Can’t Miss Festivals and Events in the Lou
Discover vibrant food and drink, music, art, and more all year long at one of many signature festivals and events in St. Louis.
Dive into the festivities, then unwind in the comfort of your room, where our top-notch accommodations and prime location ensure an unforgettable stay.
St. Louis Event Highlights
Anime STL | April 24-26
A large pop‑culture and anime convention at the St. Charles Convention Center. The event involves gaming, anime, cosplay, and more.
STL Earth Day Parade | April 25-26
The St. Louis Earth Day Festival is a community tradition. At the two-day event, guests learn about sustainable products and services offered by area businesses and organizations. Whether you come for the activities, the food, or the music, the St. Louis Earth Day Festival will leave you feeling inspired by the real progress being made to preserve our planet.
Cinco de Mayo Cherokee Street Festival | May 3
Every year, more than 100 vendors pack Cherokee Street for the Cinco de Mayo Street Festival. The stalls offer everything from traditional Mexican street food to margaritas served in real pineapples to eye-catching apparel. The festival footprint, which stretches from South Jefferson to Nebraska avenues, also features two stages with all-day entertainment for a variety of interests.
Laumeier Art Fair | May 8-10
For three days every year, you can shop for one-of-a-kind artwork, savor tasty food and drinks, enjoy live music and entertainment, and get creative with hands-on activities at one of the most unique attractions in St. Louis. Laumeier Sculpture Park is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the U.S. – and the perfect setting for this exciting event. Attracting more than 17,000 patrons annually, the Laumeier Art Fair showcases 150 juried artists from across the country, who exhibit work in 10 media categories: ceramics, fiber/textiles, glass, jewelry, 2D mixed media, painting, photography/digital, printmaking/drawing, sculpture, and wood.
Opera Theater of St Louis Festival Season | May 24 - June 28
As part of its mission to ensure a vibrant future for opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis hosts an annual festival season. Through the talents of hundreds of local, national, and international artists, the company offers a signature mix of beloved classical operas and bold contemporary works. Audiences experience the magic of innovative storytelling as they travel between fantasy and reality, comedy and tragedy, love and revenge. All the operas are sung in English and accompanied by the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Missouri Bridal & Wedding Expo | May 31
Signed, sealed, delivered! The Missouri Bridal & Wedding Expo returns to America’s Center Convention Complex. The convention features an amazing selection of wedding professionals who can help you find the perfect gown, reception venue, invitations, photographer, music, menu, honeymoon destination, and so much more. Admission is free with online registration or $10 at the door.
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival | May - June
Shakespeare has never sounded so good! Every year, the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival stages one of the great writer’s plays in Forest Park under the stars. All performances are free and open to the public, so grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and find your spot in the grass of Shakespeare Glen.
Whitaker Music Festival | May - June
The Missouri Botanical Garden is an idyllic place to listen to live music. On Wednesday evenings throughout the summer, the garden hosts free, open-air concerts as part of the annual Whitaker Music Festival. To date, more than one million people have participated in the cherished St. Louis tradition, which promotes common heritage, celebrates diversity, and encourages vitality within the community. Visitors can bring their own picnics, and food, beer, wine, and sno-cones will be available for purchase.
Pride Fest | June 27-28
During PrideFest, local, national, and international talent grace the main stage; vendors dot the lawn between St. Louis City Hall and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum; and The Hive welcomes people aged 25 and younger to talk, listen, dance, and celebrate Pride in a safe space. Every year, the spirited celebrations culminate in the Grand Pride Parade, which draws thousands of revelers to downtown St. Louis. PrideFest events are open to the queer community and its allies. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our uniqueness and uplift each other.
Blues at the Arch | August 14-16
Blues at the Arch will keep you in the groove until the end of summer. Hosted by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Blues Museum and the National Park Service, Blues at the Arch pays tribute to St. Louis’ storied blues history and showcases the talents of local and national artists. Held at Gateway Arch National Park, the free music festival is the only one of its kind to take place on national park grounds.
Taste of St. Louis | August
Taste of St. Louis offers a flavor-filled weekend for foodies, friends and families alike. Held at Ballpark Village, the festival boasts more than 30 local eateries, and eventgoers can order everything from snack-size samples to complete entrées. Taste of St. Louis also features culinary exhibits, local merchandise vendors, and live music.
Festival of Nations | August
The beauty of St. Louis lies in the diversity of its people. At Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park, we celebrate the myriad cultures that make up the Gateway City, honoring each other’s individuality, rejoicing in our differences, and cultivating a more prosperous region for all. Bringing an energy that you can’t find anywhere else, Festival of Nations, produced by the International Institute of St. Louis, is the region’s largest multicultural event of the year, representing more than 75 nations. Here, you can ignite your senses with cuisines from around the world, dance to music spanning genres, shop international and local arts and goods, and do it all with purpose.
Maplewood Route 66 Celebration | September 26
Looking to get your kicks in St. Louis? You’re invited to celebrate Maplewood’s history as part of the original Route 66 this September! Enjoy live music, a car show, shopping, food, drinks, and more with your family and friends on this special occasion.
Springhill Fall Festival | September 26-27
Spring Hill Fall Festival boasts many different activities, including art and crafts, live music, a parade, many different vendors, and even street dancing! Events will be in the following locations: Webster Street (Parade), Vendors (City Park), and Street Dance (Historic Main Street).
