Memorial Day Ceremonies Among Events Canceled By Coronavirus Pandemic

While Ste. Genevieve County and the state of Missouri ease toward a reopening of the economy and activities, the threat of a coronavirus spread still means large gatherings are being canceled or postponed.
The Ste. Genevieve VFW Post 2210 announced last week that its annual Memorial Day ceremonies will not be taking place this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This weekend also was to include the Fourth Friday Art Walk, when galleries and art spaces in downtown Ste. Genevieve are open in the evening to showcase the work of local and regional artists.
This past weekend would have been — in addition to high school graduations — the Master Gardeners Garden Walk, but it also was canceled.
Another showcase event that has been canceled is the French Heritage Festival, which was scheduled to take place on June 13.
Other upcoming events affected by the coronavirus-related restrictions on public gatherings and guidelines on social distancing:
— The Ste. Genevieve Farmers Market at the Knights of Columbus pavilion will not be open on Saturday mornings during the month of May.
— Big BAM [Bicycle Across Missouri] final leg, which was to roll into Ste. Genevieve on June 5.
— La Veille at the Felix Valle House State Historic Site.
— The Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce Summer Music Series has had one cancellation, of its June 12 show. The series-opening June 5 concert with the Alan Jackson tribute band was rescheduled for August 14.
— The Fourth of July Freedom Celebration is being revised since there will be no fireworks this year.
— The Ste. Genevieve Encampment has been postponed from September 12 to September 26 so as not to conflict with the rescheduled date for the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous at Prairie du Rocher in Illinois.
— The senior citizens bingo in Bloomsdale at the Knights of Columbus Hall will be discontinued until further notice.
— The opening date for the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center has been pushed back from late June.
“We are still moving forward over here at the museum. However, the COVID-19 situation has set us back,” said Joanna Hart, administrator for the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center. “We are not yet sure when we will be ready to open.”
(Information from the Ste. Genevieve VFW Post 2210, the city of Ste. Genevieve’s Welcome Center, Donna Flieg on senior citizen bingo at Bloomsdale, and Joanna Hart on the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center.)