Sweater weather is here, and autumn in St. Louis is as cozy as it comes. Mild temperatures, beautiful fall colors popping, and endless things to do invite you to investigate every neighborhood and hidden gem. As fall turns to winter, we make it easy to get into the holiday spirit and fill your days and nights with creative cheer. Check out this list of must-see fall events. And remember, St. Louis is an arts town. You can always find your vibe almost any day of the week. Be sure to keep an eye on our weekend events listing and Instagram post (which we update every Friday morning) to get the latest on everything from theatre to dance and music to museums.
OCTOBER
Loutopia: Exhibit A
WHEN: October 5 – December 31
WHERE: 6195 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112 in the Delmar Loop
A temporary, interactive wonderland that merges beautiful exhibits with augmented reality & real-world problem solvers to inspire you to embrace art, nature, and sustainable systems in your daily life.
www.loutopia.city
Best of Missouri Market
WHEN: October 6 – 8
WHERE: Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110)
Shop more than 130 of the region’s finest artisans, crafters, and food and beverage producers at a fall festival unlike any other in the St. Louis area. Enjoy live music, family fun, and a two-acre Kid’s Corner adjacent to the Children’s Garden. Festival admission required to visit Garden grounds. Please note that trams and early morning walking hours do not operate during festival weekends. Regular Children’s Garden admission applies.
www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/best-of-missouri-market-1570
GroveFest
WHEN: Saturday, October 7
WHERE: The Grove Neighborhood
For the past 17 years, GroveFest has brought thousands of St. Louis residents to the Grove to celebrate our community. This annual street festival, which takes place on the first Saturday of October, is free and packs a ton of fun into one amazing day! Their Merchant Village, Food Village (featuring restaurants in the Grove), family area, street performers, and main stage performances provide enough excitement to entertain all ages.
www.thegrovestl.com/grovefest
Historic Shaw Art Fair
WHEN: October 7 & 8
WHERE: 4100 & 4200 Flora Place between Tower Grove Ave. & Thurman Ave.
The Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association (SNIA) has hosted the very popular Shaw Art Fair each fall since 1993. The premier fine art fair in St. Louis city features 120 artists and includes food, music, and schools art gallery, and most importantly – great art! Highly rated by participating artists and visitors. On the beautiful tree-lined parkway of Flora Place at Tower Grove Avenue across from the Missouri Botanical Garden. Artwork includes: Ceramics, Digital Art, Drawing / Pastels, Fiber Art, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wood / Metal work.
www.ShawArtFair.org
Artica (On the Shoulders of Turtles All the Way Down)
WHEN: October 7 & 8
WHERE: 1322 Lewis Street, St. Louis, MO 63102
Artica provides a platform to celebrate the creative spirit of St. Louis culminating in an annual riverfront festival. Each year, Artica invites artists of all genres and media to honor this city’s history, push creative boundaries, and engage their communities through interactive art. The multidisciplinary nature of Artica Festival inspires collaboration between artists and fosters the development of new, contemporary works of art. This free, unconventional art festival is the culmination of their efforts to promote the advancement of local artists year round.
www.articastl.com
The Gung Ho! Revolution Film Festival
WHEN: October 13
WHERE: St. Louis Central Library (1301 Olive Street St. Louis, MO 63103)
What sets them apart from other film festivals is the production and competition element. They partner with St. Louis locations and production teams to produce the winning script every year with the purpose of sourcing, highlighting, and growing the careers of ultra-independent, ultra-low-budget filmmakers while highlighting St. Louis. The goal of this organization is to become a premiere destination for under $500,000 film projects, and for filmmakers to network and understand the value of St. Louis and its production capabilities while providing consistent work to filmmakers and graduates of film programs from local film schools in St. Louis.
www.gunghorevolution.com
SLICE (The St. Louis Independent Comics Expo)
WHEN: October 14
WHERE: The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
SLICE is an exposition of zines, chapbooks, lit mags, poetry, comics, small press authors, indie publishers, and print culture. SLICE (formerly the St. Louis Small Press Expo) stimulates the independent literary and printing community by providing resources to authors and creators in the form of training, networking opportunities, and through the annual indie-print showcase that is our namesake.
www.slicexpo.org/slice-2023
St. Louis Storytelling Festival
WHEN: October 18 – 28
WHERE: St. Louis County Library – Multiple Locations (See Program Schedule)
St. Louis County Library will host the 44th annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival during October 18-28, 2023. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of nationally renowned storytellers at a variety of venues throughout the St. Louis region, as well as programs for all ages.
www.slcl.org/events-classes/st-louis-storytelling-festival
Fusia Fest 2023 – Give the DJ their Flowers: Tribute to DJ Grandmaster Flowers
WHEN: October 21
WHERE: Off Broadway (3509 Lemp Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118)
Five renowned St. Louis-based DJs will lead festival-goers on a mesmerizing journey through the various sub-genres within Hip Hop history, culminating with the headlining act, “Time Traveler,” Saint Louis Legend G.Wiz paying homage to DJ Grandmaster Flowers by celebrating his groundbreaking contributions to DJ culture. Prepare to be transported back to 1970 as G.Wiz skillfully blends various genres that were a hallmark of DJ Grandmaster Flowers’ style, including rock, disco, funk, R&B, and jazz. Get a glimpse into the block jams that influenced legendary DJs like Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc, shaping the foundation of Hip Hop as we know it today.