South Grand Fall and Music Fest | September
Dust off your flannel and break out your boots – South Grand’s big, boisterous bash is back. Now in its 10th year, the fall and music festival includes more than 70 retail vendors and community organizations, along with ongoing entertainment in Ritz Park. During the Saturday event, South Grand businesses will offer varying specials, discounts, and entertainment, and tucked between the storefronts, you’ll find themed activities, games, and crafts. Traveling with toddlers in tow? There will also be a face painter and a balloon artist on site.
NASCAR Cup Playoff Weekend | September
Gear up for some of the most intense racing of the weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Kansas Speedway! Watch these drivers go bumper-to-bumper in a thrilling display of speed and skill. Whether you’re new to the sport or a long-time fan, this race delivers edge-of-your-seat excitement as drivers battle for every inch of the track. With a variety of ticket options available, including affordable family packages and premium seating, you’ll find the perfect spot to take in all the action.
Camp Leavenworth Festival | September
The sixth annual Camp Leavenworth is a free, family-friendly two-day festival full of fun, discovery, and downtown charm. Kick things off Friday night with fireworks, explore hands-on activities for all ages, shop the Makers Fair, and experience unique pop-ups around historic Leavenworth. Saturday morning starts strong with the Camp Leavenworth 5K at 10 AM, and we’ll keep the energy going all day—capped off with a headline performance by the Gin Blossoms Saturday night. Admission is free and open to all!
The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race | September
One of St. Louis’ most idyllic events, The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race, is not to be missed. Event organizers say that it’s the oldest and best-attended hot air balloon race in the world – you might want to scope out the perfect viewing area for you and your family ahead of time. This September, the event will also feature food trucks, live music, wagon rides, a fireworks show, and more free family fun!
Universal Film Festival | September
The Universal Film Festival was established in the United States in 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri. Since then, it has developed into a hybrid International festival that tours abroad and features a live interactive festival. The Universal Film Festival will feature live and virtual interactive festival activities and events, as well as a Global Village Showcase experience particular to each host city and country, and will take place in a different location and country every year. With over 300,000 followers and 5,000 publications distributed globally via social media, print, and other channels, Universal Film Festival is one of the top 100 film festivals.
Oktoberfest at Grant’s Farm | September - October
Oktoberfest returns to Grant’s Farm this September, celebrating the attraction’s German heritage. Included with free general admission, the event will feature cold beer served in commemorative steins, alongside traditional German food, live German music, enthusiastic German dancing, and access to the farm’s animals.
Oktoberfest at Six Flags St. Louis | October
New to Six Flags St. Louis, this Oktoberfest celebration will pair seasonal craft beer with German-inflected dishes. Enjoy the veritable feast while listening to live music at the Mooseburger Lodge, which will, of course, be decorated for the occasion. Prost!
St. Louis Bourbon Festival | October
The St. Louis Bourbon Festival returns to the historic Lemp Mansion as part of St. Louis’ spellbinding lineup of fall festivals and events. This year’s festival footprint doesn’t stop there, though. It has expanded along four city blocks with additional spaces to explore along Cherokee Street and Demenil Place, featuring eerie tasting lounges and wicked VIP haunts. Brave imbibers can enjoy more than 500 whiskies from around the world, along with spine-tingling live music, street performers, food trucks, and a scotch and cigar patio. Don your finest fall attire and embrace the Halloween vibe at this spooky soirée where bourbon flows and spirits rise.
Brew in the Lou | October
Local, regional, and national craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries will come together for the 13th annual Brew in the Lou. Hosted by Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA), the festival in Francis Park also boasts food tastings, live music, and local vendors. Admission includes unlimited beer, wine, spirits, and food (while supplies last), along with a commemorative tasting glass, and proceeds benefit LESA’s 34 member schools, which serve approximately 9,700 students and 600 educators.
Saint Louis Ballet Fall Series | October
In its fall series, Saint Louis Ballet presents an extraordinary triple bill celebrating musical brilliance, choreographic innovation, and stylistic range. From the jazzy exuberance of Take Five…More or Less , by Broadway legend Susan Stroman, to the striking modernism and classical depth of George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments and the elegant precision of his Divertimento No. 15 set to Mozart’s luminous score, this program offers a dynamic journey through rhythm, emotion, and the timeless beauty of ballet.
Apple Butter Festival | October
Attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year, the Apple Butter Festival is the largest event in Kimmswick. While participants can enjoy the small-town ambiance, live entertainment, and between 500 and 600 food, drink, and craft vendors, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, too. On Friday, the Kimmswick Historical Society gathers to peel and prepare the apples. Then, before dawn on Saturday and Sunday, the apples are cooked in a kettle over a wood-burning fire until the fragrant spread is thick enough to seal in jars. After one taste of the apple butter, you’ll want to stock your pantry with the indulgence.
OktoberFest Weekend | October
Prost! Get ready to celebrate Oktoberfest with us all weekend long at Sandhills Brewing. We’re kicking things off by tapping our highly anticipated Oktoberfest Märzen! We’ll also have our new, collectible Oktoberfest Glass Steins available for purchase so you can sip in style.
