As the oldest permanent European settlement in the state of Missouri, Ste. Genevieve is rich in history. And on this particular evening, history comes to life—or perhaps back to life—during the Déjà vu Spirit Reunion at the Memorial Cemetery. 

Spirits converge at Ste. Genevieve’s Memorial Cemetery for the Déjà vu Spirit Reunion.

History buffs with an appreciation for the supernatural won’t want to miss the Déjà vu Spirit Reunion. The event, to be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on October 26 in Ste. Genevieve’s Memorial Cemetery, sees the spirits of the town’s historical figures return to the mortal realm to share their stories with visitors.

Susie Johnson, office manager for the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, says the event is a beloved tradition for both attendees and actors. This year, 25 people have volunteered to portray early townsfolk, which involves studying up on the lives and times of their subjects and perfecting their French colonial period costume.

This year’s selection of spirits include some well-known names such as Jean Baptiste Vallé, who served as commandant of the area before the Louisiana Purchase; Louis Felix Vallé, grandson of the former and a major figure in the early mining industry; and Odile Pratte Vallé, mother of Louis Felix whose funeral was, according to an 1894 obituary published in the Ste. Genevieve Fair Play, “the largest and most solemn ever witnessed in Ste. Genevieve.” 

“The Vallé name is quite big,” Johnson says, noting that a number of historic structures in Ste. Genevieve bears the Vallé name. 

Other actors have chosen to explore their own families’ genealogies. For example, Mary Elise Okenfuss, who serves as one of the co-coordinators of the Spirit Reunion, will portray her ancestor, Barbara Okenfuss. 

Johnson says that families with historic ties to the area can learn a lot about their history at the Mecker Research Library, which was founded to create a central location for materials related to French American Colonial history, the mid-Mississippi Valley region, and the Ste. Geneviève District. 

But regardless of whom they’re portraying, it is important for the actors to understand their subject. Johnson says a few hundred people attend the event each year, and they come with great questions.

Johnson says that because the event is focused on education, the Déjà vu Spirit Reunion is a decidedly un-spooky affair appropriate for all ages.  

“We will get kids, teenagers, adults, and older folks, and people walk away saying the nicest things,” Johnson says. “They found it interesting, they had a nice time. It makes an impact on people.”

Photos courtesy of the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve.

For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.