Organizers of the annual Strassenbash festival in Wright City have announced a new location and parade route on the north side of Interstate 70.The festival this year will be held at the Wright City Lions Club, 678 Westwoods Road, rather than its traditional location at Diekroeger Park.Strassenbash this year is Sept. 14 and 15.Organizer Kim Arbuthnot said Strassenbash is moving to the Lions Club in order to expand at a larger space and offer more family friendly events.“Our citizens have asked us to make this more kid friendly and that is our intent,” Arbuthnot said. “We are working with a carnival company to bring in rides. We are expanding our vendor outreach.”Arbuthnot said the Lions Club has been an excellent partner, and that while there may be a few bumps, organizers hope to make the transition as smooth as possible.The Strassenbash parade is also leaving downtown, and will instead travel past Wright City Middle School and West Elementary School this year.The parade will begin at Sunrise United Methodist Church on Bell Road, travel north and turn right on Westwoods Road, then turn right again on Wildcat Drive, ending at the elementary.Strassenbash Parade Chair Brad Schuster said the length of the route is about the same and has plenty of parking and sidewalks for viewers.Having parade participants park at the middle school and walk to the staging area at the church will leave more room for the actual parade vehicles to get set up, Schuster added. That wasn’t true of Ruge Park, the former starting point.“I actually think it will be better,” Schuster said during a meeting with the Wright City Board of Aldermen to get approval for the parade route.Police Chief Matt Eskew said the new route doesn’t shut down the railroad or block Highway F for people trying to drive to Innsbrook, which were challenges of the traditional route through downtown.The board of aldermen approved the new parade route Feb. 8.

The new route for the annual Strassenbash festival parade will pass Wright City Middle School and end at Wright City West Elementary School.