ARTS
48 Hour Film Project June 2–4
How quickly can you put together a Cannes-worthy film? You have two days. Cinema St. Louis hosts this timed film project in which teams create entire short films in a single weekend. See the finished works on June 7 at the Tivoli Theatre. A team of judges determines the winning team, who will advance to Filmapalooza 2018, and that winner gets the chance to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival. (Cinephiles should also mark their calendars for the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, July 16–20.) cinemastlouis.org.
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Webster Arts Fair June 2–4
Artists from across the country compete for a spot at this fair, a blind-juried selection of more than 100 booths. The art is the star, but the fair also offers food, music, and creative activities. webster-arts.org.
The Grand Market: Fashion, Flowers + Folk June 4
This new festival in Grand Center features St. Louis vendors, boutiques, makers, and musicians showcased in this free, day-long event. facebook.com/events/297724923982118.
Twangfest June 7–10
The all-ages Americana festival, hosted at Off Broadway, has a presence at Austin cool-kid party SXSW. This year, take in Black Joe Lewis, Alanna Royale, Gene Jackson, Erika Wennerstrom, John Paul White, John Henry, Robbie Fulks, Parker Millsap, Cave States, Chuck Prophet, The Flat Five, and Town Cars. twangfest.com.
Wine & Music Festival June 10
Spend a summer evening in downtown Clayton with live jazz music and plenty of wine. This year’s event on the Carondelet Plaza will host performances by Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes, and The Gaslight Squares. Snack on tasty treats from the Straub’s food truck and other local restaurants. And don’t leave without a bottle—or three—from The Wine Merchant, The Wine & Cheese Place, Augusta Winery, and more. claytonmo.gov.
Wine & Jazz Festival June 24
Chesterfield Amphitheater hosts The Wooten Brothers, Tracy Silverman, Bach to the Future, Anita Jackson, Soul Café, and Kim Fuller and Maurice Carnes, starting at 3 p.m. (Note: Outside food and drink are not permitted.) chesterfieldjazzfestival.com.
Riverfest July 1–4
Visit St. Charles’ Frontier Park for food, music, and family-friendly fun, including a parade and fireworks. discoversaintcharles.com.
Fair Saint Louis July 2–4
There’s no bigger fair in the city than this. Thousands come to Forest Park for big-name acts (Akon, 3 Doors Down, and Jake Owen), myriad food vendors, and other don’t-miss entertainment. fairsaintlouis.org.
Let Them Eat Art July 14
At Maplewood’s key summer event, now in its 12th year, meet regional artists as they show off their unique talents through live art demonstrations. Don’t skip on the parade, and enjoy eats from neighborhood restaurants and live music from The Gene Dobbs Bradford Blues Experience and Jeremiah Johnson Band. cityofmaplewood.com.
St. Lou Fringe August 18–26
With new executive director Matthew Kerns at the helm, St. Lou Fringe has some changes in store. It’s still a fantasia of unexpected and brave theatrical expression, but rather than selecting all of the content by lottery, festival staff will curate a little less than half. stlouisfringe.com.
Festival of the Little Hills August 18–20
Enjoy an ode to our French heritage, Fête des Petites Côtes. St. Charles’ three-day affair includes food, bands, arts, crafts, and more. (Tip: Try the Palaroo app to navigate the fest like a pro.) festivalofthelittlehills.com.
Midwest Salute to the Arts August 25–27
Fairview Heights’ Moody Park is the site for perusing paintings, jewelry, 3-D works, and more, as well as partaking of food and entertainment. midwestsalute.com.
Big Muddy Blues Festival September 2 & 3
This town’s blues legacy is serious business (see also: the National Blues Museum). The Big Muddy Blues Festival is proof that it’s a living history, with dozens of acts playing outdoor stages and venues over Labor Day weekend. bigmuddybluesfestival.com.
LouFest September 9 & 10
Forest Park is the place to be when the Central Fields are transformed into a mini-Woodstock. Past lineups have included The Avett Brothers, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, Arctic Monkeys, and Wilco. Food vendors and family entertainment provide plenty to keep concert-goers busy between sets. loufest.com.
