Welcome to Bonifest ’09!! This year marks the 25th anniversary for the Bonifest which will take place on Friday, May 22nd and Saturday May 23rd of Memorial Day weekend. The Bonifest has always been a major community event and significant fundraiser for St. Boniface Parish. Edwardsville, Illinois is home to St. Boniface Catholic Church and it is one of the fastest growing communities in the St. Louis Metro East area. St. Boniface is located at the intersection of Vandalia and Buchanan Streets in Edwardsville.

To commemorate this special 25th anniversary, the parish is renewing the Bonifest by adding several special events. Bonifest ’09 will feature many of its previous activities such as the 5k Run for Bonifest, great food, drinks, games, bingo and music. New to the festivities are amusement activities for all ages, a breakfast-pancake show, a rib cook off contest, a washer tournament and an auction. Also included will be a raffle drawing with a $15,000 first prize and other cash prizes. We are especially excited about our “Main Stage” addition that will highlight the crowd pleasing music of the bands “Phins”, “Sh-Boom” and “Paint the Earth”.

Phins will be the Bonifest’s main stage headliner on Friday from 7p.m. until 11p.m. They are the Midwest’s premier “Trop” Rock Band performing Jimmy Buffet style music. While Phins primarily perform around the Midwest, they recently entertained a crowd at “LuLu’s” in Gulf Shores, Alabama. “LuLu’s is an establishment owned by LuLu Buffet – Jimmy’s little sister. Phins are currently working on their second CD that is soon to be released and is titled “Welcome to the Beach”. We welcome Phins to Bonifest ’09!!!

Sh-Boom will be featured on Saturday afternoon from 2:30p.m. to 5:30p.m. Sh-Boom is an 8-piece rock ‘n roll nostalgia band performing the greatest hits of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Sh-Boom satisfies audiences of all ages and demographics with their extensive repertoire, showmanship and unique parodies of various musical celebrities such as Elvis, Sonny and Cher, and Ike and Tina to name only a few. This unique blend of talented members will guarantee spontaneous and infectious fun!

Paint the Earth will take the main stage Saturday evening from 7p.m. until 11p.m. at the Bonifest. PTE has been a St. Louis favorite for the past seventeen years. This group is a staple on the cover band circuit and is one of the hardest working bands in the St. Louis area. Paint the Earth was voted Best Cover Band in River Front Times Best of St. Louis 2004 and in Spotlight magazine. They play modern rock, covers, and original music.

While we are excited about our main stage, we are equally thrilled to be featuring local favorite bands under the small tent in the beer garden. Friday from 4-6pm the small tent will host "Downstairs Band”. The band Joyride will be entertaining on Saturday from 11am -2pm. Please navigate further into our Bonifest ’09 website for a full schedule of Bonifest events. You will not be disappointed!!!