Essence Salon and Spa – Small Town Socialite

It’s October and that means it’s time for fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and spooky fun! This week there’s opportunities to hear live music, a number of community fall festivals, a fall outdoor market, a free drive-in showing of the movie “Addams Family Values,” Oktoberfest events, and a lot more!

Thursday, Oct. 9
Music on Main in Union continues this week with live music by Paul O’Duo, with food and drink available to purchase from Hagies 19. The fun begins at 5 p.m.
Learn more.

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Thursday, Oct. 9
Liberty Hall’s Dynamic Women Speaker Series continues with Rooted in Resilience, a transformative evening of community, healing, and inspiration—bringing together storytelling, art, and real conversation. Hosted at Liberty Hall in partnership with the Four Rivers Arts Council, this one-night event features Raylene Hollrah, a nationally recognized speaker and three-time cancer survivor, and Anne Molasky, a local artist whose powerful work invites us to reflect, rise, and reconnect.
Get tickets.

Friday, Oct. 10
Line dancing kicks off at “The Office” Bar & Grill from 6 – 9 p.m., and there will be lessons all night.
Learn more.

Friday, Oct. 10
Downtown Union will have its homecoming parade. Bring the whole family out to watch the parade and support Union High School’s homecoming. The fun starts at 2 p.m.
Learn more.

Saturday, Oct. 11
Oktoberfest at St. Clare Catholic Church in St. Clair from noon – 6 p.m. will feature a fried chicken dinner, music, pull tabs, bingo, and more.
Get all the details.

Saturday, Oct. 11
Cinema 1 Plus in Washington is hosting another free drive-in movie, and this week’s film is “Addams Family Values.”
Get more info on Facebook.

Saturday, Oct. 11
Register for the free “Out of the Darkness” suicide prevent walk in Union. The 5th Annual walk also includes food trucks, raffle, bounce house, face painting, along with tables for resources and information on suicide awareness.
Learn more.

Saturday, Oct. 11
If you’re looking for a tasty homemade sweet treat, consider stopping by the bake sale benefitting American Legion Auxiliary. The event is from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Union.
Find out more.

Saturday, Oct. 11
Bring your plants or seedlings to trade with fellow plant lovers at the Swallows Nest in Washington Learn about different species and care tips, while exploring unique plant art and accessories to enhance your collection. Join in and celebrate your passion for gardening!
Get the details.

Saturday, Oct. 11
Mt. Zion Baptist Church in St. Clair is hosting a Fall Community Event. There will be prizes and giveaways as well as vendors and fun for the whole family.
Find out more.

Saturday, Oct. 11
The Fall Labadie Outdoor Market will take place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Find goods from 30+ vendors, including food vendors. The market will also take place on the same day as the Labadie Community Association’s Chili Cook Off.
Get more details.

Saturday, Oct. 11
First Baptist Church of Gray’s Summit is hosting a Fall Festival. Beginning at 11 a.m. and running until 2 p.m., the event will have live music and free food (burgers, hot dogs, chips, water), bounce house, barrel train rides, face painting, games, crafts, and a bake sale at this free event.
More information is on Facebook.

Sunday, Oct. 12
Super Steven’s Camp Fundraiser is happening at Old Farm Winery in Catawissa. The event will have live music, vendors, a silent auction, quilt raffle, and food from Dynasty Manna food truck.
Learn more.

Sunday, Oct. 12
Stop by Essence Salon & Spa at its new location at 15 S. Oak St., during its open house from 1-3 p.m.
Get more info.

Sunday, Oct. 12
Andy’s Produce in Union is hosting Pumpkin Palooza from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Enjoy face painting, ice cream, pumpkin crafts, a food truck, and more.
Learn more.

Road Trippin’

Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.

Thursday, Oct. 9 – Sunday, Oct. 12
Autumn Glow Festival is lighting up Eureka Thursdays-Sundays this fall at Brookdale Farms. This enchanting night walk, inspired by traditional Chinese lantern festivals, is the perfect autumn outing for friends and families. Explore 100s of intricately crafted lanterns, enjoy live acrobatic shows, try tasty local food, and discover a world of festive fun for all ages.
Learn more.

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Friday, Oct. 10
The 3rd Annual Pat Hofherr Memorial Spaghetti Dinner is a chance to honor St. James Winery founder Pat Hofherr with an evening of family, food, and tradition. This special night includes a guided cellar tour, an engaging conversation with Peter Hofherr, CEO and 2nd-generation owner, and of course, a classic Rosati-style spaghetti dinner. Your ticket includes a hearty spaghetti dinner and a glass of wine, making it a warm and memorable way to celebrate Pat’s legacy and the community she helped build.
Tickets are $25 and are available online.

Friday, Oct. 10 & Saturday, Oct. 11
Step Into The Hollows at Brookdale Farms in Eureka. This fall, the woods come alive. Deep in the shadows of Brookdale Farms lies The Hollows—a haunted walking trail where every rustle, flicker, and shadow may not be what it seems. On this immersive haunted experience, you’ll journey through winding paths shrouded in fog and darkness, guided only by lantern light and the pounding of your heart. Whispers in the trees, figures that vanish into the night, and sudden terrors at every turn will keep you on edge until the very end.
Learn more.

Friday, Oct. 10 – Sunday, Oct. 12
Happening every weekend in October, Hermann Oktoberfest features beer, food, music, games, and more.
Get all the details.