Learn More
Metro Theatre Company Fall Family Festival
WHEN: October 21 & 22
WHERE: Grand Center Arts District
To celebrate 50 years of Metro Theater Company, MTC is giving back to the community that has sustained it through its first 50 years with a full weekend of free theater, education, and fun for families and young people. All are welcome at the Fall Family Festival, featuring multiple free performances each day of MTC productions and a celebration of the creative spirit of the company’s two co-founders Zaro Weil and Lynn Rubright. Plus, enjoy a scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, and other hands-on learning activities for young people of all ages. Food trucks will be onsite for al fresco dining, and other arts and education partners from across the region are participating. Festival events take place at the Grandel Theatre, Grand Center Arts Academy, and on Grandel Square.
www.metroplays.org/family-festival
Fright at the City Museum
WHEN: Through October 29
WHERE: City Museum (750 North 16th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103)
Step into a world of spine-tingling wonder at our one-of-a-kind Halloween festival: Fright at the Museum! Prepare to be amazed, mystified, and thoroughly entertained as you embark on a journey through a realm of oddities and curiosities that will leave you both thrilled and captivated.
www.citymuseum.org/event/fright-at-the-museum
NOVEMBER
Awakening: Fall Concert
WHEN: November 4 – 5
WHERE: COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre (6880 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63130)
To open their season, The Big Muddy Dance Company will present a collection of powerful works including the world premiere of “PlayFolk” by South African director and choreographer Bradley Shelver, and company premiere of the alluring solo “The Calling” by award-winning choreographer Jessica Lang. This concert will also feature the exciting new work “Something About a Dream” by Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd set to the music of Buddy Rich and other beloved jazz legends.
www.thebigmuddydanceco.org/awakening
Laumeier After Dark 2023
WHEN: November 4
WHERE: Laumeier Sculpture Park (12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127)
Laumeier After Dark features captivating light-based art installations, creative illuminations of the Park’s sculpture collection and trails, cozy fire pits, a full line up of live music, a Night Market packed with one-of-a-kind goods from local makers, and some of St. Louis’ best food and beverage vendors.
www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/after-dark
11th Annual Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl
WHEN: November 4
WHERE: Cherokee Street, St. Louis
At the Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl on the first Saturday in November, you’ll find dance and music on every corner of Cherokee Street — swing dancers and blues musicians tucked in between vintage clothing racks or brass bands marching down the street in the 2nd line parade. This year’s event will bring back jazz crawl classics like the second line parade, while also incorporating new artists and activations.
www.cherokeestreet.com/jazz
Flyover Comedy Festival
WHEN: November 9 – 11
WHERE: Various Venues in St. Louis’ Grove Entertainment District (check website for details) + the Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108)
30 Events. 3 Days. 100+ Comedians. Flyover Comedy Festival is a three-day comedy invasion of Saint Louis featuring a mix of stand-up, improv, sketch and variety shows.
www.flyovercomedyfest.com
32nd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF)
WHEN: November 9 – 19
WHERE: Multiple venues throughout the St. Louis area, including the Alamo Drafthouse and the Hi-Pointe Theatre
The festival will offer more than 250 films, including documentary & narrative features and short film programs from the widest possible range of storytellers, representing multiple countries featuring more than 25 native languages. In addition to offering a variety of centrally located venues, SLIFF strives to maintain accessibility by offering many film programs for free.
www.cinemastlouis.org/sliff/festival-home
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical
WHEN: November 14 – 26
WHERE: The Fabulous Fox (527 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103)
An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. Featuring her much loved songs,TINA – The Tina Turner Musicalis written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
www.fabulousfox.com/events/detail/tina
DECEMBER
Print Bazaar on Cherokee Street
WHEN: December 2
WHERE: Cherokee Street, St. Louis
The Print Bazaar on Cherokee is one of the largest print sales in the Midwest, showcasing local and regional artists whose work includes woodcuts, etching, letterpress, screen printing, lithography and printed fabrics, as well as the ever-evolving creative energy that defines Cherokee Street. Sprinkle in a dash of holiday cheer a hot coffee or a good taco, and you can also take part in this holiday tradition!
www.cherokeeprintbazaar.com
The Annual Laumeier Holiday Pop-Up Shop
WHEN: December 2 & 9
WHERE: Laumeier Sculpture Park (12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127)
The annual Laumeier Holiday Pop-Up Shop is two days this year! If you are looking for unique gifts this holiday season and want to shop local, join us on Saturday, December 2 and Saturday, December 9 for this holiday shopping event featuring area makers and their works.
www.laumeiersculpturepark.org/holiday-popup
MOTheR
WHEN: December 8 – 10
WHERE: COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre (6880 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63130)
MOTheR, a new work by Kirven Douthit-Boyd, centers a family who uses the power of dance to elevate their existence. Mother and her four sisters serve as protectors of their family, orchestrating movement of the natural world to transport them to sovereignty. They are magical agents of change who use their individual and collective powers to lead their family on a journey that is both worldly and ethereal. This production encompasses alchemy, robust original sound, vibrant imagery inspired by the cultural aesthetic of Afrofuturism, and movement vocabulary that blends cultural and contemporary dance, to tell the story of five women who will stop at nothing to protect the prosperity of their children.
www.cocastl.org/calendar/mother
