CVB plans new, traditional events for 2018

Jessica Royston hands out American flags to patrons and children during the Salute to America parade on Monday, July 3, 2017. Hundreds of people lined Jefferson City's High Street as well as neighboring streets to get candy and enjoy the parade festivities.
Jessica Royston hands out American flags to patrons and children during the Salute to America parade on Monday, July 3, 2017. Hundreds of people lined Jefferson City's High Street as well as neighboring streets to get candy and enjoy the parade festivities.

A new year brings new events Jefferson City residents can anticipate, along with the classic events of which the Jefferson City Convention and Visitor Bureau helps.

Battle 4 the Badges

The first Battle 4 the Badges, a battle of the bands event, will take place noon-7 p.m. every Saturday in March at The Bridge, located at 619 E. Capitol Ave., Suite B. Performances will begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets cost $15 in advance or at the door, and those interested can pay $75 for all five events. Tickets can be purchased at The Bridge.

Hosted by nonprofit organization Safety Net, the event's proceeds will help support families of fallen law enforcement and corrections officers, EMS and firefighters in Boone and Cole counties, Safety Net of Missouri President Mark Edwards said.

The layout of the competition will be similar to March Madness, he said. Three bands will perform each Saturday, with judges and the audience selecting the winner at the end of the night. The four winning bands will compete in a final performance March 31.

"We're trying to put a competition together but at the same time bring people together who will enjoy music and the bands and help out for a good cause," Edwards said.

There will be prize drawings and raffles starting at 5 p.m. each Saturday, with a grand prize drawing March 31.

Big Bam on the Katy Trail

The first Big Bam on the Katy Trail will feature a bike race Oct. 7 from Clinton to St. Charles. The race will come through Jefferson City on Oct. 10, and the city is planning to make arrangements for the bikers, CVB Executive Director Diane Gillespie said.

The race will be similar to the larger, statewide Big Bam (Bicycle Across Missouri), said Brittney Mormann, CVB communications/film manager.

The CVB did not know if the race will have a cost to participate.

Salute to America

Gillespie said the planning group is still working to get entertainment for the tentatively scheduled June 30 concert. However, other free Salute to America events will be July 3-4.

With July 4 falling on a Wednesday this year, the group is planning events around the weekday while still trying to attract outside visitors. This includes promoting another Jefferson City event the same week.

The American Barnstormers, a traveling show that features 10 vintage Travel Air open cockpit biplanes, will stop July 5-7 at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport. Five of the planes will be on display, while attendees can take rides in the other five planes.

"That might be a great opportunity for us to promote our July 4th activities to some of those folks who would maybe come in on the 4th and spend the night and then be here for the first day for the first day of the American Barnstormers," Gillespie said.

Other events

Other events residents and visitors should keep in mind are Shelbyfest, the Corvette Classic, Prison Break Race and Special Olympics State Outdoor Games, Mormann said.

Shelbyfest will feature several Mustangs from May 4-6 in downtown Jefferson City.

The sixth annual Capital City Corvette Classic, set for May 11-12, is when a local group of Corvette owners bring out their cars. In the past, the cars would line up on the south drive of the Capitol, but with the construction project at the building, they are looking at a different location for the show, Gillespie said.

On Aug. 25, runners and walkers can go through the seventh annual Prison Break Race, and the Special Olympics State Outdoor Games will be Sept. 28-30.

Mormann said they were still working out the details for some of these events, and they could change. Some events are weather-dependent, Gillespie noted.