The weather is getting warmer, it is time to slip on those short shorts and start adding arts and music festival tickets to your calendar. Some cost money. Some don’t! There is something for everyone in the arts.
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 festival on the list, it’s possible we just forgot to add it. You can always email us! It’s also possible that the festival just didn’t fit well on the list. There are a lot of festivals that have music or a few art vendors, but they aren’t arts or music festivals at heart. It doesn’t mean we don’t love them for what they are, but we have to draw the line somewhere.
* StLouisArts.org is a proud sponsor
Animals Aglow Lantern Festival
Take an evening stroll around the Saint Louis Zoo and experience a variety of glowing lanterns depicting animals, plants and traditional Chinese elements.
WHEN: March 13-May 5
WHERE: Saint Louis Zoo
Aphra Behn Festival presented by Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble (SATE)
The Aphra Behn Festival was established to give women the space to try out innovative ideas and experiment with directing and writing for theatre. The festival is also an inclusive space for transgender and non-binary artists.
WHEN: April 4-6
WHERE: The Chapel (6238 Alexander Dr)
St. Louis Jewish Film Festival
The J’s St. Louis Jewish Film Festival showcases national and international cinema through the Jewish lens, exploring universal issues, opposing viewpoints and new perspectives.
WHEN: April 7-18
WHERE: B&B Theater – Creve Coeur
Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival
The Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival spans over three days highlighting various performances from world class jazz musicians.
WHEN: April 11-13
WHERE: Touhill Performing Arts Center & The Dark Room at The Grandel
This three-day festival features a new work each night from the Confluence Regional Writers Cohort and is aimed to propel the unique Midwest voices of Missouri and Illinois writers.
WHEN: April 12-14
WHERE: 3333 Washington in Grand Center
Robert Classic French Film Festival
The Robert Classic French Film Festival celebrates St. Louis’ Gallic heritage and France’s cinematic legacy through film.
WHEN: April 12 -14, 19-21
WHERE: Hi-Pointe Theatre
QFest is a film festival that uses the art of contemporary gay cinema to spotlight the lives of LGBTQ+ people featuring films that would otherwise not be screened in St. Louis.
WHEN: April 26-28, May 3-5
WHERE: Hi-Pointe Theatre
Cinco de Mayo Cherokee Street Festival
Located on the eclectic Cherokee Street, this Cinco de Mayo festival celebrates the rich, multicultural and spirited community and offers a variety of food, drinks, music and entertainment.
WHEN: May 4
WHERE: Cherokee Street (Nebraska to Jefferson)
This three-day outdoor art fair is located at the Laumeier Sculpture Park and features 150 artists from across the county in a variety of media categories, from jewelry to photography. You can also enjoy live music and local food vendors while you browse the art.
WHEN: May 10-12
WHERE: Laumeier Sculpture Park
Pointfest is St. Louis’ top alternative music festival, this year featuring bands Bad Omens, Wage War, grandson and more.
WHEN: May 18
WHERE: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
St. Louis African Arts Festival
Located in Forest Park, the St. Louis African Arts Festival celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of African people and people of African descent through art culture, and educational programs.
WHEN: May 25-27
WHERE: Forest Park (World’s Fair Pavilion)
Opera Theatre of St. Louis 2024 Festival Season
The 2024 spring festival season at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis features six inventive new productions accompanied by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
WHEN: May 25-June 25
WHERE: Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts
This free concert series is at the luscious Missouri Botanical Gardens and features a wide variety of musical acts.
WHEN: May 29
WHERE: Missouri Botanical Garden (Cohen Amphitheater)
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival: Shakespeare in the Park
Join the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival for a popular, free summer tradition in St. Louis. This year’s performance will be the Shakespearean comedy As You Like It, staged at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park.
WHEN: May 29-Jun 23
WHERE: Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park
The Confluence Music Festival features local and national talent and the concerts take place before, during and after the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series races each day. Headliners include Ludacris, Riley Green and Adam Wainwright.
WHEN: June 1-2
WHERE: World Wide Technology Raceway
WHEN: June 7 – 9
WHERE: Eden Theological Seminary
This three-day fine arts and crafts fair features 93 artists from all over the country, along with local music and food vendors and free hands-on art activities for all ages.
Join the largest annual pride festival in St. Louis, featuring one of the largest parades in the country, a variety of vendors (including StlouisArts.org), and performances from local and national acts.
