September is a HUGE month for arts and music in St. Louis. If you are looking for epic festivals with killer lineups (literally featuring The Killers) or maybe a daytime stroll through an art festival filled with the sound of local music, you can’t go wrong with what STL has to offer.
If you are looking for more to do, check out our list of 2024 concerts, theater, arts and music festivals and must-see comedy.
Be sure to keep an eye on our weekend events listing and Instagram to get the latest on everything from local theatre, dance, music, museums and more.
How do we fill this list? Great question! Here is the short answer – it’s not easy. StLouisArts.org is powered by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, the largest public funder of the arts in the region. We are here to lift up all the artists, arts programs, and arts organizations who make St. Louis great. If you don’t see a show or event on the list, it’s possible we just forgot to add it. You can always email us!
Big Muddy Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in Missouri. Located on the historic cobblestones of Laclede’s Landing, this festival immerses you in St. Louis’ vibrant blues scene featuring local, regional and national artists to keep your feet tapping and your soul humming.
WHERE: Laclede’s Landing
WHEN: Sept. 1-3
COST: FREE
Blues in the Night presented by The Black Rep
This dynamic Tony-nominated musical revue will stir your soul with the universal language of the blues. Set in 1930s Chicago, you will get to know three women and their experiences with life and all the pain that comes with it. The score features musical and vocal arrangements from Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johny Mercer, Harold Arlen and more.
WHERE: Edison Theatre at Washington University
WHEN: Sept. 4-29
COST: $45-$50
The Great Rivers Biennial Art Award is a collaborative initiative between CAM and the Gateway Foundation that recognizes and fosters artistic talent in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. For the 2024 Biennial, artists Saj Issa, Basil Kincaid, and Ronald Young have proposed exhibitions that involve ceramics, paintings, video, textiles and sculptural assemblage.
WHERE: Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
WHEN: Sept. 6-30 (exhibition goes until Feb 9, 2025)
COST: FREE
Art Outside presented by Schlafly
Art Outside is an alternative art festival where every piece of artwork is unique and made by local artists, featuring an array of mediums. This art festival is hosted by St. Louis brewing company Schlafly and brings people together to enjoy art, music and ice-cold beer.
WHEN: Sept. 6-8
WHERE: Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood
COST: FREE
The St. Louis Arts Fair features high-quality artists and celebrates the diversity of the St. Louis community. The fair also offers an array of food options, local music, dance and poetry performances, and a creative castle full of hands-on experiences for the little ones.
WHEN: Sept. 6-8
WHERE: Downtown Clayton
COST: FREE
Outlaw Music Festival: Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan & John Mellencamp
Make some unforgettable music memories at the Outlaw Music Festival at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 8
WHERE: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
COST: $62-$100+
Tempest in a Teapot presented by Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble (SATE)
Alice Liddell inspired Lewis Carroll to write “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” but as she grows up, she finds herself trapped between the fantasy world created for her and the restrictive Victorian world of Oxford, England. A chance meeting with Carroll after years leads her down the rabbit hole again to the Mad Tea Party, where a seemingly casual suggestion by Carroll that she read Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” turns into a philosophical treasure hunt.
WHEN: Sept. 11-28
WHERE: The Chapel
COST:
Green Day’s American Idiot presented by New Line Theatre
Check out the powerful, high-octane, rock fable American Idiot, based on the powerhouse album by Green Day, a scorching attack on the hypocrisy and moral evils of American politics, and as the increasingly submissive nature of the American public.
WHEN: Sept. 12-Oct. 5
WHERE: The Marcelle
COST: $20-$30
MUSIC FOR A CAUSE | Jerome Collins of Straight No Chaser
Rewind: A Journey to Motown and Beyond is a captivating solo performance featuring the talented Jerome Collins of famed a cappella group Straight No Chaser. This show is a nostalgic throwback to the roots of music, paying homage to the legendary sounds of Motown and R&B.
