O’Fallon plans America 250 events with tight public safety measures in place

With past disturbances in mind, O’Fallon officials have put new safety rules in place for Friday’s America 250 celebration, including barring unaccompanied minors and eliminating carnival rides.

The changes follow disruptions at Community Park during last year’s homecoming-style festival, when police reported nine fights and arrested 17 juveniles on battery and disorderly conduct charges at or near the park. Afterward, police told planners any future event would need to be limited to one day, held during daylight hours and have no rides.

“We’ve been working closely with the committee to make it as safe as we possibly can,” Capt. Dave Matevey, the O’Fallon Police Department’s operations commander, said. “No one under 18 will be admitted unless they are with a parent or guardian. We’re going to have signs up. This is also strictly a daytime event, so hopefully that will help.”

Police Chief Kirk Brueggeman said unsupervised youths have been the biggest problem at large gatherings.

“It’s mainly 13- to 20-year-olds who show up and cause trouble,” he said. “It’s not just us. It’s happening everywhere.”

Matevey said police will staff the event with extra officers. With high heat in the forecast, O’Fallon EMS will have a cooling station, he said.

The parade will start downtown at State Street and North Penn Street and end at Community Park, where activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park is at 401 E. Fifth St.

City Administrator Grant Litteken, who is on the planning committee, said the event will commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, also known as the Semiquincentennial.

“This celebration is all about celebrating our shared heritage, honoring our history, and creating new memories with family, friends, and neighbors,” the committee said in a release.

The event will include live music on two stages, along with food and drinks sold by local vendors, including craft beer, “dirty sodas” and margaritas, Litteken said.

The Colonial Village will offer family activities near the air-conditioned Grange Log Cabin, including living history displays, colonial games, Revolutionary War and local history exhibits, and an appearance by Betsy Ross.

Attendees can sign a life-size Declaration of Independence and receive a commemorative wooden nickel while supplies last. The Kids Zone will include a petting zoo, bounce house and interactive games.

On the main stage, Johnny Rock-itt & the Double Wide Symphony will perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the Saloonatics from 2 to 5 p.m. On the second stage, the Brad Jackson Band will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by Thursday’s Hazy from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Organizers encourage people to bring lawn chairs.

Fireworks Over O’Fallon will be held at sundown at Family Sports Park, 301 Obernuefemann Road. Litteken said this year’s display will be the largest to date.

The fireworks show began in 2019 and is typically held July 3. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, and to expect traffic delays leaving the park.

Also at the sports park, the parks and recreation department will plant a Liberty Tree at 8 p.m.

“We in parks and rec will plant a white oak tree over by the fitness park,” parks and recreation Director Andrew Dallner said. “We will place a marker by the tree noting that it is the Liberty Tree.”

Mayor Eric Van Hook said last summer the city’s approach to festivals would change after the August disturbances.

“Public safety must always come first, and moving forward, every festival or gathering will be planned with that priority at the forefront,” Van Hook said. “Our strongest concern is public safety. And it’s not just O’Fallon. These events attract outside attention.”

Brueggeman said smaller outdoor events in O’Fallon have gone smoothly, with no incidents reported at Downtown District Summer Nights, Vine Street Market, Bacon Fest, the Veterans Day Parade, the Holiday Illuminated Parade and Halloween events.

O’Fallon’s homecoming began as a welcome-home celebration for soldiers returning from World War I and later became a fundraiser for the city’s park system.

More information is available on the O’Fallon 250th Celebration event page on Facebook.