WHEN: June 29-30
WHERE: Downtown St. Louis
Start the day off with a block party and end it with a loaded lineup of DJs and live performances. Enjoy a variety of food and retail vendors while you dance in the streets.
WHEN: July 7
WHERE: TBA
This art festival celebrates the arts and is a whimsical tribute to Bastille Day, featuring live art demonstrations, musical performances, kids’ activities and food and drink vendors from local restaurants.
WHEN: July 12
WHERE: Maplewood
This festival is hosted by Tony-nominated playwright Neil LaBute and features a variety of new plays.
WHEN: July 12-28
WHERE: The Gaslight Theater
WerQfest is an arts and culture festival highlighting the black queer, trans and non-binary community. This festival uses the power of arts and entertainment to create safe spaces and amplify artists and organizations to celebrate artistry, identity, and inclusivity within the LGBTQIA+ community.
WHEN: July 13, 2024
WHERE: TBA
Presented by Cinema St. Louis, this annual showcase screens a variety of pieces, from full-length films to experimental shorts, that were written, directed, edited or produced by St. Louis locals or have strong local ties.
WHEN: July 19-21, July 26-28
WHERE: Hi-Pointe Theatre
The Tennessee Williams Festival produces annual performances to celebrate the art and influence of the American playwright and screenwriter. This year’s performance will be the American drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
WHEN: Aug. 8-18
WHERE: Grandel Theatre
With a glorious backdrop of the historic Gateway Arch, this free summer celebration pays tribute to the history of the blues in St. Louis and highlights the talents of national and local artists.
WHEN: Aug. 9-10
WHERE: Downtown St. Louis
Described as original and uncensored, this six-day event celebrates a variety of art from theatre and dance to burlesque and acrobatics.
WHEN: Aug. 12-18
WHERE: Grand Center Arts Center
The Festival of Nations is the biggest multicultural event in the St. Louis region, featuring food, drinks, music, dance, arts and goods from over 75 nations.
WHEN: Aug. 24-25
WHERE: Tower Grove Park
Paint Louis is an annual graffiti and music festival where over 500 artists paint a 2-mile x 20-foot flood wall along the Mississippi River.
WHEN: Aug. 30-Sept. 1
WHERE: 2 blocks south of the Arch
The St. Louis Arts Fair features high-quality artists and celebrates the diversity of the St. Louis community. The fair also offers diverse 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
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
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
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: Sept. 21
WHERE: Tower Grove Park
South Grand Fall and Music Fest
The South Grand Fall and Music Festival highlights local businesses on South Grand and includes 70 retail vendors, DIY crafts, free face painting and balloon art with ongoing live entertainment in Ritz Park.
WHEN: Sept. 21
WHERE: South Grand (Ritz Park)
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: Sept. 22
WHERE: 6008 Kingsbury Avenue
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, Blondie, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Killer Mike and Elle King.
WHEN: Sept. 28-29
WHERE: Forest Park
This historic art fair features 120 artists exhibiting and selling works from a variety of materials, from wood and metal work to printmaking and digital art. Enjoy food vendors and live music as you browse the art.
WHEN: Oct. 5-6
WHERE: Flora Place & Tower Grove Avenue
This annual street festival is free and packed with a ton of fun, featuring main stage performances, street performers, merchants, a food village (featuring restaurants in the Grove) and a family area.
WHEN: Oct. 6
WHERE: The Grove
St. Louis Storytelling Festival
Presented by the St. Louis County Library, this free festival features a lineup of diverse, nationally renowned storytellers and offers a variety of programs for all ages.
WHEN: Oct. 18-28
WHERE: St. Louis County Library (locations vary)
St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF)
SLIFF is an annual film festival displaying international, documentary and American independent cinema that might not have otherwise been screened in St. Louis.
WHEN: Nov. 7-17
WHERE: Hi-Pointe Theatre
This three-day comedy invasion features a mix of stand-up, improv, sketch and variety shows across multiple venues in the St. Louis Grove entertainment district.
WHEN: Nov. 14-16
WHERE: The Sheldon, The Improv Shop, Hot Java Bar, Dogwood in the Grove, Handlebar
Photo credit: Blues at the Arch website, Grovefest website, Pride St. Louis website, Laumeier Sculpture Park website, Festival of Nations website, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival website, University of Missouri St. Louis website, South Grand website, Confluence Music Festival website, Cinema St Louis website, Music at the Intersection website