Saint Louis Art Fair September 8–10
Artists from across the country come to downtown Clayton for this three-day juried festival. A permanent collection of art purchased at the fair continually tours such public locations as schools and libraries. The fair supports an apprenticeship program for emerging artists. saintlouisartfair.com.
MOSAICS Missouri Festival for the Arts September 15–17
Fine art takes over North Main Street in St. Charles. A juried selection of 100 artists ensures that you’ll find the perfect photograph, painting, metalwork, woodwork, or jewelry as the artists vie for $5,000 in cash prizes. stcharlesmosaics.org.
Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival September 16
This family-friendly fest boasts two stages with respected jazz and blues performers; last year’s acts included the likes of Marquise Knox, Alan Oxenhandler, and Pacer. If that’s not enough, there’s also food and drink, as well as street entertainers. oldwebsterjazzfest.com.
Strange Folk Festival September 22–24
Returning to Lafayette Park is the ever-evolving indie maker market Wheneverland. It’s a great way to cross items off your naughty/nice list for winter (or just pick up something clever, beautiful, or vintage for yourself). strangefolkfestival.com.
St. Louis Hills Art in the Park September 24
Spend a Sunday in picturesque Francis Park browsing art in a range of media. An art raffle to benefit the park and a classic car show round out the day’s offerings. artintheparkstl.com.
FOOD & DRINK
St. Louis Brewers Guild Heritage Festival June 3
Nearly 60 local breweries unite for the festival’s 11th year—quite a leap from the humble seven that made up the first year. Enjoy the new VIP ticket option, tastings, live music, and plenty of eats on the newly renovated Arch grounds. Choose from two sessions: one in the afternoon and another, which closes with a fireworks show, at night. stlbeer.org.
St. Louis Uncorked June 2–3
Head to the newly reopened Kiener Plaza for its first major event: a free festival of wine, beer, local eats, yoga, fireworks, and big-name performers like Gavin DeGraw and NEEDTOBREATHE. Get the most out of Uncorked by splurging for VIP tickets to the Bud Light Party Plaza, which can be enjoyed in a reserved area and includes access to Three Sixty. kezk.cbslocal.com.
International Horseradish Festival June 2–4
See how many horseradish roots you can stuff into a sack in 30 seconds—or just enjoy all things related to the condiment, from learning to prepare your own to tasting a legendary horseradish recipe, at this annual tradition in Collinsville, Illinois. internationalhorseradishfestival.com.
Kimmswick Strawberry Festival June 3 & 4
Along with all those delectable strawberry treats, Kimmswick’s second-largest fest will offer a new beer garden, complete with tastings from a popular Tennessee distillery. Five area restaurants will be open, and look for children’s activities. visitkimmswick.com.
CWE Cocktail Party June 10
The first-ever cocktail party was reportedly held by Mrs. Julius S. Walsh Jr. at her CWE home in 1917. Celebrate the party’s centennial at this outdoor bash along Euclid. Enjoy swing music, a cocktail competition, and food and drink from neighborhood establishments. cwescene.com.
Kirkwood Peach Festival July 15
Set your alarm. The peach-tasting begins at 10 a.m. Vendors will provide samples, and festival-goers can vote for their favorite. Be sure to bring a small cooler to hold the produce you purchase at the farmers’ market—Kirkwood’s Sidewalk Sale will be held in tandem, and you’ll want to keep everything fresh while you shop. downtownkirkwood.com.
Pere Marquette Lodge Peach Festival August 13
People travel from all over to get their hands on mouthwatering peaches from Calhoun County in Illinois. This free festival at Pere Marquette Lodge, near Grafton, celebrates the popular fruit and features kid-friendly activities (such as Peach Pit Pitching), live music, and local peach vendors. The lodge’s restaurant and winery will also be open—and a peach wine is typically available for tasting. pmlodge.com.
St. Louis World’s Fare August 18–20
In celebration of St. Louis’ 1904 World’s Fair, head to its namesake pavilion in Forest Park for local eats, mixology demonstrations, live music, and a Ferris wheel. This year, the layout will be condensed, meaning more time for frolicking and less spent walking up and down that hill on Government Drive. stlworldsfare.com.
