This Weekend, May 1-3, 2009 in Southern...

All of these events are this weekend.

Celebrate May Day this Friday, May 1, at the Noble May Day Parade in Richland County, Illinois. 618-723-2212

Saturday, Lebanon hosts the May Market 9am-5pm. Vendors and artisans displaying along St Louis Street (the main street through town), pony rides, magic shows, food, music. 618-537-6625

Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, go to Wood River for the Wood River Rendezvous. Commemorating the wintering-over of Lewis and Clark as they recruited and trained for their trip west across the northern reaches of the Lousiana Purchase to the Pacific Ocean. Held at reconstructed Fort DuBois in Wood River. Not to be confused with the rival Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in nearby Hartford with its reconstructed fort located across from the present-day mouth of the Missouri River. Always the first weekend in May. Wood River.

Who can resist cookies? The Cookie Festival is Saturday at Vienna City Park with a cookie eating contest, cookie jar auction, cookie baking contest, cookie throwing contest, apron fashion show, and That's My Pan! Sale. Vienna. 866-407-1450

The St Louis Science Center holds Astronomy Day Saturday and includes lectures, displays, workshops, solar observations, and door prizes.

The 14th Annual St Louis Microfest Friday and Saturday features more than 50 brews which includes beer tasting, live music, brewing demonstrations, brewery collectibles, silent auction, and a homebrew competition.

A Green Living Expo which focuses on sustainable living is Friday through October 31st at the Missouri Botanical garden. It includes booths showcasing goods, services, and information at the Briookins Interpretative Center on the grounds.

Cinco de Mayo St Louis is Saturday on Cherokee Street between Nebraska and Iowa in St Louis with arts and crafts, street entertainment, food, and drink.

To find more events, check out my Southern Illinois Road Trip website at http://home.midwest.net/~howes/southernillinoisroadtrip/id17.html.