List of Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball themes facts for kids

The Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball was a special event held each year in St. Louis, Missouri. Imagine a big parade with colorful floats and a fancy ball afterwards! Each year, the parade and ball had a unique theme, like a secret story or a fun topic. This page lists all the different themes that were chosen for these events. Sometimes, the theme for a year wasn't written down, so you won't see it listed here.

This 1889 float listed all the themes of each Veiled Prophet parade to that date, one theme to each level.

Parade Themes from the 1800s

The Veiled Prophet Parade started in the late 1800s. The themes often explored history, stories, and even everyday life. They were like a journey through different worlds.

• 1878: Festival of Ceres
  • This parade showed the Greek goddess of farming, Demeter, visiting the Veiled Prophets.

• 1879: Progress of the Mechanical Arts
  • This theme celebrated new inventions and how things were made.

• 1880: The Four Seasons
  • Floats showed spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

• 1881: A Day-Dream in the Woodland or Insect Life
  • This theme explored nature and tiny creatures.

• 1882: A Panorama of the Nations
  • The parade featured different countries and cultures.

• 1883: Fairy Land
  • This theme brought magical stories to life.

• 1884: Shakespeare's Poesy
  • It celebrated the famous writer William Shakespeare.

• 1885: An Arabian Night
  • This theme was inspired by tales like Aladdin.

• 1886: American History
  • Floats showed important moments in U.S. history.

• 1887: Old Testament Stories
  • This theme featured stories from the Bible.

• 1888: Child Lore
  • It celebrated popular children's stories and rhymes.

• 1889: Comic Opera
  • This theme was about funny musical plays.

• 1890: The Alphabet
  • Each letter might have had its own float.

• 1891: The Ten Most Popular Authors
  • This parade honored famous writers.

• 1892: The History of the Upper Louisiana Territory, Missouri and St. Louis
  • This theme looked back at the local history.

• 1893: Storied Holidays
  • It celebrated different holidays and their traditions.

• 1894: History of Mystic Societies in America
  • This theme explored secret clubs and groups.

• 1895: The Flight of Time
  • This theme included the zodiac, days of the week, and months of the year.

• 1896: Masterpieces of Art
  • Famous artworks were brought to life.

• 1897: Old-Time Songs
  • The parade celebrated classic tunes.

• 1899: Visions of Childhood
  • This theme focused on the joys of being a kid.

• 1900: Pageant of the Nations
  • This theme again featured countries from around the world.

Parade Themes from the 1900s

The 20th century brought many new and exciting themes. These often reflected what was happening in the world or celebrated popular culture.

Early 1900s Themes (1901-1950)

• 1901: Louisiana Purchase
  • This celebrated the huge land deal that shaped the U.S.

• 1902: From the Discovery of the Mississippi to the World's Fair
  • This theme looked at St. Louis's history and future.

• 1903: Lyric Opera
  • It celebrated beautiful musical performances.

• 1904: Art and Architecture
  • This theme showcased creative designs and buildings.

• 1905: Humor
  • The parade was filled with funny and lighthearted elements.

• 1907: History and Drama
  • This theme combined real events with exciting stories.

• 1908: The Seven Ages and the Five Senses
  • This theme explored different stages of life and how we experience the world.

• 1909: Transportation
  • Floats showed different ways people travel.

• 1910: Sports
  • This theme celebrated games and athletic activities.

• 1911: Epochs in the History of the Eighteenth Century
  • This looked back at important times in the 1700s.

• 1912: Songs, Poems, and Plays
  • This theme celebrated different forms of art.

• 1914: While We Live, Let Us Live
  • This theme touched on the European war happening at the time.

• 1915: Legends and Myths of All Nations
  • This theme brought ancient stories to life.

• 1916: Shakespeare
  • Another tribute to the famous playwright.

• 1917 & 1918: Parade Canceled
  • The parade was stopped due to World War I.

• 1919: Victory-Peace
  • This celebrated the end of the war.

• 1920: Flowers and Plants
  • A beautiful, natural theme.

• 1921: Missouri Statehood Centenary
  • This celebrated 100 years of Missouri being a state.

• 1922: Dollyana (Dolls of the Nations)
  • Floats featured dolls from around the world.

• 1923: Romance and Adventure
  • This theme explored exciting stories.

• 1924: Jewels and Talismans
  • This theme featured sparkling gems and lucky charms.

• 1925: Decorations of Honor
  • This celebrated different awards and achievements.

• 1926: Cartoons and Comics
  • This theme brought popular characters to life.

• 1927: Our Daily Life
  • This theme showed everyday activities and scenes.

• 1929: Traditions of St. Louis
  • This celebrated local customs and history.

• 1930: The Making of a Great Nation
  • This theme looked at how the U.S. grew.

• 1931: The Romance of Trade and Industry
  • This theme celebrated business and work.

• 1932: The Life of George Washington
  • A parade dedicated to the first U.S. president.

• 1933: A Journey Through Bookland
  • This theme explored stories from books.

• 1934: Great Adventurers
  • This celebrated brave explorers and heroes.

• 1934: Toyland
  • A fun theme filled with toys.

• 1936: The Prophet Visits Many Lands
  • This theme imagined the Veiled Prophet traveling the world.

• 1937: Childhood Memories
  • This theme brought back happy memories from growing up.

• 1938: Songs We Sing
  • This celebrated popular music.

• 1939: Gay Nineties
  • This theme looked back at the 1890s.

