By Adam Rollins, Record Staff Writer
Strassenbash, Wright City’s largest festival of the year, is next weekend at Diekroeger Park. The 35th annual event begins Friday night, Sept. 15, and continues throughout Saturday, Sept. 16.The festival, which is sponsored by the Wright City Area Chamber of Commerce, officially opens Friday at 4 p.m. and will feature a variety of entertainment, performances and events. There will be live music both days, a parade, special events, baby show, queen coronation and more.“We tried to make the event more family friendly this year,” said Chamber President Kelly Hill.New to the festival this year are Imagination Pottery painting sessions open to participants at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Mommy’s DeSign Farm sign painting lessons at 3 p.m.Both events require tickets to participate, Hill said. The tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce Booth at the Heiliger Building in Diekroeger Park. Participants can also register online through links on the Strassenbash 2017 Facebook page to get discounted tickets, Hill said.Also new to Strassenbash this year is Mission Strokes Face Painting, which Hill said will donate 20 percent of its profits to a children’s hospital and Care to Learn charities.The annual Strassenbash Parade will feature young bike riders this year, Hill said. Interested participants can register online and there will be a competition for best bike, she added.“We wanted to make sure we had the kids involved,” Hill said.The parade will travel from Ruge Park, make its way to Elm Street and then to Second Street North, where it will turn toward Diekroeger Park.Parade lineup begins at 10 a.m. and the parade will start moving at 11 a.m.The Wright City High School Marching Band will perform immediate following the parade.Anyone hungry before or after the parade has a chance for two eventful meals. Wright City Fire Protection District Fire Corps will host a pancake breakfast at the firehouse on West Second Street North from 7-11 a.m. For lunch, families are invited to the Heiliger Building in Diekroeger Park for a meal with Belle and Spiderman from noon to 1 p.m. The lunch requires a ticket purchase, which can also be reserved ahead of time online.Three live musical performances will be featured during the festival. Friday night’s musical entertainment will be the band One More Round, playing from 7-11 p.m. On Saturday, local musician Denver Wade Trent will perform from 1:30-4:30 p.m., and that night the band Stray Bullet will play from 7-11 p.m.Also Friday night, the Wright City Chamber will announce its Person of the Year. Nominations for the award are submitted to the Chamber and reviewed by the president, Hill said.“We want to see that they are active in their community, that they’re someone who always gives back,” she commented.Saturday afternoon, proud parents will gather in a yearly competition to determine who has the cutest baby. The annual Strassenbash Baby Contest starts at 2 p.m. Registration for the contest will be accepted anytime Friday or Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce booth, but participants must be registered by 1:30 p.m. Saturday. All babies in the contest must have been born after Sept. 16, 2015.Capping the festival will be the coronation of the Strassenbash Queen at 8 p.m. Saturday.And in between all of those happenings, there will be games, vendors, crafts, an annual washers tournament and other attractions all day Saturday at Diekroeger Park. Hill added that organizers are bringing the festival back closer to its German roots this year with the decorations and theme of the event. T-shirts and 35th anniversary stein-style mugs will be available for sale at the festival, she said.Strassenbash ScheduleAll events to take place at Diekroeger Park unless otherwise noted.Friday, Sept. 156 p.m. Person of the Year announcement7-11 p.m. Music: One More Round4-11 p.m. Beer gardenSaturday, Sept. 167-11 a.m. Pancake breakfast at Wright City firehouse10 a.m. Parade lineup at Ruge Park11 a.m. Parade travels from Ruge Park to Diekroeger Park10:30 a.m. Vintage and craft vendors11 a.m. Imagination Pottery painting sessionNoon to 1 p.m. Lunch with Belle and Spider-Man1 p.m. Imagination Pottery painting session1-4 p.m. Face painting1 p.m. Washers tournament registration1:30-4:30 p.m. Music: Denver Wade Trent2 p.m. Washer tournament starts2 p.m. Baby contest3 p.m. Mommy’s DeSign Farm DIY workshop7-11 p.m. Music: Stray Bullet8 p.m. Queen coronation9 p.m. Raffle and 50/50 drawingsAll day Games, photo booth, beer gardenStrassebash 2017 queen candidates wearing sashes for their sponsors pose with contest managers. Pictured, from left, are Elizabeth Allee, McKinzie Lee, Jazmin Doherty, Madysen Love, Lilly Sargent, Meagan McCloud, contest manager Tina Lashley, Clara Bruno, contest manager Julie McCloud, and 2016 Strassebash Queen Abby Thomas. Record photo/ Jana Todd.
