La Guignolee Announces List Of Stops For New Year’s Eve
La Guignolee will have a new stopping place in downtown Ste. Genevieve this year when the troupe makes its annual New Year’s Eve rounds of restaurants, bars, clubs and public locations.
A tradition dating back to the 18th century, La Guignolee is a costumed troupe with a couple of musicians and several singers, including a leader — currently Mike Papin — who performs a solo during the last half of the song.
La Guignolee announced its schedule this year with a stop at Buddy’s Place restaurant, which relocated this year from Highway 61 to Washington Street in the downtown historic district. The stop there is anticipated for around 7:35 p.m.
La Guignolee also will be stopping this year at the Point, under new ownership, at the intersection of Highway 32 and Highway 61, around 9:30 p.m.
The group meets at the American Legion Post 150 at 5 p.m. to warm up a little, then heads to the three nursing homes in town. La Guignolee will stop at: Cafe Genevieve (Flash Cafe building) at 6:30 p.m.; American Legion Post 150 club room; Valle High School gymnasium at 7 p.m.; the Anvil restaurant at 7:10 p.m.; the Old Brick House restaurant at 7:20 p.m.; Buddy’s Place at 7:35 p.m.; the Centre for French Colonial Life at 8 p.m.; the Bolduc House at 8:15 p.m.; Audubon’s Grill and Bar at 8:45 p.m.; the American Legion at 9 p.m.; the Point at 9:30 p.m.; Elks Lodge at 10 p.m.; Zell Jaycees at 10:30 p.m.; Knights of Columbus Hall at 11:15 p.m.; and the Legion at midnight.
La Guignolee was featured in the December issue of Missouri Life magazine, in an article written by Evan Henningsen, who also took photos of the troupe during last year’s performances. The article calls La Guignolee “possibly the oldest continual tradition of European origin in Missouri.”
La Guignolee also is selling CDs of the song as a fundraiser. To purchase one, contact Pete Papin at 573-535-0184.
(Information from La Guignolee member Pete Papin.)
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