Rice Street Festival Holds fond memories for all

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On Wed., July 24, 6 p.m., there will be an Old Timers Softball Game, Kamps vs. Stasnys, Rice and Lawson fields. On Wed., July 24, 6 p.m., there will be an Old Timers Softball Game, Kamps vs. Stasnys, Rice and Lawson fields.

By DEBORAH BROTZ

At 103 years old, the Rice Street Festival holds fond memories for many people. Royalty director Monette Moorman’s favorite memory is the Car Show. Sharing activities director with Kevin Barrett, Gidget Bailey’s favorite memory is the parade. Barrett’s favorite memory is driving his mother in his pickup truck in the parade. With the festival running from Wed., July 24-Sun., July 28, people will be making their own memories this year to treasure for years to come.

Moorman, sums up being royalty director in one word: busy.

“It’s so much fun,” she said. “The girls and candidates are such great representatives of this community. They’re fun to be around.”

At the Kickoff Dinner, Delaine Crawford, who lives in the North End, was named Grand Marshal of the Rice Street Parade.

“He was very surprised by it,” said Moorman. “He has been doing the football program for the booster club in the North End and coaches football at Como Park Senior High School. This is all volunteer work.”

Moorman’s favorite memory from years ago is the Car Show.

“Every year the royal ladies pick the top three cars,” she said. “I love old cars. I’m an outdoor girl who could walk around old cars all day and be happy.”

It’s important for Moorman to be involved in the festival because of her feelings for the community.

“I think it’s because of how much I love the community,” she said. “I want to make sure we have this festival to bring the community together here in the North End.”

Bailey, who owns Tin Cup’s, wanted to be involved in planning the festival because of her business.

“I wanted the community to know us as a small business that is really involved in the community,” she said. “The Rice Street Parade is the second oldest parade in St. Paul. I wanted to make sure it still continues on.”

Bailey feels festival highlights will include Rockin’ and Rollin’ Down Rice Street, on Fri., July 26, starting at 7 p.m., and the Car Show and High Heel Race, on Sat., July 27.

For Rockin’ and Rollin’ Down Rice Street, seven bars: Born’s Bar, Ron’s Bar, Tin Cup’s, Foundry Pub, Wilebski Blues Saloon, Freddy’s Tiki Hut, and McCarron’s Pub, will join together as a community.

“Each bar will have a different venue,” said Bailey. “Tin Cup’s is doing Back to the ‘80s. All employees will be dressing in ‘80s clothing. The DJ will only play music from the ‘80s.”

Like many other North End residents, Bailey’s favorite memory is the Rice Street Parade.

“I was born and raised in the Rice Street area,” she said. “The parade was always the highlight because we could be with all our friends. We knew at the end of July, we would see all our friends we went to school with. It’s still a thrill to see people I haven’t seen in awhile.”

Bailey says everybody knows the last Thursday in July is the Rice Street Parade.

“It’s nice to see the community come together,” she said. “For one night, everybody is the same. It’s nice to see people have so much pride and dignity in the area that everybody just wants to celebrate.”

The Old Timers Fast Pitch Softball game on Wed., July 24, is another highlight for Bailey.

“These people range in age from 45 to 90 years old,” she said. “Some of them don’t even live in the area, but they faithfully come back.”

In her second year of sharing activities director with Barrett, Bailey’s reason for getting involved in planning the festival is simple.

“I just want to make sure in the years to come that we still have a festival,” she said. “I don’t want to see it go away. If anything, I want to see it become bigger and better every year.”

Barrett, who owns Dar’s Double Scoop Ice Cream & Pizza Shop, says he has been involved in the Rice Street Festival since his shop opened up two days before the 2005 Rice Street Festival.

“It’s been going on for 103 years,” he said. “The reason is to keep the tradition alive. I would hate to see it die when all these people before us kept it alive.”

For Barrett, the festival’s highlight is the parade.

“I sponsor a Royalty Candidate,” said Barrett. “She’s an ex-employee of mine. She’s been with me for three years and quit when she went to college. The winner who is Queen can run for Queen of Snows. The last two Queen of Snows came from our Royalty Program. We’re a feeder for Winter Carnival Royalty.”

Barrett’s favorite festival memory has to do with his mother, Darlene, who he named his shop after.

“The first year I had her in the back of a pickup truck, I still remember her face waving to all the kids,” he said.

As a business owner, Barrett wants to see the festival keep growing.

“103 years is an incredible amount of time,” he said. “I want to see it grow and be strong and hand it off to someone else. What I love is it shows off our street.”

Don Apitz, parade director, is working on what he considers will be a parade highlight.

“If I pull it off, it will be something this town has never seen before,” he said. “There will be lots of lights and sirens in one whole city block. It’s a very impressive thing.”

Apitz has thoroughly enjoyed being parade director.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “People who are on this committee are all working together. When I was out of town, the committee stepped up and helped out. It’s a very good group of individuals.”

Moving to the Rice Street area from Isanti in 2013, Apitz couldn’t resist being involved in the festival.

“I was involved in Isanti for 15 years,” he said. “I moved down here so I jumped in with both feet.”

Bailey hopes the Rice Street Festival is a huge success.

“I hope everybody enjoys every minute of it,” she said. “I also hope everybody appreciates the hard work that goes into it to keep it going. There are so many volunteer hours that go into this. Planning started in January. I hope everybody really appreciates it, has a fantastic time, and makes many new memories that their children are able to carry on.”

For information, visit: ricestreetfestival.com

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