St. Louis in September: A Guide to Arts and Music Events

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  

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 

Get Tickets  

 

Great Rivers Biennial 

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 

 

St. Louis Arts Fair  

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+ 

Get Tickets 

 

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: 

Get Tickets 

 

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  

Get Tickets  

 

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 

Get Tickets 

 

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 

Get Tickets 

 

Wall Ball 2024

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

Get Tickets 

 

Music at the Intersection  

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+ 

Get Tickets 

 

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 

Get Tickets  

 

Sarah Silverman: Postmortem   

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+ 

Get Tickets 

 

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: The PERAs Tour  

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+ 

Get Tickets 

 

Frizz Fest  

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 

Get Tickets 

 

Pitbull 

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+ 

Get Tickets  

 

PorchFest   

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 

Get Tickets 

 

Evolution Festival  

The Evolution Festival located in Forest Park is a two-day music event featuring 28 bands across three stages. Headliners include The Killers, Beck, Jane’s Addiction, Billy Idol, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Killer Mike and Elle King.  

WHEN: Sept. 28-29  

WHERE: Forest Park   

COST: $189.50- $394.50+ 

Get Tickets 

 

Tower Grove Pride 

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 

 

Saint Louis Arts Museum  

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