World's Largest Catsup Bottle - Collinsville, Illinois

A guide to things you just don't want to miss this summer

By ALISON SIELOFF
May 19, 2010

Fairs To Remember
If the number of fair-weather fairs held around these parts is any indication, St. Louisans really love summertime togetherness and a good old-fashioned outdoor party. There are holiday fairs, such as Fair Saint Louis (www.celebratestlouis.org), which is held downtown over the Fourth of July weekend; cultural celebrations, such as the German-focused St. Louis Strassenfest (scheduled for the first weekend in October in Chesterfield; www.strassenfest.org) and the International Institute's fabulous Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park (Saturday, August 28, and Sunday, August 29; www.iistl.org); as well as parties centered around landmarks — the World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival on Sunday, July 11, in Collinsville, Illinois, comes to mind (www.catsupbottlefestival.com).
Plus, there are smaller municipality fairs — enjoy rides, crafts and games at Ballwin Days from Friday, June 25, through Sunday, June 27 (www.ballwin.mo.us) — and mondo events, such as the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia (www.mostatefair.com). This last one is the big dog of summer fairs, with livestock and human competitions, concerts, motocross events, comedy acts and so much more, all packed into eleven days in August (Thursday, August 12, through Sunday, August 22). General admission is $2 to $8; additional charges apply for certain happenings within the fair.