Top 5 events in St. Louis this week, June 29–July 2

A theater crawl in Grand Center, plus lots of Fourth of July celebrations

June 29, 2017

11:13 AM

via Wikimedia Commons

Anita Jackson at Jazz at the Bistro | June 30–July 1

Jackson, who spent years in New York (and backed some of the biggest names in music, from Whitney Houston to Bette Midler) is now one of St. Louis’ finest jazz and R&B voices. Over two nights, she’ll sing a tribute to three women musicians who've influenced her own singing style: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Nicks. We could attempt to explain Jackson’s charisma on stage, as well as her gorgeous singing voice, but instead we’ll encourage you to check out this performance, which captures the magic of what she does better than we could ever explain in words. $20, $10 students. 7:30 & 9:30 nightly. Ferring Jazz Bistro, 3536 Washington, jazzstl.org.

Grand Center Theatre Crawl | June 30 & July 1

It's a little like Dance St. Louis' Spring to Dance, a two-day event that allows you to sample the work of more than 18 local theater companies. Get a preview of Upstream Theater's fall production Sweet Revenge, watch scenes from St. Louis Actors' Studios upcoming LaBute Festival, hear artists from Union Avenue Opera sing scenes from Carousel, or see Prison Performing arts do one of its signature pieces The Beginning for Myself. You can also see performances at Urban Chestnut's Washington Avenue location, in the Contemporary Art Museum's boardroom, and at Miss M's Candy Boutique. See website for times, prices, and venues. Grand Center, stlouispublicradio.org.

Train | July 1

Float trips, grilling,splitting open a melon on a picnic table in the park... There are certain things that just make summer feel like summer—and big outdoor concerts are definitely part of the mix. If you're itching to indulge in a night of live music before Fair St. Louis, pop band Train will be at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater for its Play That Song tour, which takes its name from the first hit single from the band's latest record, A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat. O.A.R. and English pop star Natasha Bedingfield open. $18.75–$59.50. 7 p.m. Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 14141 Riverport, livenation.com.

America's Birthday Parade | July 1

Produced by V.P. of St. Louis, this nearly 150-year-old parade—one of the longest-running in the nation—returns downtown, kicking off at the recently renovated Kiener Plaza. This year’s event features more than 150 units, including 18 floats (builders are interpreting the theme “Great Things Are Happening”), 14 marching bands, giant balloons (including a Kung Fu Panda), a Liberty Drum Challenge, clowns (and their accompanying clown cars), and more. The parade will run along Market Street and end at Union Station. Free. 9:30 a.m. Kiener Plaza at Broadway and Market Street, americasbirthdayparade.com.

Fair St. Louis | July 2–4

The annual celebration is back in Forest Park, which means waterskiing is back, along with a wine garden, zip line, human slingshot, and more. There will also be lots of live music: Santiago x The Natural, Dirty Muggs, SuperDuperKyle, AKON, Eve 6, Sister Hazel, 3 Doors Down, Ben Morgan, Hudson Moore, Matt Stillwell, Dan + Shay, and Jake Owen. And to cap off each night, of course, there will be a no-holds-barred fireworks display over the Grand Basin. Free. 1:30–9:35 p.m. Sun, 4–10 p.m. Mon, 1–9:35 p.m. Tue. Forest Park, fairstlouis.org.

Check out other Fourth of July event across the region by reading this post. And don't miss these other events happening around the St. Louis area this weekend:

Top 5 Family-Friendly Events

311 at The Pageant

Styx with REO Speedwagon and Don Felder at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

The Little Mermaid at The Muny

Lunchtime Live at Old Post Office Plaza

Washington Nationals v. St. Louis Cardinals

Anxious to Make at The Luminary

The Gibson Brothers at Old Rock House

The Mighty Pines at Delmar Hall

GEOGRAPHY OF THE BODY at duet

Operation Food Search: Tomato Explosion

Washington Nationals v. St. Louis Cardinals