EMMAFEST (East St. Louis Fall Family Fun Festival)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EMMA L. WILSON KING FOUNDATION PRESENTS EMMAFEST 2026 — A FREE DAY OF FALL FAMILY FUN IN JONES PARK

East St. Louis, IL — The Emma L. Wilson King Foundation invites families, children and the entire community to the 6th Annual EMMAFEST (East St. Louis Fall Family Fun Festival) on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at beautiful Jones Park, along the Argonne Drive war memorials.

Presented by the Emma L. Wilson King Foundation as part of its community outreach, EMMAFEST is free to the public and is designed to give area children and families a fun-filled day to enjoy the outdoors, entertainment and activities together—at no cost.

The day will begin with a 5K morning walk/run through Jones Park, followed by the annual EMMAFEST parade at 11:00 a.m., beginning at 33rd and State Streets and concluding at Argonne Drive. The parade will feature area high school marching bands, with senior citizens ages 95 to 100-plus serving as Grand Marshals in recognition of their longevity, family legacies and iconic contributions to the community.

A FREE DAY OF FUN FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES

Festival-goers can enjoy a full afternoon of family entertainment, including:

Electronic rides and bounce houses

Motorized train rides through Jones Park's beautiful green space

Horseback riding for children

Face painting

Live performers and entertainment on the main stage

Food vendors

Health and social service organizations

More than 30 vendors offering food, community resources and services

HELPING RESTORE A HISTORIC JONES PARK LANDMARK

EMMAFEST will also highlight the Emma L. Wilson King Foundation's ongoing efforts to restore the historic lily-pond fountain at Jones Park, with reopening anticipated in spring 2027.

The fountain is the largest of its kind in the St. Louis region and, once restored, is envisioned not only as an eco-tourism attraction but also as a future STEM learning venue for area high school students. Planned educational opportunities will include water gardening, environmental science, horticulture, landscape architecture and other hands-on learning experiences as the fountain grounds are enhanced.

Community members can support this historic restoration project by purchasing commemorative bricks through the Foundation's website. Donations are also welcome and are tax-deductible, helping preserve and revitalize this important Jones Park landmark for future generations.

BECOME AN EMMAFEST VENDOR

Vendor spaces are still available for $100. Each vendor space includes a tent, table and two chairs, making it an excellent opportunity for local businesses, food vendors, organizations and community service providers to connect with hundreds of families attending EMMAFEST.

Vendor registration is available online at EMMAFEST.ORG, or vendors may call (314) 944-2652 for more information.

EMMAFEST 2026 is made possible with the support of community sponsors Ameren Illinois, Grey Eagle Distributors and Bi-State RIDE ON Metro.

Join the Emma L. Wilson King Foundation on October 3 for a free day of family fun, community, celebration and a look toward the future of Jones Park.

Community event in East St Louis, MO 62204.