Despite some stormy weather over the weekend, the Steelville community enjoyed six days of events and activities during Steelville’s 62nd annual Harvest Festival. The theme for this year’s festival was “Stars, Stripes and Small Town Pride,” in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America’s independence.

Activities for the Harvest Festival’s week-long slate of activities kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with Family Night on Main Street. Local businesses and civic organizations lined downtown Steelville selling goods, wares and street food. Visitors were also able to enjoy booths featuring games and activities, some of which included axe-throwing, horseback riding and ball-toss. Family Night was organized by the Steelville R-3 School District in cooperation with local businesses and organizations.

Also on Tuesday, the American Red Cross held a blood drive at Steelville Presbyterian Church. In all, the Red Cross was able to collect 39 units of blood from 36 unique donors. According to Janice McMillen, who helped organize the blood drive, each usable unit of blood can help three individuals, meaning that Tuesday’s blood drive will save or support 117 lives.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9 the annual Community Gospel Sing took place at the Meramec Music Theatre, where local acts performed a variety of music ranging from original compositions and contemporary worship music to old gospel songbook favorites. Rev. Jerry Beers served as master of ceremonies for the event. Performers included Roxie Swyers, Emily Simpson, Lanin Thomasma, Patti Pyatt, Shawn Stroup, Joyce Bouse Miller, Gene Roark and Bob and Carol Coleman. The event was organized by Gospel Sing Chairman Sharon Hardecke and Assistant Chairman Becky Simpson. A love offering at the Gospel Sing raised more than $500 for the benefit of the Steelville Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry.

At Thursday’s Harvest Festival Queen Pageant, hosted at the Meramec Music Theatre, Abigail Schlueter, daughter of Thomas and Lisa Schlueter, was crowned Harvest Festival Queen. Schlueter also won awards for congeniality, interview and talent. She was sponsored by FCNB.

Autumn Halbert was named first runner-up. Halbert is the daughter of Lucas and Amanda Halbert and was sponsored by Country Mart. Raylee Kirkland, daughter of Tom and Jessica Kirkland, was crowned second runner-up. She was sponsored by Reining Trails.

On Friday night, the 61st Ozark Trailblazers Rodeo brought hundreds of rodeo fans to the Ozark Trailblazers Arena for a night of wild horseback competition. Riders from around the state of Missouri competed in divisions such as calf roping, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The marshmallow-slinging rodeo clown Whistlenut made his return to Steelville for the rodeo, to the delight of many children. At the end of the rodeo, a special tribute was paid to first responders in honor of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 25 years ago.

The Steelville Arts Council’s photography exhibit “Oh, Snap!” which features the work of local photographers, was on display at Gallery Zeke over the weekend, giving festival attendees a chance to browse and purchase works by local talent on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, the sidewalks on Main Street were packed with parade-watchers, vendor booths and purveyors of street food alike. At 1:30 p.m. the parade rolled through Main Street featuring both floats made by local groups and classic cars. Then, Saturday night festival-goers enjoyed another round of rodeo events at the Ozark Trailblazers Arena.

Festivities for the week concluded on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Steelville City Park with a community-wide church service hosted by the Steelville Ministerial Alliance. Community members gathered for a night of worship to round out the 62nd annual Harvest Festival.