A parade and a western-style barbecue are among the activities in this weekend’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of St. Charles’ incorporation on Oct. 13, 1809.

The western event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at Frontier Park.  It will feature hayrides, music from the Pearl Handle Band, a show by a trick roper and an outdoor movie, “City Slickers.”  Barbecue will be served by local restaurants.

That will be followed Saturday by a bicentennial parade, which will begin at noon at the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Museum next to Frontier Park. 

The parade, which will go from the boat house to Blanchette Park, will feature various floats, bands and delegations from local businesses, organizations and city agencies. 

The parade route will follow Boone’s Lick Road, Main Street, Clark, Kingshighway and Randolph to Blanchette Park. Following the parade will be a picnic at Blanchette Park from 2 to 6 p.m.

The picnic will include a performance by the Patt Holt Singers and Dancers in the Bum’s Hollow area and family activities such as storytelling and a “vintage” baseball game featuring 1860s-era uniforms and rules at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, the St. Charles Star talent competition will be held at Wapelhorst Park from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

On Mon. Oct. 12, Mayor Patti York and City Council members will visit the city’s 23 public and private schools to deliver bicentennial flags for the schools and commemorative bookmarks for students. 

Then, on Tues. Oct. 13, the regular 7 p.m. council meeting will begin with a bicentennial observance.

The city also has sponsored various other bicentennial activities throughout this year.