Why spring for expensive tickets to a Broadway performance in NYC or pay a hefty entry fee to a museum? In St. Louis, the art scene is alive, thriving, and surprisingly accessible (often low cost or even free). Add in the backdrop of STL’s standout arts districts and beautiful green spaces, and consider your affordable experience even more elevated.
As the region’s cultural hub, St. Louis is home to beloved institutions like the Saint Louis Art Museum, Shakespeare Festival, and Contemporary Art Museum—all of which are free to the public. You’ll also find free festivals, low-cost concerts, and inspiring, engaging art experiences for all ages.
Whether you’re an art connoisseur, a metalhead, a fan of obscure performance art, or a patron of the classics, St. Louis has a calendar full of memory-making events. Besides, where else can you sit under the Gateway Arch eating toasted ravioli (T-ravs for the uninitiated) and listening to the country’s best blues musicians?
JUNE
CATEGORY: Performance Art
May 28–June 22 | St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
Join the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival for a popular, free summer tradition in St. Louis. This year’s performance will be the Hamlet, staged at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park.
Admission is free, but you can pay to reserve a spot here.
CATEGORY: Festival
June 14 | Soulard Pride
In addition to St. Louis’ main Pride event, the city is home to a vibrant queer community and hosts several smaller, local festivals. Soulard Pride is one such festival that will fill the neighborhood with color, artists, and drag performances on June 14.
More information on the festival, which is free, can be found here.
CATEGORY: Music
June 28 | Outlaw Music Festival
This national traveling music festival boasts “an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars,” and will be stopping at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (14141 Riverport Dr, Maryland Heights) on June 28. The lineup features a few of the biggest names in music including: “Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Sheryl Crow, Turnpike Troubadours, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The Red Clay Strays, Lake Street Dive, Waxahatchee, Charles Wesley Godwin, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Trampled By Turtles, The Mavericks, Sierra Hull, Willow Avalon, Waylon Payne, Madeline Edwards, Lily Meola, Myron Elkins, Tami Neilson, and more.”
More information and information for purchasing tickets to the festival can be found here.
CATEGORY: Festival
June 28 & 29 | Pride St. Louis
The annual St. Louis Pride (an LGBTQ festival) will celebrate its 45th year in Downtown St. Louis in June. While this year’s entertainers are still being announced, it will feature a parade and performances by musicians, dancers and drag artists. Additionally, artists and vendors will be set up throughout the festival.
More information can be found here.
JULY
CATEGORY: Art
July 11 | Let them Eat Art
Maplewood’s annual nod to Bastille Day will return once again to the neighborhood on July 11 from 6-10 p.m. with an evening filled with art, performances, and of course food from local restaurants.
More information, including details on how to find parking, can be found here.
AUGUST
Photo courtesy of Blues at the Arch
CATEGORY: Music
August 7-10 | Blues at the Arch
St. Louis Blues festival is returning to the Arch for its 10th birthday, and with four days of live music and good food, it promises not to disappoint. Beginning with a preview on Aug. 7 and featuring free concerts from Aug. 8-10, this festival at the Gateway Arch National Park is the only such event to take place in a National Park, according to its organizers.
While performers have not yet been announced, more information about the free festival can be found here.
CATEGORY: Art/Culture
August 7-17 | Tennessee Williams Festival
One of St. Louis’ most famous legends, the Playwright Tennessee Williams, is celebrated with an annual festival at the The Grandel Theater. This year’s festival will kick off with an Aug. 7 performance of his play “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and throughout the following days will feature a “Stella Shouting Contest,” and various scholarship panels. This is the perfect event for visitors to the city who are also looking to attend Blues at the Arch.
More information is available here.
CATEGORY: Performance Art
August 11-17 | Fringe Fest
This uncensored performing arts festival can trace its roots to Scotland in 1947 where an alternative arts festival was held in Edinburgh. Now, the St. Louis festival promises comedy, improv, one-person plays, musical performances, and performance art that will make you ask yourself, “What did I just watch?”
Information on the performances, schedule, and times of the festival can be tracked on its website.
CATEGORY: Festival
August 14-17 | Black Pride St. Louis
Black Pride St. Louis is a regional pride dedicated to celebrating Black LGBTQ identities that works to uplift and support St. Louis community members while spreading joy, and advocating for social justice.
More information on this year’s Black Pride weekend can be found here.