• 1940: The Arabian Nights
  • Another parade inspired by these classic tales.

• 1941: The Circus
  • This theme brought the excitement of the circus to the streets.

• 1946: Modes of Travel
  • This theme showed different ways to get around.

• 1947: Days of the Year
  • This celebrated different holidays and special dates.

• 1948: Mother Goose
  • This theme featured characters from nursery rhymes.

• 1949: Once Upon a Time
  • This theme was inspired by fairy tales.

• 1950: Old Songs
  • Another celebration of classic music.

Later 1900s Themes (1951-2000)

• 1951: Good Neighbors
  • This theme celebrated friendship and community.

• 1952: The Story of St. Louis
  • This theme looked at the history of the city.

• 1953: Years of the Veiled Prophet
  • This celebrated the history of the parade itself.

• 1954: The Veiled Prophet Salutes the Municipal Opera
  • This honored a famous outdoor theater in St. Louis.

• 1955: What Shall I Be?
  • This theme explored different careers and dreams.

• 1956: Around the Calendar
  • This theme featured different months and seasons.

• 1957: Parade of the Animals
  • Floats showed all sorts of creatures.

• 1958: Great Discoveries and Inventions
  • This theme celebrated new ideas and creations.

• 1959: Delights of Childhood
  • This theme focused on the fun parts of being a kid.

• 1960: Folklore and Legends
  • This theme brought traditional stories to life.

• 1961: Joys of Toys
  • This theme was all about fun toys.

• 1962: Great Adventures
  • This theme explored exciting journeys.

• 1963: Songs We Sing
  • Another parade celebrating music.

• 1964: St. Louis History
  • This theme focused on the city's past.

• 1965: Stories and Scenes From the Past
  • This theme looked back at historical moments.

• 1966: Sports
  • A parade dedicated to games and athletes.

• 1967: A Salute to the Wonderful Worlds of Walt Disney
  • This theme celebrated Disney characters and stories.

• 1968: Music for Everyone
  • This theme showcased different types of music.

• 1969: The New Spirit of St. Louis
  • This theme celebrated the city's progress, including space travel.

• 1970: St. Louis Is a Great Place to Live
  • This theme highlighted the good things about the city.

• 1972: Happiness Is . . .
  • This theme explored different things that bring joy.

• 1973: You Are There
  • This theme made people feel like they were part of history.

• 1974: If Aladdin's Magic Lamp Were Mine
  • This theme explored wishes and dreams.

• 1975: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
  • This theme celebrated beloved items and ideas.

• 1976: A Salute to America
  • This theme honored the United States.

• 1977: The Veiled Prophet — 100 Years in St. Louis
  • This celebrated the parade's 100th anniversary.

• 1978: The Wonderful World of Children
  • This theme focused on the magic of childhood.

• 1979: That's Entertainment
  • This theme celebrated different forms of fun and shows.

• 1980: Holidays
  • This theme showcased various celebrations throughout the year.

• 1981: Nostalgia in General and the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904 in Particular
  • This theme looked back fondly at the past, especially the famous World's Fair.

• 1982: Heritage of St. Louis
  • This theme celebrated the city's traditions and history.

• 1983: St. Louis — Great Moments in Fantasy
  • This theme explored magical and imaginative ideas.

• 1984: When You Wish Upon a Star
  • This theme was about dreams coming true.

• 1985: A History of Fun
  • This theme looked at how people have had fun throughout time.

• 1986: America the Beautiful
  • This theme celebrated the natural beauty of the U.S.

• 1987: We the People Sing
  • This theme celebrated American songs and unity.

• 1988: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
  • This theme was a repeat from 1975.

• 1989: School Days
  • This theme celebrated learning and school life.

• 1990: Celebrations
  • This theme showcased different types of parties and events.

• 1991: Through the Eyes of a Child
  • This theme showed the world from a kid's point of view.

• 1992: A Child's Library
  • This theme explored stories and characters from children's books.

• 1993: Great Adventures
  • Another theme about exciting journeys.

• 1994: A Festival of Fun and Games
  • This theme was all about play and enjoyment.

• 1995: Beauty of Nature
  • This theme celebrated the natural world.

• 1996: Once Upon a Time
  • Another theme inspired by fairy tales.

• 1997: I Want to Be a . . .
  • This theme explored different dreams for the future.

• 1998: Let the Good Times Roll
  • This theme was about having fun and enjoying life.

• 1999: Parade Through Time
  • This theme looked at different historical periods.

• 2000: Getting There Is Half the Fun
  • This theme celebrated the journey, not just the destination.

Parade Themes from the 2000s

The Veiled Prophet Parade continued into the 21st century with new themes.

• 2001: 2001: A Sports Odyssey
  • This theme combined sports with a famous space movie.

• 2002: 125 Years of Paradise
  • This celebrated the parade's long history.

• 2003: The World Is Our Playground
  • This theme encouraged exploration and fun.

• 2005: A Salute to Volunteers
  • This theme honored people who help others.

• 2011: A Night Out
  • This theme celebrated evening activities and fun.

• 2016: Hats Off to Heroes
  • This theme honored brave people who help others.

• 2017: Great Things Are Happening
  • This theme celebrated positive changes and events.

• 2019: We the People
  • This theme was inspired by the U.S. Constitution and celebrated unity.

See also

• List of Rose Parade themes
• Invitations to the Veiled Prophet Ball
• List of Veiled Prophet Belles and Queens