]. Everybody was OK to do it that weekend, so it’s working out real good.”
The move placed the event on the same weekend as the annual French Heritage Festival. Instead of competing for patrons, though, the two events plan to work together.
“We’re going to try to get it set up so the tractor club has a wagon that can take people from our event [at the Knights of Columbus Hall] to their event [downtown], back and forth,” Marzuco said. “Our UTV ride, we routed it so that it will be going close enough to it [the festival] that the UTV people can actually stop and enjoy the French Heritage Days, also. We’re going to work hand-in-hand and it will work out real well for both of us.”
The Spring for Down Syndrome again will be full of activities.
An antique tractor show will begin at 10 a.m.
The band Stingray will perform 8 p.m. to midnight.
The second annual UTV and Jeep Poker Run will take place, with registration at 9 a.m. and the ride starting at 10:30. All riders should be back by 4 p.m., for results and prizes.
Meanwhile, the 10th annual Pedal on Down bike ride will take place. It will include a two-mile family fun ride, plus 10-, 25- and 50-mile rides
A chicken dinner will be served at the Knights of Columbus Hall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., while pork burgers and hot dogs will also be on sale.
Plenty of activities will be available for kids, as well. The Kidz Zone will include a bounce house, clowns, dunk tank, face-painting, a balloon lady and a petting zoo. Special characters will also be on hand, including Anna and Olaf, noon to 1:30 p.m.; Smokey Bear, all day; Calvin Calcium in the afternoon; and Rapunzel and a ninja turtle from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
World War II vehicles and Sheriff’s Office vehicles will also be on display.
An oral auction and a silent auction will both be held.
The annual releasing of the doves will also be done.
Proceeds benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis and the Challenger Baseball program in Ste. Genevieve.
See complete story in the May 22 edition of the Herald.