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12_31_03 BELONGS
TO YOU
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Free 04
eve party in Forest Park will feature a giant Ferris wheel, live
entertainment, special family activities and spectacular fireworks.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One! The countdown is on to the biggest
New Year’s Eve party the St. Louis region has ever seen: ’04 Eve,
the launch of Celebrate 2004. A giant Ferris wheel, a live illuminated
performance by LUMA, live music by The Samples, a nationally known
DJ, fireworks and exciting entertainment and special activities
by area cultural attractions will ring in 2004 at this free celebration
in Forest Park.
Presented by regional civic organization St. Louis 2004, in conjunction
with Forest Park Forever and the City of St. Louis, the event is
sponsored by Bank of America, AmerenUE, Citigroup, Boeing, E. Desmond
Lee, Metro, Energizer, BJC Health Care, Schlafly and Ronnoco Coffee,
the official coffee of Celebrate 2004. In-kind sponsors of the event
include: City of St. Louis, Arts In Transit, Coca-Cola Bottling
Co. of St. Louis, Nestlé PURINA, Guarantee Electrical Company, BSI
Constructors, Kwame Building Group, Premier Productions, St. Louis
Community College, Washington University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital,
Children’s Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine.
| A
giant Ferris wheel reminiscent of the 1904 World’s
Fair is one of the many features for the ’04 Eve Party
in Forest Park. |
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The giant Ferris wheel, glowing with a kaleidoscope of thousands
of colored lights, will take riders 11 stories high as they see
amazing views of Forest Park and the surrounding area. Sponsored
by Express Scripts, the Ferris wheel is a nod to 1904 World’s Fair,
when another Wheel was in Forest Park. During ’04 Eve, rides are
free, but guests must obtain a time ticket at the ticket booth after
6:00 p.m. After its ’04 Eve debut, the Ferris wheel will return
to Forest Park in summer 2004.
The Samples will headline the evening at the Main Stage at Government
Hill with their relaxed, jazz-pop sound. This high-energy national
favorite is known for their spectacular live shows.
’04 Eve will mark the first-ever St. Louis performance of LUMA:
Theatre of Light—on the Main Stage at Government Hill. LUMA sculpts
light into dynamic forms that dance, spin and orbit. A cast costumed
in light will create electrifying color and movement choreographed
to music.
Partygoers can dance to the legendary “slice and dice” mixes of
DJ Kut on Government Hill. St. Louis native DJ Kut has gained worldwide
fame as the headlining DJ for the Cedric the Entertainer Comedy
Review. Kut also became the official DJ for multi-platinum artists
Nelly and the St. Lunatics, touring with them for the 2001 MTV/TRL
tour.
Forest Park cultural attractions will present special events and
activities:
Steinberg Skating Rink will
be home to a Children’s Village with free ice skating, snow sculpting,
a bonfire, a balloon glow, MetroBus painting, face painting and
family fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
The St. Louis Science Center will host a special holiday
film, Santa vs. The Snowman, an animated OMNIMAX® film. The Science
Center’s three buildings, including the James S. McDonnell Planetarium
will be open throughout the evening. Admission to the Science Center’s
650+ exhibits is free; tickets for Santa vs. The Snowman will be
on sale at the box office.
The Saint Louis Zoo will feature
Wild Lights and family fun. Guests can stroll through the Zoo’s
holiday wonderland. Penguin & Puffin Coast will offer an up-close
look at the Zoo’s newest residents from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. First
Night® entertainment will fill the Zoo’s Living World and Lakeside
Café. Other highlights: holiday foods, crafts and the new Conservation
Carousel (weather permitting).
First Night® will relocate from
Grand Center to Forest Park for the ’04 Eve celebration. Musicians,
storytellers, artists, face painters, magicians, dancers, jugglers
and singers will entertain audiences of all ages at the Saint Louis
Zoo Living World and Lakeside Café.
The Muny will present an original
melodrama and a musical tribute to the 1904 World’s Fair at the
Missouri History Museum. Performances will feature The Muny Troupe,
a hand-selected group of singers, dancers and actors who have performed
on The Muny stage and around the St. Louis area. The Muny Kids will
perform holiday and animal-themed music in the Rotunda at the Saint
Louis Zoo’s Living World.
The Missouri History Museum
invites partygoers to take a trip around the world. The fun-filled,
family-oriented evening will feature live music that spans the globe,
face painters, balloon sculptors, clowns and caricaturists. Master
illusionist Terry Richison will appear and the Muny Troupe will
perform. Dinner reservations are available at Meriwether’s Café.
The new Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor
and Education Center will offer schedules, maps and other
’04 Eve information and tours of the old Lindell Railway stop. Forest
Perk Café will offer dining and hot beverages.
The Saint Louis Art Museum invites
partygoers to enjoy art, music, film and more. Enjoy free admission
to the outstanding exhibition German Art Now and catch two special
showings of the movie classic Meet Me in St. Louis.
The Jewel Box will ring in the
New Year with a ticketed gala to benefit the Jewel Box and the Flora
Conservancy. Tickets are $85 and include appetizers, dinner buffet,
open bar and entertainment. Call 314-367-1337, ext. 224, for reservations.
At midnight, spectacular fireworks will mark the beginning of an
exciting and memorable year for the St. Louis region. Following
the fireworks, many of the cultural attractions will be open until
1:00 a.m. for late night celebrating.
Party-goers can sample the World’s Fare throughout the night at
Government Hill and quench their thirst with coffee, soda, hot chocolate,
wine, beer and of course, champagne.
On 12-31-03, Forest Park will be closed to vehicular traffic but
free parking will be available at several lots close to the Park.
Metro will provide free shuttle service to and around Forest Park.
Free parking (and free shuttle service) will be available at the
Barnes-Jewish and Children’s Hospitals and the Washington University
Medical Center parking lots, at the St. Louis Community College
parking lots off Oakland Avenue and at the Washington University
parking lots off Forsyth. Go to www.celebrate2004.org
for parking details.
’04 Eve is the launch for a yearlong series of exciting events and
activities developed by St. Louis 2004 celebration will commemorate
the St. Louis region’s rich history and celebrate its recent accomplishments.
Additional Celebrate 2004 signature events include:
River Splash starts July 15
through August 21, 2004. A six-week summer music festival and water
screen spectacular with seating on the new Monumental Feature grand
stairway at the Arch.
Eats Bridge starts July 16 through
August 22, 2004. A transformation of historic Eads Bridge into a
unique dining destination with spectacular skyline views.
U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials
starts April 3 through 4, 2004. A partnership event with the St.
Louis Sports Commission and the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon & Family
Fun Weekend featuring the nation’s fastest female distance runners.
U.S. Olympic Diving Trials starts
June 9 through 13, 2004. A partnership event with the St. Louis
Sports Commission, the City of St. Peters and the St. Peters Rec-Plex
featuring the nation’s best divers.
Olympic Torch Relay & Centennial Celebration
starts June 17, 2004. St. Louis will be one of only four U.S. cities
on the Torch Relay to Athens for the Summer Games. The relay will
conclude with an Olympic Centennial Celebration. The St. Louis Sports
Commission, the City of St. Louis, Downtown St. Louis Partnership
and Washington University are involved in the events.
Grand Finale at First Night®
is a New Year’s Eve celebration in Grand Center to mark a memorable
year of events and look to the future with unique First Night® festivities.
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