Photo courtesy of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
This summer marks the fourth year of Blues at the Arch.
Summer is beginning to wind down, and it might feel like there isn’t much left to do before the official end of the season.
But every Friday from August 9 until August 30, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Blues Museum and the National Park Service, is hosting the fourth annual Blues at the Arch. Located at the northern gateway of the national park, visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for a night of great music, food, and drinks.
“This is a great opportunity to experience a space where what used to be an ugly old parking garage is now a beautiful outdoor amphitheater and green space,” says the foundation’s director of communication, Samantha Fisher.
Each night of the series, two or three renowned blues artists will take the stage, curated both by previous visitors' requests and by foundation outreach. Performers range from both local legends, like Voice star Kennedy Holmes, and acclaimed artists from across the country, such as Johnny Rawls and Annika Chambers.
Guests are welcome to bring a picnic basket from home or splurge and indulge in some local specialties, provided by food and drink vendors including Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Big Daddy’s on The Landing, and Sugarfire.
“One of our efforts with this event is to remind folks that this is your neighborhood park, this is St. Louis’ front yard and we want people to come out and enjoy it,” Fisher says. “The only complaint we’ve really gotten about the series is that it’s only in August and people just want more.”
The event is free and open to the public. A full lineup can be found on the Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s website.