CATEGORY: Festival
August 23-24 | Festival of Nations
The Festival of Nations is the biggest multicultural event in the St. Louis region, featuring food, drinks, music, dance, arts and goods from over 80 countries in Tower Grove Park.
Learn more about the festival here.
CATEGORY: Art/Culture
August 30-September 1 | Japanese Festival
This rain or shine festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden offers cultural experiences and an education that would normally require St. Louis locals to hop on a 15+ hour flight to Japan. In conjunction with the Japanese Activities Committee, the festival will showcase music, art, and performances unique to Japan including demonstrations involving Taiko drums and Sumo wrestling.
Information about the festival and garden admission can be found at MOBOT’s website.
CATEGORY: Art/Culture, Music, Performance Art
August 28 | RAC’s Birthday Bash
Your favorite artist’s favorite art organization is turning 40! To celebrate, The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis is throwing a legendary party at St. Louis’ Union Station Hotel to honor 40 years of creativity, community, and connection at a party with energetic performances, creative activities, free delicious bites and mocktails, a cash bar, and a few special surprises.
Don’t miss this event, grab your tickets here.
SEPTEMBER
CATEGORY: Art
September 5-7 | Saint Louis Art Fair
In its 32nd year, the Saint Louis Art Fair will present a unique gathering of artists, vendors, and performers at its all-day festival from September 5-7.
Featured artists, more information and announcements about the festival can be found here.
Photo courtesy of Music At The Intersection
Photo courtesy of Music At The Intersection
CATEGORY: Music
September 12-14 | Music At The Intersection
Now in its fifth year, MATI returns to St. Louis. The streets of the Grand Center Arts District will be blocked off to traffic and will become a stage to more than 100 national, regional, and local musicians. Performances will begin at noon everyday and while a full schedule of performers has yet to be announced, they include Common & Pete Rock, Patti LaBelle, Lucky Daye, and Leon Thomas.
More information on the festival can be found here.
CATEGORY: Festival
September 9-21 | Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival
This festival shares rich and colorful culture with the St. Louis community and increases awareness of the cultural contributions made by Hispanic musicians, dancers, artisans and chefs.
More information will be added closer to the festival here.
CATEGORY: Art/Culture
September 20 | Frizz Fest
Frizz Fest is a natural beauty and art festival that grew out of a desire to celebrate Black beauty, Black culture, and natural hair in St. Louis. Founded in 2017, the festival has grown from hundreds of attendees to more than 10,000. This year’s festival will feature fashion and beauty vendors, an art garden, live performances and of course, hair shows at Tower Grove Park from 12-7p.m.
More information can be found here.
CATEGORY: Festival
September 27-28 | Tower Grove Pride Festival
A local favorite, this independent community-organized Pride festival will be held at Tower Grove Park From September 27-28. The festival will have two entertainment stages with a schedule packed full of drag performances, concerts, and DJs. In addition to the performances vendors will wrap around the park, as will a skating rink and on the final day, a parade.
More details can be found here.
CATEGORY: Music
September 27-28 Evolution Festival
One of St. Louis’ most anticipated music festivals will return to Forest Park for all-day concerts on September 27 and 28. Headliner’s for this year’s Evolution Festival include Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, Father John Misty and more with concerts spread across three different stages.
Tickets can be purchased here.
OCTOBER
CATEGORY: Art
October 2-5 | Historic Shaw Art Fair
This historic fair features 120 artists exhibiting and selling a variety of works, from wood and metalwork to printmaking and digital art. Enjoy food vendors and live music as you browse the art.
Grab a weekend pass and explore the artists here.
CATEGORY: Comedy
October 16-19 | Flyover Comedy Festival
This four-day comedy invasion features a mix of stand-up, improv, sketch and variety shows across multiple venues in the St. Louis Grove entertainment district.
The lineup will be announced here this summer.
This list is just the beginning — St. Louis is packed with creative events all year long. Whether you’re planning a road trip or just looking for a reason to visit, St. Louis promises music, food, art, and unforgettable memories. Want more ideas? Explore your vibe and start planning.
How do we fill this list? Great question! The short answer—it’s not easy. StLouisArts.org is powered by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, and we aim to lift up all the artists, arts programs, and arts organizations that make this city shine. If you think something is missing, we may have simply overlooked it—feel free to reach out.
