VIA FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN
Vendor cuts coconut at the 2013 Festival of Nations.
An Under Cover Weekend | August 24–26
St. Louis has some brilliant music festivals. We also have what might be the coolest tribute band festival in the country. An Under Cover Weekend approaches the genre with a clever twist: It casts 15 local bands in the roles of famous national acts. This year, the three-day fest covers a different decade each day, with the '80s on Thursday, the '90s on Friday, and the '00s on Saturday. Visit the website for the complete lineup. $12–$30. 7:45 p.m. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar, undercoverweekend.com.
Marlon Wayans at Helium | August 24–26
From In Living Color to the Wayans Brothers Show, the Wayans family has kept audiences laughing for decades. The youngest of 10 siblings, Marlon has starred in such movies as White Chicks, Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2 and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. He appears alongside Regina Hall in the Netflix movie Naked, and his new sitcom, Marlon, premiered on NBC last week. The multi-talented comedian makes a stop in St. Louis for a weekend of standup. (Read our Q&A with Marlon here.) $35–$45. 7 p.m. Fri, 6:30 & 9 p.m. Sat–Sun. Helium Comedy Club, 1151 Saint Louis Galleria, heliumcomedy.com.
Rebels & Misfits: Uncle Vanya | August 24–September 3
Subtitled "Valiantly Accepting Next Year's Agony," St. Louis' leading immersive theater company presents a version of Chekov's classic that you won't soon forget. Produced in a home in Ladue, there's no stage; the audience experiences the story as part of the performance. The play begins with a high tea reception, followed by a performance in which audience members interact with the characters, so no two people have the same experience. (We spoke with R&M artistic director Kelly Hummert before the company's production of Macbeth; read that story to get a better idea of what to expect.) Before you go, follow the show on social media—it's all part of the whole experience. $30–$45. See website for details, theimmersivetheatreproject.com.
El Monstero | August 26
The bands that play Undercover Weekend get to be, say, Dolly Parton or Led Zeppelin for one night; El Monstero, a super group composed of some of St. Louis' best musicians, has been playing as Pink Floyd for years. The high-octane stage shows include pyrotechnics and impressive casts of extras, which often draw quite a crowd. This Saturday, El Monstero comes to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, with the St. Louis Philharmonic in tow, no less. $20–$170. 7 p.m. Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 14141 Riverport, elmonstero.com.
Festival of Nations | August 26 & 27
The International Institute’s joyous annual celebration of world culture, the Festival of Nations offers a chance to experience food, dance, music, and crafts from around the world. This year’s festival features more than 40 food booths, featuring eats from such countries as Argentina, Afghanistan, India, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, Vietnam, Senegal, Scotland, and more. The bazaar features arts and crafts from just as many countries: Greece, Ecuador, Gambia, China, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Russia, Kenya, Ireland, Mexico... Free. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sat, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun. Tower Grove Park, festivalofnationsstl.org.
Check out SLM's top five family-friendly events for this weekend, as well as coverage of other major happenings, including the Zac Brown Band at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Blues at the Arch, The Trailer Park Boys at Peabody Opera House, Little Feat at The Pageant, Brian McKnight and Ginuwine at the Fox, Cardinals games, racing at Gateway Motorsports Park, and more. For additional options, visit SLM's calendar.