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 12
WHERE: City Winery
COST: $36-$46
Jim Jefferies: Give ‘Em What They Want Tour
Australian comedian, actor and writer Jim Jefferies provides provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy and is known for “Legit” on FX and “The Jim Jefferies Show” on Comedy Central.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 13
WHERE: The Fabulous Fox Theatre
COST: $59.75-$99.75
Wall Ball is presented by Artscope and is a unique, immersive, live art auction and fundraiser that is one of St. Louis’ most popular art events. Up to 30 artists will create artwork live while guests get the rare opportunity to watch and place bids for a chance to win and take home their favorite pieces.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 14
WHERE: 612 North Event Space
COST: $45
This diverse, roots inspired festival features a variety of sounds, from blues and jazz to hip-hop and rock n’ roll. Over 50 artists will be featured across four stages, including Black Pumas, Big Boi, Lettuce, Chingy, Chaka Khan and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
WHEN: Sept. 14-15
WHERE: Grand Center Arts District
COST: $95-$175+
Dial “M” for Murder presented by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Step into the shadows of a meticulously planned murder. In the elegant home of Tony and Margot Wendice, a sinister game of cat and mouse unfolds. Tony, a calculating mastermind, plots to kill his wife for her inheritance, fueled by revenge and greed. When his perfect plan spirals into chaos, a web of lies and deceit is spun, threatening to ensnare the innocent.
WHEN: Sept. 18-Oct. 13
WHERE: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep)
COST: $35-$90
Sarah Silverman is a two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, writer and producer. She hosts a critically acclaimed podcast, “The Sarah Silverman Podcast,” and is also known for her work on various popular television shows and movies.
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 19
WHERE: Stifel Theatre
COST: $35-$75+
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Forest Park Concert
Join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as they kick off the 24/25 season at the annual free concert in Forest Park featuring music from the upcoming year. Get comfortable on Art Hill with your drinks, snacks, and chairs, and enjoy this St. Louis tradition.
WHEN: Thursday, Sep 19
WHERE: Art Hill in Forest Park
COST: FREE
Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival
The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival shares the rich and colorful culture with the St. Louis community and increases awareness of the cultural contributions made by Hispanic musicians, dancers, artisans and chefs.
WHEN: Sept. 20-22
WHERE: Soulard Park
COST: FREE
Joe Pera is a standup comedian, writer, and filmmaker best known for his Adult Swim series, “Joe Pera Talks With You,” which The LA Times refers to as ‘TV’s quietest, most artful comedy’. He has performed his subdued standup on “Conan,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and Comedy Central.
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 20
WHERE: The Pageant
COST: $35-$45+
Frizz Fest is a natural beauty festival created to encourage self-love and inspire confidence among women, specifically black women, and to create a space where the Black community feels safe, seen, and celebrated. Featuring 70+ vendors, food trucks, live performances/DJs, crafts and more!
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 21
WHERE: Tower Grove Park
COST: FREE
Mr. Worldwide is making a stop in St. Louis! Join Pitbull on his tour stop at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 22
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
COST: $84-$100+
At PorchFest, porches are the main stage. During this free festival, musicians and local bands perform across neighborhood porches and feature a diverse range of music selections.
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 22
WHERE: 6008 Kingsbury Avenue
COST: FREE
Back to the Future: The Musical
Beloved cinematic classic turned Broadway musical! Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown. When he accidentally changes the course of history, it becomes a race against time to get back.
WHEN: Sept. 24-Oct. 6
WHERE: The Fabulous Fox Theatre
COST: $32-$105
The Evolution Festival located in Forest Park is a two-day music event featuring 28 bands across three stages. Headliners include The Killers, Beck, Billy Idol, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Killer Mike and Elle King.
WHEN: Sept. 28-29
WHERE: Forest Park
COST: $189.50- $394.50+
Join the fun for St. Louis’s 11th annual community-focused Pride Festival in the heart of the beautiful Tower Grove Park. This festival hosts 300+ booths featuring local artists, crafters, nonprofits, food, and businesses, two stages with local music and drag performances, a parade where anyone is welcome to walk and more.
WHEN: Sept. 28-29
WHERE: Tower Grove Park
COST: FREE
The Saint Louis Art Museum is a world-renowned fine arts museum known for its expansive collection of paintings, sculptures, historical artifacts and rotating exhibitions. Free and open to the public, some of September’s exhibits include The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project, 1935–1943, Concealed Layers: Uncovering Expressionist Paintings, Currents 123: Tamara Johnson and Shimmering Silks: Traditional Japanese Textiles, 18th–19th Centuries.
WHEN: Sept. 1-30 (check individual exhibition information for exact dates)
WHERE: Saint Louis Arts Museum
COST: FREE
Photo credit: Music at the Intersection Facebook, St. Louis Art Fair Facebook
