Hyde Park Festival: Sept 8 2012

We are all so excited about this year's Hyde Park Festival. It's so crazy that we first got involved by simply serving 3 years ago, and now this year we are organizing and sponsoring the Festival.  We've been planning since last year, and have been trying to get as many people on board as possible. We've got some great stuff lined up for the festival, including free kids' games, great music, door prizes, excellent food, and other fun stuff. The festival will be Saturday, September 8, 10am-8pm in Hyde Park, which is just 2 blocks off I-70 at the Salisbury exit. You can also check out the Hyde Park Festival website.  Here's a rundown of what to expect this year.

All day music!!!

We've got a great lineup, including bluegrass, hip-hop, soul, and acoustic. Headlining is GRITS, Dove Award-winning national hip-hop duo!

Cumberland Gap Band

Performing at 10:30AM

Since the beginning Cumberland Gap has stayed true to its roots. Their acoustic renditions of classic folk, blues, and bluegrass along with their inspired list of original songs have gained a steadily growing enthusiastic audience. They were named as the best bluegrass band in St. Louis by the Riverfront Times in 2004 and again in 2009. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch named Cumberland Gap one of the "17 local bands you ought to know about" and had this to say about their live shows: "With their three-part harmonies soaring over strong, inspired string work, Cumberland Gap captures the soulful, upbeat side of American folk and bluegrass."

Reformation Sound

Performing at 1:00PM

This is our band. Made entirely of Sun Ministries missionaries, who are also all residents of Hyde Park. Features an interesting blend of guitar, banjo, hand drums, bass, dulcimer, and many voices. We write music to testify to what God is doing. Our sound is somewhere in the mix of folk, indie, rock, with occasionally a bit of blues.

Andre Williams

http://www.dre-dre.com/

Performing mid afternoon

Excellent jazz, soul, gospel, etc. Remarkable musicians, and great friends of us here at Sun Ministries. Andre can shred with the best of them, and has a fantastic falsetto.

Bingham Family

Performing mid afternoon

Soul and gospel

Commission Heirs

Performing mid afternoon

These guys are committed to using the gift that God gave them. They refer to it as "flip-hop", because they used to use it for the things of the world, but now they've turned it around and are preaching the gospel through rap. They are not full-time performers, as they are balancing their music in the midst of lives spent following God.

GRITS

Performing at 6:00PM

A personal favorite of many of us at Sun Ministries. Fantastic hip-hop duo from Nashville, recording since 1995. They've won several Dove awards, have songs on many soundtracks, and have toured extensively.

Free Kids' Games provided by Life is Good

Last year, Jake's on Main in St. Charles, MO lent us the games used for the Life is Good festival. They're letting us use them again this year. The games are free, and we've got some great prizes.

Historic Walking Tour

historic Divoll branch Library

Hyde Park is a registered historic district.  There is fantastic brickwork and architecture.  Most of the buildings are over 100 years old.  And we have some notable places, such as Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, two stand-pipe water towers, a stop on the undergroung railroad, historic public school and library, old barracks, and of course, the Bremen Theater.

Beep Baseball

A version of baseball for the blind and visually impaired. The bases buzz and the ball beeps. There are some rule differences, which the website explains. They will be doing a demonstration. Sighted people are welcome to participate, but they have to wear a blindfold.

Attendance Prizes!

We will be raffling off several attendance prizes at the festival, all FOR FREE!

Here is a sampling of the prizes

• Life is Good T-Shirts - donated by Jake's on Main and Life is Good
• 4 tickets to the Missouri Botanical Garden
• Gift Certificate to Jazz at the Bistro - donated by Jazz St. Louis
• Signed St. Louis Rams picture - donated by the St. Louis Rams
• Boutique gift items donated by Looking Glass Desings in Lafayette Square

St. Louis Police and Fire Department

The police will be bringing out the helicopter and swat vehicle. The fire department will have a hook and ladder. While you're at the festival, be sure to check out the historic firehouse at the corner of the park.

Pottery Demonstration and Lesson

Tim and Christy Sawyer have been making pottery for years.  They make a wide variety, from historic recreations to modern, artistic pieces.  Not only will they be selling their wares, but they will have a portable turning wheel and will be teaching kids, and whoever else is adventurous enough, some pottery basics.  And the kids get to take home their creations!

Other Fun Activities

3-on-3 Basketball

Bounce Houses

Sack Races

FREE Face Painting

Awesome Food!

Jubilee Community Church - They will be selling fantastic, eclectic rice dishes, including Indian, Mexican, and Chinese

Mi Hungry - Jamaican and American Barbecue

La Mancha Coffeehouse - A local coffeehouse located just to the south of us in the Old North neighborhood. Serving tasty cafe sandwiches

Faith Hope and Love Ministries - They will be serving some great grilled items as well as a few pasta dishes

Our Partners

ND Consulting

AmerenUE

Alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr.

Third Ward Housing Corporation

Jake's on Main/Life is Good

Jubilee Community Church

Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Ballwin Baptist Church

Faith Hope and Love Ministries
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

St. Louis Fire Department