Good morning! Spring is officially here… which means it’s time to start noticing everything in your yard you ignored all winter.

Sticks, leaves, mystery patches of grass that didn’t make it, suddenly it’s all your problem again.

On the bright side, there’s a lot going on around Wentzville this week, including a new bookstore opening and some fun events around town.

Here’s what’s worth checking out 👇

One thing we’ve heard over and over from readers is that Wentzville needs more fun things to do, especially for kids and families.

This is a new local option that’s aiming to help with exactly that.

Backyard Flicks brings a full outdoor movie setup right to your home, church, or neighborhood, so you can host your own movie night without having to figure out all the equipment.

They provide:
• A 20ft inflatable movie screen
• Projector + sound system
• Full setup and teardown

You just invite people, pick a movie, and enjoy the night.

It’s a great fit for:

It’s a pretty easy way to turn your backyard into the most popular spot on the block for a night.

📱 Call or text: 636-344-8895
🌐 Or visit their website: https://backyardflicks.com

Legislative Lunch: Becoming An Engaged Neighbor
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Stone Summit Steak & Seafood
Join the Chamber for a timely discussion on community engagement, connection, and making a local impact.

Fundraiser Friday @ Balanced Blends
🕖 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Support Journey Elementary PTA while grabbing shakes, teas, and coffee. A portion of sales goes back to the school.

March Moms Day Out
🕦 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 NOT Jaded Boutique & Tea Room
A relaxed meetup for moms—tea, treats, and connection.

Fish Fry (VFW Post 5327)
🕓 4:00–7:00 PM
Classic Friday fish fry—dine in or carry out. Great cause, great food.

Painting with Bunnies Fundraiser 🐰
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Imagination Pottery Studio
Paint pottery and hang out with adorable bunnies—all while supporting a local rabbit rescue.

Easter Cookie Decorating Party 🍪
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Stelo Flower & Wine Bar
Decorate cookies, sip drinks, and enjoy a fun creative night.

Trixie Trio Live 🎶
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 63385 Speakeasy
Live music in an intimate setting—perfect Friday night vibes.

Double Dog Bookshop Grand Opening 📚
🕚 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
📍 505 E. Allen St
New bookstore in town! Free tote bags (first 25), coupons, raffle prizes, and lots of books to explore.

Sunday Service Yoga 🧘‍♀️
🕤 9:30–10:30 AM
📍 Lucky Dog Farm
Outdoor yoga, fresh air, and a peaceful way to start your Sunday.

City of Flint Hill Spring Fling & Easter Egg Hunt 🐣
🕦 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Egg hunts, crafts, vendors, and photos with the Easter Bunny.

Bob Ross Oil Painting Class 🎨
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Crystal Worthy Art Studio
Paint a winter scene step-by-step—no experience needed.

Coffee & Connection ☕
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Ziggi’s Coffee
A casual meetup hosted by OneLife Church—just show up and connect.

Heritage Ice Skating Night ⛸️
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Wentzville Ice Arena
Free admission + first 100 skate rentals free. Great family outing.

Karaoke Contest (4 Weeks) 🎤
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 63385 Speakeasy
Compete over 4 Mondays for a shot at prize money.

Spring Break Staycation @ Playtime 🎮
🗓️ March 23–27 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Daily themed activities, deals, and family fun all week long.

The Lewis & Clark Expedition (Live Presentation)
🕙 10:00 AM
📍 Corporate Parkway Library
Interactive storytelling about the historic expedition—great for kids.

Nervous System & Ritual Workshop 🌿
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 The Chakra Healing Room
A guided experience blending modern science and ritual for healing and regulation.

Comprehensive Plan Open House
🗓️ Tuesday, March 31
🕟 4:30–7:00 PM (come & go)
📍 Wentzville Rec Center (500 Great Oaks Blvd)

The City of Wentzville is hosting an open house to gather community input on its long-term growth plan—covering roads, parks, development, and more.

There’s no formal presentation, so you can drop in anytime, learn what’s planned, and share your thoughts.

If you’ve ever had opinions about traffic, new developments, or how Wentzville should grow… this is your chance to be heard.

New Melle Passion Play ✝️
🗓️ March 21 + 28
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 New Melle Sports & Recreation Complex
(4700 Highway Z, New Melle)

For over 40 years, the New Melle Passion Play has brought the story of Christ’s final days to life through powerful acting and music.

