Events spark local economy, charities
By Bill Beene
Of the St. Louis American
The organizers of the 2006 Fair St. Louis/Celebrate St. Louis and the recently merged Live on the Levee are calling the extended event a success.
“It went very well, as we successfully expanded the number of nights to six,” said this year’s event chairman, Arnold Donald, the savvy and successful president and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“People made special trips to St. Louis, which helped businesses on the Landing and downtown as well as the art museum, zoo and science center,” he said.
“We even heard from out-of-town guests who indicated that they will plan their summer vacations around this event, because it’s something no other city in the country offers,” Donald added.
The free six weeks of entertainment brought to the riverfront stage a diverse group of acts that included India.Arie, Morris Day and the Time, Cameo and Blues Traveler.
Donald said the annual celebration also helps in the revitalization of downtown and the integration of the city. He said, “Having St. Louis celebrate together in a comfortable environment was an accomplishment many times over.”
According to Fair St. Louis officials, tens of thousands of people visited each weekend and hundreds of thousands descended on the riverfront during the 4th of July weekend.
While Donald said Fair St. Louis/Celebrate St. Louis can’t calculate definite numbers, businesses on the Landing will attest to a boost in prosperity, he said.
Donald also noted that 25 local charities raised more than $95,000 over the six-week period, which includes Fair St. Louis and Live on the Levee events.
Over the years, Fair St. Louis has been blasted with criticism from the African-American community.
The gripes ignited some change. For instance, the Veiled Prophet Parade – allegedly with roots in a white, racist secret society – was detached from the fair.
The Veiled Prophet organization has itself responded to such criticism by diversifying its public face and including African Americans in prominent roles. This year, Ken Page (star of Muny productions) was a grand marshal and boxing promoter Don King was a celebrity participant in the parade.
Some changes in Fair St. Louis this year came at the tweaking hand of Kim Slay, named chair of the planning committee by husband Mayor Francis G. Slay.
The changes weren’t meant to appease the black community or the St. Louis community as a whole, but rather to save money.
The changes, which included canceling the annual air show and carnival rides, were met with opposition and disgust from many fairgoers.
Other changes were fewer food vendors, no attractions on the Memorial Park grounds, shortening of the event to a day-and-a-half instead of three days, a smaller fireworks display and what some considered a weak selection of musical acts during the fair.
However, Live on the Levee did compensate with several popular artists.
“The entertainment committee succeeded in its goal of featuring diverse national performers in a number of different genres of music and catered to a much broader audience,” Donald noted.
Next year, Donald said promoter Steve Shankman will play event chair.
“He’s booked just about every big act that has come to St. Louis. He was in on the papal and presidential visits,” said Donald.
