Wildwood BBQ Bash Returns to STLCC-Wildwood

Wildwood BBQ Bash

St. Louis Community College at Wildwood will host the 15th annual Wildwood BBQ Bash, Sept. 27-29. Organized by the City of Wildwood and St. Louis Home Fires, this free community event features award-winning barbeque, live music, family-friendly activities and a Saturday night fireworks display.

This is the Bash's 11th year in Wildwood and its third year to be held at STLCC-Wildwood. It is the City’s largest event, drawing 30,000 visitors in 2018 alone.

“The Wildwood BBQ Bash is a major event, and we’re honored to be a part of it,” said Jeff L. Pittman, Ph.D., chancellor. “The Wildwood campus provides a beautiful backdrop for the Bash, and we hope students and staff from across the College will come out and enjoy the celebration.”

BBQ Tents Along with hosting the Bash, the College is partnering with organizers to add value to the event in a number of ways. Among these, student and professional interpreters, including alumni and faculty connected with STLCC’s deaf communications studies program, will once again provide sign language interpreting at the main stage. New this year, STLCC’s radio station, KCFV-The Wave, will broadcast live during concert breaks on Saturday and Sunday. The College will have the STLCC Mobile Unit at the Bash, as well as a booth staffed by STLCC students and employees.

“I’m truly looking forward to attending my first Bash,” said Carol Lupardus, Ph.D., president and chief academic officer of STLCC-Wildwood. “This event is about more than just barbeque. It’s an incredible opportunity for the College to connect with our community, showcase the Wildwood campus and promote our programs and offerings.”

Another benefit of hosting the Bash is that it provides the STLCC Foundation with an avenue to fundraise for student scholarships. Through the sale of paid parking at the 2017 and 2018 events, the Foundation raised more than $19,000 for the STLCC-Wildwood Scholarship Fund. The Foundation plans to continue the parking fundraiser again this year.

“We appreciate the opportunity to fundraise at the Wildwood BBQ Bash,” said Jo-Ann Digman, executive director of the STLCC Foundation. “We’re always looking for ways to support our students, and we hope visitors feel good knowing that the money they spend on parking assists students in their educational pursuits.”

Visit the City of Wildwood's website for the event schedule and other important details regarding the Wildwood BBQ Bash. Read the FAQs below for more information regarding volunteer opportunities and student and employee parking prior to the event.

I’m interested in volunteering at the STLCC booth. How can I sign up?

Volunteers are needed to staff the STLCC booth and mobile unit. As a volunteer, you will interact with community members, promote the College and distribute promotional materials. Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to follow this link to sign up. All volunteers are encouraged to wear STLCC gear. For questions, please contact Gina Tarte, marketing and communications coordinator, at gtarte@stlcc.edu or 636-422-2241.

I have class on Thursday, Sept. 26 and/or Friday, Sept. 27. Where can I park when I arrive to campus ?

As event preparations get underway the week of Sept. 23 at the Wildwood campus, it’s important to know that all classes and campus activities will continue as scheduled.

The College is working in conjunction with St. Louis County Police, the City of Wildwood, and several local businesses to accommodate student and staff parking while vendors set up for the Wildwood BBQ Bash. Students and employees should take note of these parking arrangements, follow the instructions provided by police and college officials, and allow extra time to get to campus.

Parking on Thursday, Sept. 26: St. Louis County Police will be at the Wildwood campus directing traffic as students and employees arrive for classes and duties. While some parking lots at STLCC-Wildwood will be open, some students and employees will have to park at an alternate location (either the Wildwood Family YMCA, the parking lot behind the Wildwood Pub & Grill or STLCC's grass lot). Handicap parking will be available at the flag pole entrance. In the event of rain, changes to the parking plan will be communicated via the campus whiteboards and Regroup, the College's text messaging system.
Parking on Friday, Sept. 27: St. Louis County Police will be at the Wildwood campus directing traffic as students and employees arrive for classes and duties. While some parking lots at STLCC-Wildwood will be open, some students and employees will have to park at an alternate location (either the Wildwood Family YMCA, the parking lot behind the Wildwood Pub & Grill or STLCC's grass lot). Handicap parking will be available at the flag pole entrance. In the event of rain, changes to the parking plan will be communicated via the campus whiteboards and Regroup, the College's text messaging system. All vehicles must be moved off College property by 4 p.m. on Sept. 27.

How can I support the STLCC Foundation parking fundraiser?

STLCC’s paid lot is located on Generations Drive, south of the YMCA and east of STLCC-Wildwood (the GPS address is 2665 Highway 109, but access to the lot is via New College Avenue to Generations Drive). The cost is $10 per car on Friday, $15 per car on Saturday and $10 per car on Sunday, with no re-entry.

Where can I learn more about the Wildwood BBQ Bash?

For more information about the Wildwood BBQ Bash and to view the event schedule, visit the City of Wildwood’s website.