St. Louis Garlic Fest September 9
Vampires, steer clear of Carondelet Park in early September. Now in its eighth year, the fest boasts approximately 200 varieties of garlic, harvested in late summer. Expect plenty of garlic and food vendors, as well as live bluegrass music and cooking demos from Boundary chef Rex Hale. facebook.com/gatewaygarlicfest.
Taste of St. Louis September 15–17
Sample fare from dozens of the region’s best restaurants, watch chefs go head to head in the Chef Battle Royale, and enjoy live music at Chesterfield Amphitheater. The three-day event requires you to pace yourself. “You can only eat so much in one day,” sighs co-director K Sonderegger. Check out participating restaurants and menus online beforehand. tastestl.com.
Augusta Harvest Festival September 15 & 16
“A Rich Heritage” is this year’s theme for this annual festival in Missouri wine country. Celebrate Augusta history at events held in the historic Harmonie Verein building, a hub for community events since the 19th century. Enjoy a picnic on a private estate, a Wine Makers’ Social, the Harvest Parade, a pie-baking competition, street artists, and more. The newly formed Augusta Wine Growers Association will also be on hand. augusta-chamber.org.
HOP in the City Beer Festival September 16
Try more than 40 varieties of beer at Schlafly’s largest event of the year, where “tasting tickets” are available for unlimited beer samples. Food will also be available for purchase. The doors open at noon, and tastings begin at 1 p.m. schlafly.com.
COMMUNITY
Green Homes Festival June 3
Learn about energy efficiency, conservation, and more at MoBot. Kids can create recycled art projects, solar model cars, and solar oven s’mores. missouribotanicalgarden.org.
Pagan Picnic June 3 & 4
What began as a small gathering of friends has turned into a two-day festival of music, celebration, commerce, education, and connection in Tower Grove Park. paganpicnic.org.
Life Outside Festival June 10
In its second year, this new fest at Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park encourages St. Louisans to embrace the great outdoors. greatriversgreenway.org/life-outside.
Firefly Festival Family Nights June 14 & 21
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s celebration begins with crafts and games to teach families about fireflies. The evening concludes with a walk through Faust park, led by an entomology staff member, to see fireflies light up the night. missouribotanicalgarden.org.
Pride St. Charles June 17
Though it’s only been around since 2015, Pride St. Charles attracted more than 7,000 attendees last year. It moves to Frontier Park this summer. pridestcharles.org.
Solar Eclipse Expo June 17
Prepare for the solar eclipse during this event, happening 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in Queeny Park’s Greensfelder Recreation Complex. The event will feature 80-plus exhibits and presentations by experts. missourieclipse2017.com/index.php/st-louis-solar-expo.
PridefestSt. Louis June 23–25
The parade steps off downtown Sunday, but Pridefest spans the entire weekend and is expected to draw more than a quarter-million people. pridestl.org.
Loop Eclipse Festival August 20 and 21
Grab a drink at Eclipse Restaurant or on the rooftop of the Moonrise Hotel during this festival , featuring music, food, and drink up and down the Delmar Loop. visittheloop.com/2017/02/22/loop-eclipse-festival.
Festival ofNations August 26 & 27
Celebrate our international community in Tower Grove Park with a melting pot of dishes, dances, and art. festivalofnationsstl.org.
Japanese Festival September 2–4
This annual Labor Day weekend festival at MoBot provides a glimpse into Japanese culture through live performances, demonstrations, art, and food. missouribotanicalgarden.org.
St. Nicholas Greek Festival September 2–5
For nearly a century, the CWE’s historic St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church has hosted this fest, complete with gyros, church tours, and live entertainment. sngoc.com.
KirkwoodGreentreeFestival September 15–17
Celebrating the Kirkwood community, this fest includes a parade on Saturday, as well as food, entertainment, and activities. greentreefestival.com.
Great Forest Park Balloon Glow & Race September 15 & 16
On Friday, the balloon glow and a fireworks extravaganza light up the skies. Then, on Saturday afternoon, balloonists take to the skies in a “hare and hound” competition. The “hare” balloon launches at 4:30 p.m. and drops a target; 15 minutes later, the “hounds” set out to hit that target. greatforestparkballoonrace.com.
St. Louis Renaissance Festival September 16–October 15
Wentzville’s Rotary Park is whooshed back to the Renaissance, with artisans, live entertainment, and jousting. Optional daily events include the King’s Happy Hour, where revelers can sample ales and hors d’oeuvres while listening to Renaissance stories, and the Queen’s Tea, in which participants join the queen’s court for tea and song. stlrenfest.com.
Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival September 23–25
Visit Soulard Park for folkloric dancers, the Los Niños Kids Corner, and interactive artinspired by the Day of the Dead. hispanicfestivalstl.org.
St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival September 29 & 30
This annual celebration of Celtic culture features sports, food, drink, games, Highland dances, sheepdog trials, sword fighting, bagpiping, and more. stlouis-scottishgames.com.
FOR MORE FUN
O’Fallon Jammin’ 6:30–9 p.m. Tuesdays, Civic Park bandstand
- June 6: My Friend Mike
- June 13: Borderline
- June 20: Baywolfe
- June 27: Missouri National Guard 135th Army Band
- July 11: Dance Floor Riot
- July 18: ElevationJuly 25: Souvenir
- Aug. 1: Fat PocketAug. 8: Power Play
- Aug. 15: Whiskey Dixon
- Aug. 22: Pop & Rocket
Sounds of Summer 6:45 p.m. select Saturdays, Chesterfield Amphitheater
- June 3: Rattle & Hum
- June 17: King of Pain
- July 8: Rockin’ Chair
- July 22: Summer Breeze
- Aug. 12: Ray Scott
- Aug. 26: Revelation
Gateway Festival Orchestra 7 p.m. Sundays in July
The July 20 concert will be held at Chesterfield Amphitheater; the others are set for Washington University’s Brookings Quadrangle.
Whitaker Music Festival 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Missouri Botanical Garden
- June 7: Jack Grelle
- June 14: The Gaslight Squares
- June 21: Hazard to Ya Booty
- June 28: Big Mike Aguirre and the Blu City All Stars
- July 5: Beth Bombara
- July 12: Ptah Williams
- July 19: TBA July 26: The Mighty Pines
- Aug. 2: Brothers Lazaroff
Musical Mondays 7:30–9:30 p.m., Tower Grove Park
Visit chband.org for more information.
Twilight Tuesdays 6 p.m., Missouri History Museum
June 6: A Musical Revolution Tribute to Prince, featuring Karl Holmes and the All-Star Band
Eckert’s Summer Concert Series 7–9 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, Belleville
- June 2: John Henry
- June 3: The Trophy Mules
- June 9: The Wooks
- June 10: Jenni Lyn
- June 16: Trombonanza
- June 17: Colonel Ford
- June 23: Wood & Wire
- June 24: TBA
- June 30: Jason Eady
- July 1: Jeremiah Johnson Band
- July 7: Kaitlin Butts
- July 8: Javier Mendoza presents Hobo Cane
- July 14: Matt Stell
- July 15: Porter Union
- July 21: Alexandra Kay
- July 22: Talley Trio
- July 28: The Bottoms Up Blues Gang
- July 29: Kingdom Brothers
- Aug. 4: Uncle Albert
- Aug. 5: Jesse Harris & A Murder of Crows
- Aug. 11: Diesel Island
- Aug. 12: Red Lehr & Friends
- Aug. 18: Dusty Brothers
- Aug. 19: Whiskey Morning
- Aug. 25: Funky Butt Brass Band
- Aug. 26: Evan Webb
- Sept. 1: Tommy Halloran’s Guerrilla Swing
- Sept. 2: River Kittens
Jungle Boogie 5–8 p.m. Fridays, Saint Louis Zoo
- June 2: The Lone Rangers
- June 9: Butch Wax and the Hollywoods
- June 23: Push the Limit
- June 30: Ticket to the Beatles
- July 7: Funky Butt Brass Band
- July 14: Three Pedros
- July 21: Duhart
- July 28: Midnight Piano Band
- Aug. 4: The Throwbacks
- Aug. 11: Zydeco Crawdaddies
- Aug. 18: The Mighty Pines
- Aug. 25: Miss Jubilee & The Humdingers
- Sept. 1: Soulard Blues Band
StreetsFest Beale Street Concert Series Streets of St. Charles, 6–8 p.m.
- June 14: Superjam
- July 12: Rough Riders
- Aug. 9: Marquise Knox
- Sept. 13: Trixie Delight
