Viva Cuba busy with plans for 2013 Cuba Fest October 19-20

There’s something for everyone at Cuba Fest 2013.
Cuba Fest is always the 3rd weekend of October.

Tri-C’s Cuba Fest 2013 allows Cuba, MO to bring together a variety of family music, food, crafts, and entertainment for both its local citizens and visitors to enjoy. Each year Viva Cuba, our community betterment and beautification group, plans several activities as their contribution to the community fun.

Here’s a preview of what we have in store this year:

Although the tours are free, get your tickets early so that you can make sure to reserve a ride. Only so many tickets are given out for each tour due to seating restraints.

*On Saturday, there are free narrated tours of the murals, where riders on the vintage trolley hear the stories behind the murals.

Sit back and listen to the “stories behind the murals” as our vintage trolley travels the streets of Cuba’s historic district.

*On Sunday there is the much in demand Cemetery Tour, Echoes from the Past. At Kinder Cemetery, characters from the past, dressed in period costumes, walk to meet the trolley and tell their stories. This year, you will meet the following:

Albert U. Farrow was Cuba’s first mayor and a Postmaster of Cuba.

Budge Gunn opened graves for area funeral homes for over 45 years. He was also a talented carpenter and brick layer.

Hattie Holsinger Nichols was way ahead of her time. She was a druggist from 1915 on at the Meramec Drug Store, which was a popular gathering spot for young people.

Sue Wood, daughter of John Fanning, tells of a Civil War era wedding gone astray that ended in a party anyway, but abruptly broke up when Confederate General Sterling Price showed up on the scene with chaos in mind.

Hiram Pinnell, one of the first local settlers, fought in the Battle of 1812 and was granted 640 acres of land along Brush Creek, where he settled with Indians for neighbors.

George “Cad” Spencer‘s father purchased a farm in Cuba on Maple Shade Road, now known as the Fleenor Place. You will never guess which famous outlaw made the Spencer place a regular stop when he was in the area. Spencer was also a finish carpenter who worked on the Fabulous Fox Theater and buildings for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

…and maybe a few surprises.

The trolley tours load in front of the Holy Cross Church. Tours are free, but you must get a ticket to assure your ride.

*Viva Cuba’s Annual Chili Cook-off

The 23rd Annual Chili Cookoff is called Who Can Make the Best Better Chili because area 4-H Clubs will vie for the best chili. The clubs who are putting their best chili forward are the following: Blue Ribbon Kids 4-H Club, Rocky Hills 4-H, Forest Hill 4-H, Lone Star 4-H, Prairie 4-H, Crossroads 4-H, and the Oak Hill 4-H. The kids are selling tickets and planning their chili for the “Silver Ladle” prize.

And for a little trivia, do you know who won the very first Chili Cook-off? And what was the year?

In 1991, Faye Howard won the first Annual Chili Cookoff.

Area 4-H Clubs view who makes the best Better Chili.

*You can purchase Viva Cuba items, the monies which will be used to support our projects.

*Viva Cuba T-shirts with scenes of the murals

*Our Christmas over Route 66 Cuba, Missouri 18 X 24 inch print

Christmas over Route 66 Cuba, Missouri print

* Our new Cuba Route 66 Mural City Patch

Viva Cuba’s new patch replicates our Mural City Logo.

To borrow a phrase from our 4-H friends, Viva Cuba is trying to make the Better, Best for you in 2013 at Cuba Fest. Join us at this year’s Cuba Fest for a whole lot of family fun. Many more clubs and organizations are also doing their best to give you a good time.