Things to Do in Festus

It’s only 5 kilometers long, but the Zombie Survival Dash, as the name might suggest, is a bit more than the average run. As runners tagged with timing chips for tracking, placement, and action shots make their way toward the finish line, they're also equipped with three flags representing their health. Meanwhile, the course's stretch is littered with both traditional obstacles and costumed zombies who block, stumble, and chase runners and attempt to steal their health flags.

All the while, spectators look on, as every half hour a wave of 300 survivors is unleashed upon the course. Then, spectators, survivors, and zombies retire hand-in-hand to an all-day after party with live music and entertainment, just like at the end of a real zombie movie. Vendors dispense food and drink as partiers participate in zombie-themed fair activities such as faux-grenade tosses and body-bag drags.

With a combined 82 lanes, the St. Clair and Bel-Air Bowling Centers send pins toppling through open bowling, leagues, and other events. St. Clair's pro shop, first opened in 1977, doles out high-quality equipment, service, and enforced timeouts for rebellious pins, and the Beer Frame Lounge allows bowlers to stop for a pint while gazing down at the lanes. Pizzas, adorned with unlimited toppings, sail from the oven onto the plates of waiting guests of St. Clair Bowl, and a homestyle soup bar fills bowls and bellies in Bel Air Bowl's restaurant.