By Editor | February 4, 2021
By ERIC X. VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
The first major tourism event of the 2021 calendar for downtown Ste. Genevieve will take place on Feb. 6.
The annual traditional “Chocolate Walk” will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6, with Common Grounds Coffeehouse serving as the starting point. The event will run through mid-afternoon.
Tickets have been on sale for the event since Dec. 1.
Janece Warden, the owner of downtown restaurant Stella and Me Café, had the idea for the Chocolate Walk – which began in February 2009.
“It’s an outdoor event primarily, and some people still feel comfortable in that environment,” said city of Ste. Genevieve tourism director Toby Carrig. “It’s a break from the winter doldrums.”
By Editor | January 6, 2021
By MARK EVANS
mevans@stegenherald.com
In addition to battling COVID-19, seeing the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park established, the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center and the new art guild museum open and other accomplishments previously listed, several other noteworthy things took place in 2020.
One notable thing did
not take place.
For once, the Mississippi River, consummate friend and foe of the old village, stayed within its banks throughout the year.
At one point in the spring, predictions were made that it could be a moderate flood year during the summer. That, however, never materialized, with the river stage actually dropping below four feet at the Chester, Illinois gauge.
Local tourism was no different.
The city of Ste. Genevieve took advantage of a Show-Me Strong grant, administered by the Missouri Division of Tourism, using federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. (CARES) Act money for COVID-19 related expenses.
Ste. Genevieve tourism director Toby Carrig reported his department was able to spend nearly double the money on marketing this year.
“It’s been interesting,” Carrig said. “The pandemic has impacted people traveling, and how far people are willing to travel.”
Carrig said during typical years there’s between $32,000-$35,000 in the budget for marketing, but the CARES Act provided $57,914.13.