This is a free event with open seating, featuring a cast from across the St. Louis area sharing the message of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Multiple showtimes are available throughout the week if you can’t make Saturday.

A meaningful way to prepare for Easter—and one of the most unique local traditions around.

Timberland Grad Night Fundraiser 🎓
🗓️ Monday, March 30
🕒 3:00–10:00 PM
📍 Texas Roadhouse (Wentzville)

Dine out and support Timberland’s Class of 2026—10% of your meal goes toward Grad Night. Just mention the fundraiser!

St. Charles County Mayors’ Charity Ball 🎲
🗓️ Saturday, March 21
🕠 5:30–10:00 PM
📍 St. Charles Convention Center

Casino-themed fundraiser supporting local charities. Dress up, have fun, and support a great cause.

Moolah Shrine Circus 🎪
🗓️ March 20–22
📍 The Family Arena (St. Charles)

Classic circus experience with aerial acts, clowns, and family entertainment. A fun, easy outing for families.

NCAA March Madness (First & Second Rounds) 🏀
🗓️ March 20 & 22
📍 Enterprise Center (St. Louis)

Big-time college basketball happening right here in STL. Even casual fans will enjoy the energy.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ⚡
🗓️ March 28 – April 12
📍 The Fabulous Fox Theatre (St. Louis)

A Broadway-level production continuing the Harry Potter story with incredible stage effects and storytelling.

Animals Aglow ✨
🗓️ Select spring nights - March 13 - May 17
📍 St. Louis Zoo

A glowing nighttime zoo experience with lantern displays and interactive exhibits—great for families or date night.

Wentzville’s New Bookstore:
Double Dog Bookshop Grand Opening 📚

This is the event people are talking about right now.

Double Dog Bookshop is opening its first storefront in Wentzville this Saturday (March 21, 11am–7pm)—right next to Duke’s BBQ—and the turnout is already looking strong.

Hundreds have already marked themselves as going or interested, and for good reason:

If you’ve ever said “I wish Wentzville had a good local bookstore”… this is it.

Stop by, check it out, and support a brand new small business that’s already bringing some great energy into the community.

🗑️ New Trash Carts Are Rolling Out

If you haven’t gotten yours yet… it’s probably coming soon.

I already got mine and I gotta say, having a trash can that doesn’t smell like beef and cheese is a pretty nice upgrade.

New trash, recycling, and yard-waste carts are being delivered on your normal trash day through April. Your old carts will be picked up the following week.

Quick hits:
• Trash days stay the same
• Meridian Waste takes over billing May 1
• New carts have RFID tracking
• Personal yard-waste carts are going away

Most people should see slightly lower monthly costs—and recycling is still free.

We've spotlighted coffee campers, giant telescopes, and charming tea rooms.

This week, we're doing something a little different.

Because sometimes a hidden gem isn't a place you can walk into—it's a piece of history most of us never knew existed right under our noses.

If you've ever walked through downtown Wentzville near Elm Street, you may have passed a small granite marker without giving it much thought.

That marker is the only thing left of the Wentzville Tobacco Factory—a building that stood at 406 Elm Street from 1885 until it was demolished in 2002.

And the story behind it is worth knowing.

In the 1880s, Missouri was the number one state in the country for tobacco manufacturing—and Wentzville was right in the middle of it.

In 1884, seventeen local businessmen, farmers, and merchants pooled their money, bought three lots downtown for $200, and built a brick factory.

By 1885, they were producing their own registered plug tobacco brands: Ginger Cake and Pocket Piece.

The factory only lasted until 1892—done in by declining local crops and a ruthless price war led by North Carolina tycoon James “Buck” Duke, who systematically crushed small operations across the country to corner the market.

The building didn’t disappear after that.

It became a flour mill until 1936…
Then a garment factory until 1987…
Before finally being demolished in 2002.

The Wentzville Missouri Community Historical Society placed the memorial marker that same year so the story wouldn’t disappear with it.

It’s a parking lot now.

But that small granite stone holds 140 years of Wentzville history.

Worth a stop next time you're downtown.

📍 406 Elm Street, Wentzville, MO

That’s all for this week.

If you end up going to anything (especially that bookstore), let me know, I love hearing what people actually check out.

If there’s something going on around town I should know about, just reply to this email. I read every message.

I’ll have sponsor spots open again soon as well, so if you or someone you know wants to get in front of local families, feel free to reach out.

See you next Thursday,
Skyler