Fall Focus

Looking for exciting things to do this September? St. Louis is bursting with amazing events! Check out the list below and find something fun to enjoy with your loved ones.

Saint Louis Art Fair

September 6 to 8

An explosion of color in the streets of Clayton, the Saint Louis Art Fair attracts a variety of high-quality artists and enthusiastic art lovers – plus, some of St. Louis’ best restaurants that keep everyone energized. Whether you’re looking for a piece of fine art to fill your home or a fun-filled day in the sun, you should stop by this three-day event.

Art Outside

September 6 to 8

Art, like beer, brings people together, which inspired Schlafly Beer to establish Art Outside in 2004. Hosted at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, the festival aims to raise awareness and appreciation of art and music created in the St. Louis community. This year’s festival will feature more than 60 artists who specialize in photography, woodwork, textiles, watercolor, mixed media and more. Stop by with your family and friends and get to know art without pretense.

Brendan Fernandes: In Two

September 7

Chicago-based artist Brendan Fernandes, who was born in Kenya in 1979, will present a new dance performance series in response to the Pulitzer Arts Foundation’s exhibition Scott Burton: Shape Shift. Fernandes will choreograph a series of duets that engage with Burton’s “furniture sculptures” – artworks that were originally made for public use. Like Burton (1939–1989), Fernandes will draw on gestures and signaling within gay cruising culture as part of an ongoing exploration of queer camouflage, visibility and embodiment. In addition to the performances, Fernandes will create curtains and props to be installed in the galleries and activated by dancers during performances. Fernandes’ project highlights the continued impact of Burton’s legacy on artists today.

Q in the Lou

September 7 and 8

Barbecue, beer and bands will coverage on Gateway Arch National Park for Q in the Lou. Over the weekend, legendary pitmasters will smoke more than 30,000 pounds of meat, which you can wash down with ice-cold beer while an awesome lineup of musicians rocks the event.

Million Dollar Drag Race

September 10 to 14

World Wide Technology Raceway gives travelers a million reasons to visit the Midwest. From Sept. 10 to 14, the premier racing facility will host the 29th annual Mickey Thompson Million Dollar Drag Race. World Wide Technology Raceway will continue the race’s long-running tradition while elevating the racer experience.

Brendan Fernandes | Photo courtesy of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation

Balloon Glowdeo

September 13 and 14

Balloons, bulls and barrels come together for Brookdale Farms’ Balloon Glowdeo. Witness an exhilarating rodeo, followed by a magical balloon glow at this special event. Before the hot air balloons light up the night, visit with the farm animals, bounce around the inflatable playgrounds, grab a bite to eat and enjoy a live outdoor concert. After the glow, you’ll also be treated to a beautiful firework display.

The Taste of Black St. Louis

September 13 to 15

As the largest Black-owned food festival in the Midwest, The Taste of Black St. Louis celebrates vibrant Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, marketplaces and nonprofits in the St. Louis region. Experience their delicious dishes and gourmet goods among community members in Memorial Plaza.

Chuseok Korean Harvest Festival

September 14

Held at Half Moon Circle in Tower Grove Park, the Chuseok Korean Harvest Festival centers on traditional Korean performing arts. Highlights of the program include a martial arts demonstration, K-pop dance competition and traditional foods. Attendees can also participate in visual art demonstrations focused on the Korean alphabet, calligraphy and crafts; try on hanbok, a traditional clothing of the Korean people; and learn about the traditional Chuseok charye table setting.

Music at the Intersection

September 14 and 15

Music and heritage meet at this festival in the Grand Center Arts District. Every rendition of Music at the Intersection, a civic-led effort presented by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, encompasses multiple stages set up in streets and green spaces throughout the neighborhood. St. Louis-based musicians as well as national acts spanning musical genres, including blues, jazz, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and hip-hop, come together in this celebration of St. Louis’ musical, cultural and artistic legacy. In 2024, headliners will include psychedelic soul band Black Pumas; 10-time Grammy Award-winning queen of funk Chaka Khan; rapper Big Boi of Outkast; New Orleans trombonist and trumpeter Trombone Shorty; five-time Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding; funk group Lettuce; two-time Grammy Award-winning 24-year-old jazz singer Samara Joy; and St. Louis rapper Chingy. Music at the Intersection will also feature Ferguson-born trumpeter Keyon Harrold, a three-time festival alumnus, in a new role as artist-in-residence.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Forest Park Concert

September 19

At this annual concert in Forest Park, you can experience the sounds of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under the stars. Find a spot on Art Hill, sit back and enjoy the music, from classical tunes to modern scores. The event also includes fare from local food trucks for purchase and a stunning firework show.

Lamar Harris’ Georgia Mae | Photo courtesy of Music at the Intersection

The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race

September 20 and 21

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 – so 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, music, wagon rides, a firework show and more free family fun!

Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival

September 21

Twenty-two years ago, a small but passionate group of music lovers organized the first Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival simply because they wanted to throw a great party in their historic downtown. Today, the award-winning festival is one of the most family-friendly music festivals in the world. Offering nonstop jazz and blues on two stages, the free event showcases St. Louis’ most talented performers – plus, area restaurants. Street entertainers also amuse spectators with balloons, juggling and face-painting. Join the party as people from one to 100 get on their feet and shake their groove thang in the streets!

Back to the Future: The Musical

September 24 to October 6

Great Scott! The beloved cinematic classic Back to the Future is now a Broadway musical, which travels to The Fabulous Fox this month. In the 2022 Olivier Award winner for Best New Musical, Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. After he accidentally changes the course of history, he has to race against time to fix the present, escape the past and send himself…back to the future. When Back to the Future hits 88 miles per hour, it’ll change musical theater history forever.

Evolution Festival

September 28 and 29

In its second year, Evolution Festival will once again shake things up in St. Louis. Held in Forest Park, the genre-bending music festival features live music infused with a bold beverage experience – plus, food that spotlights traditional recipes as well as cutting-edge trends from some of the most recognizable pitmasters in the Show-Me State. In 2024, top musical acts will include The Killers, Beck, Jane’s Addiction, Billy Idol, Nile Rodgers and Elle King.

Tower Grove Pride

September 28 and 29

Bringing a rainbow of colors to Tower Grove Park, this community-powered Pride festival features the People’s Joy Parade, outdoor story time, arts and crafts and live music on two separate stages. Tower Grove Pride aims to support and promote social justice for every disadvantaged and undervalued community.