When Kayci Crew started traveling the country to work large events, she kept coming back to the same question every time she returned home to St. Louis: Why wasn’t there a festival built entirely around families spending the day together?
“We have our county fairs. We have our state fair. We have carnivals,” says Crew, founder of the St. Charles-based BelleDene Events. “But I wanted to bring something a little different to families in St. Charles and St. Louis.”
The result is Big Backyard Bash, a new festival debuting August 29 and 30 at The Steel Shop (49 Lawrence) in St. Charles. The event combines oversized attractions, live entertainment, local vendors, and family competitions into what Crew hopes will become an annual end-of-summer tradition.
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What to expect
For Crew, who’s raising four children ranging in age from 8 to 18, one of the biggest goals was to create an event where both parents and kids of multiple ages would be entertained. “There’s not anything where I feel like I can do something with every single one of them,” she says. “At this event, there’s literally something I can do with each of them and make memories.”
Dozens of attractions will be spread across the grounds, including more than 30 giant inflatables, rock climbing walls, a mechanical bull, foam parties, water slides, obstacle courses, and a four-person bungee trampoline. Among the biggest draws is GellyBall, which Crew describes as a cross between Nerf, laser tag, and paintball. Players use gel-filled blasters in an arena filled with inflatable barriers, creating the excitement of paintball without the sting. “I’m super excited about that,” she says. “It’s new to the St. Louis area.”
The festival also revives some old-school family favorites. Throughout the weekend, guests can participate in relay races, three-legged races, potato sack races, and other friendly competitions designed for multiple generations. “It’s all ages,” Crew says. “Even parents can join. Grandmas, grandpas, kids of all ages can come out and just have a good family day.”
When it’s time to take a break, visitors can browse from more than 75 local vendors showcasing everything from handmade goods to skincare products, as well as pet services, home improvement companies, and demonstrations from local artisans. More than a dozen food trucks will offer everything from barbecue and lemonade to crepes, pierogies, and shaved ice. Live music, including a Saturday evening performance by Steve Ewing, will continue throughout the weekend.
The festival’s emphasis on local businesses is intentional. Before launching BelleDene Events, Crew spent years participating in events as a vendor herself. “I really wanted to create a company in my community that helps fill that market,” she says. “Not everyone has the capacity to travel all over the country to do the big shows.”
As she pitched the event to businesses and community organizations, Crew says the response exceeded her expectations. “Everyone—even if they can’t be part of the event—they want tickets,” she says. “People are craving something that’s affordable, fun, and that kids will be talking about all year long.”
With unpredictable August temperatures, organizers have also incorporated several family-friendly conveniences. A fully air-conditioned cooling tent will give guests a place to rest, eat, and escape the heat before heading back outside. The event is stroller- and wagon-friendly, fully fenced-in with a single entrance and exit, and it will have security on site throughout the weekend. “We wanted parents to feel comfortable,” Crew says.
Ultimately, though, Crew hopes that families leave with something more lasting than photos of giant inflatables or foam parties. “I hope they’re exhausted,” she says with a laugh. “I hope the kids are falling asleep in the car, and you look back and smile, because you know it was a good day. I hope they’re talking about the giant slide they went down, how high Mom jumped on the trampoline, how good the food was. I just hope they leave happy.”
When: August 29 & 30, 2026
Where: The Steel Shop, 49 Lawrence, St. Charles
Tickets: Admission includes unlimited access to attractions throughout the day. For tickets and more information, visit BelleDene Events’ website.
