'Castlewood Days' Will School With Fun

Castlewood is celebrating National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday with Castlewood Days, a cultural and heritage festival that celebrates the park’s past as a resort area in the early to mid-1900s.

“[The Castlewood area was] a place where hundreds of people from St. Louis would go to escape the heat of the city by taking a dip in the river at Lincoln Beach, or canoe, as well as stay in one of the many lodges,” said Michelle Neubauer of .

Carol Watkins, a professional storyteller and puppeteer for nine years, will have four shows starting at 1:45 p.m. The first show is an imaginary trip to the year 1921, in which a family visits Castlewood during a hot Fourth of July weekend. 

The family boards a Missouri Pacific Resort steam engine train and travels along the Meramec River.  The second story is about imaginary bears in the Castlewood forest, which is an interactive story that has a surprise ending.

“Because of the many forests in Castlewood, it might be fun to pretend that there are bears in the forest,” said Watkins.  

Watkins also tells a story akin to the Aesop Fable, “The Lion and the Mouse,” and a story of overcoming fear with the help of a good friend, featuring a caterpillar and lady bug.

Another feature is Civil War history from Pablo Baum and Steve Lupcho. Baum is a "living historyist," and will be doing a three-part program throughout the afternoon
starting at 1:15 p.m.   

Two of Baum’s stories will focus on civil war experiences, while one is a participatory story for children about the Santa Fe Trail.

“I do it all in first person, as if I was relating it from my memory of recent events,” said Baum.  “And they’re all very action packed stories.”

Baum dresses the part, such as a Union and Southern officer from the Civil War.

Attendees are encouraged to dress for physical activity, as they can form teams to play “Indian Ball,” a type of baseball invented in St. Louis.  Four to six people can play on a team.

Area environmental and animal organizations will be providing information, such as the Endangered Wolf Center, and the Open Space Council.  The World Bird Sanctuary will present a program around 12:30 p.m.

There are plenty of other activities to keep the interest of festival goers. Miss Jubilee and The Hot Three will provide music, and there will be lawn games, face painters, and a vintage automobile display.

The Pfoodman, Ralph Pfremmer will be providing food for the Castlewood Days as well. Also, the Metro West Fire Department will be handing out bike helmets, to help kids stay safe during one of the most popular summertime activities.