More than 25,000 community residents gathered downtown to celebrate the Believe in Girls Day, a day hosted by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri in honor of 100 years of Girl Scouting. Mothers, daughters, fathers and sons spent the day partaking in hundreds of free activities moments after watching the Century of Promise parade. The parade featured more than 80 floats, balloons, marching bands and special units. Former NASA astronaut and Missouri native, Dr. Linda M. Godwin, was the Grand Marshall. Girl Scout Junior Troop 540, from Affton, spent time at the Washington University Science Investigation Station during the family festival.
“The investigation station had spiders and animal skins,” Ava Behnen said. “It’s very cool to see for any girl who might be interested in a career in science when they grow up.”
Ava and her Girl Scout sisters explored all of the different activities available during the family festival before heading toward the main stage for the celebrity concert. Standout booths included the Energy Tent hosted by Ameren, the Foam Dance Pit hosted by Amberg Events and the Rock Climbing Wall hosted by Upper Limits.
There was a Flash Mob performance during the Family Festival at the main stage where thousands of Girl Scouts participated and a Time Capsule Ceremony that took place in front of Soldiers’ Memorial Military Museum. Immediately following the Family Festival celebrity performers took the stage. Performances by Zendaya, Ryan Beatty and Katherine Hughes rocked the main stage and closed out the BIG Day with a big bang.