Saturday, Oct. 11
The 46th Annual Old Iron Works Festival is happening from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Maramec Spring Park in St. James. Admission is $20 per car or free with Season Pass. There will be two stages with live music and entertainers, as well as crafters & artisans, kid’s games, demonstrations, plus food and beverage vendors and more.
Get more info.

Saturday, Oct. 11
The Fall Festival will kick off at 10 a.m. at Bland City Park, with a chili cook-off, craft festival, and tractor pull.
Learn more on Facebook.

Saturday, Oct. 11
The Rosebud Country Music Festival will host a lineup of 10 musicians, as well as vendors throughout the event, which runs from 3 p.m. -11:30 p.m.
Find out more.

Saturday, Oct. 11 & Sunday, Oct. 12
The pumpkin patch at Three Girls and a Tractor is open on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. both days.
Get more info.

Sunday, Oct. 12
Oktoberfest in Old Town Eureka will be a day packed with fall fun, live music, food, drinks, and local vendors! Sip seasonal brews and festive cocktails, enjoy live performances from local musicians, shop with amazing vendors and makers, feast on delicious eats from area favorites, soak up the atmosphere with family and friends!
Learn more.

Sunday, Oct. 12
Head to Augusta Winery for a DIY Witch Hat Craft & Sip event beginning at 12 p.m. The ticket price includes a wine flight, all supplies, and attendees can enjoy live music in the beer garden after the painting event, from 1-4 p.m.
Learn more.

Nestled in the bustling Heartland Plaza located on a busy stretch of US-50 in Union is Essence Salon & Spa, a local woman-owned business that provides clients with an opportunity to experience a bit of tranquility through its variety of salon and spa services. The business features a salon, located at the back of the space, along with rooms dedicated to massage and other spa treatments. The services include massage, esthetics like facials and waxing, as well as salon services including haircuts, color, style, and beard trims.

Inside the space, guests are greeted by the pastel hues and soft seating in the waiting area. For clients wishing to receive spa treatments, the private rooms are inviting, with warm lighting, calming music, and neutral toned decor to help keep guests relaxed during their visit, while the salon space features lots of colorful accent pieces.

The waiting area at Essence Salon & Spa. Photo credit: Ashley Wycoff

Owner Ashley Wycoff opened Essence Salon & Spa seven years ago, and previously worked in the ER and Mercy Physical Therapy department and for some time as a first responder. Ashley’s a licensed esthetician, and has been a licensed massage therapist for almost twenty years. Throughout her time in the industry she’s used the skills gained through continued education to add to the ways she can use massage to help others.

Some of the massage methods she’s focused on since starting her journey include lymphatic drainage massage, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) massage, and her most recent modality is hospice massage, to aid in decreasing pain levels and increasing peace and relaxation during this time.

The private massage rooms feature massage tables, warm lighting, and calming music that plays softly in the background, to help clients relax throughout the experience. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Since massage treatments can often be looked upon as a way to relax, Ashley’s goal is to remind people that massages, and even facials, can be right for everyone and it’s about more than unwinding, although that can be a significant side effect.

“Some people think it’s just pampering or relaxation, but it’s also for job related muscle stress, mental stress, and physical ailments,” Ashley says of the massage treatments.

A client can add to those experiences by adding on various elements like warm towels and aromatherapy, or adding hot stones or warm bamboo sticks that are rolled over various points of the body during a massage session.

Clients have the option to add warm bamboo sticks, which are rolled over various points of the body to enhance their massage experience. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

A mission to provide services for all

Getting a massage, facial, or even a new hairstyle can seem like simple ways to reduce your stress, help alleviate pain, and improve your confidence, but these services can often come at price points that not everyone can afford. Although they provide different services to their respective clientele, Ashley and Essence salon stylist Magan Matthews operate with a shared mission in mind.

“We have both dug ourselves out of hard times, and neither of us thought we would have come this far as we are now,” Ashley explains. Since she and Magan have experienced tough times first hand, they believe in keeping their prices low, yet quality high.

Stylist Magan Matthews providing a client with a haircut. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

But that commitment to providing quality experiences extends beyond making services available to people from as many financial backgrounds as possible. Guests may take note of pieces in the business that share details about Ashley’s Christian faith. Whether that’s the hand painted nativity scene that adorns the storefront windows during the Christmas season, or the large painting depicting Jesus in one of the massage rooms, providing a welcoming, judgement free space to all is a way she feels she can live out her beliefs everyday.

And, by building a rapport with clients, she can modify the massage experience for clients who don’t wish to fully undress when receiving a massage due to religious beliefs or modesty reasons, or by providing a space that’s welcoming to any couple that comes in for a couples massage or couples facial sessions at Essence Salon & Spa.

Giving back

The team also believes in giving back to the community in both big and small ways. With her background in the medical field, during the height of the pandemic, Ashley and her lead massage therapist Amber Camp preformed massages for staff at Mercy Hospital in Washington, as well as the staff at Mercy Hospital in Jefferson County. They have previously offered massages for the Union School District Staff and Magan annually does free hair cuts during the back to school fair for the Union School District.

The salon and spa team also helps raise money for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, through volunteering their hours and offering their services at a discounted price for one day, with all proceeds from that day going to the non-profit organization.

Essence Salon & Spa is located at 709 US-50 in Union. To learn more about the business, follow its Facebook page, visit it on the web, or reach out by phone at 636-744-1770. Or drop by the Health Fair happening at The Ridge Church in Villa Ridge Sunday, May 4, where Ashley and her team will have a vendor booth.

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