15 Things to Do in St. Louis This August

It’s hot – and so is our list of 15 things to do in St. Louis this August.

This month, listen to blues music under the Gateway Arch, delve into the art history of hip-hop culture at the Saint Louis Art Museum and experience a bold, new music festival in Forest Park. Join a cycling tradition in downtown St. Louis, sink your teeth into local flavor at Ballpark Village and more.

Now that you’ve found your summer groove, you might not want to stop here. Check out our events calendar for more memorable activities, which will help you make the most of every day of sunshine.

The Merry Wives of Windsor

August 1 to 27

Presented by TourCo, The Merry Wives of Windsor will be performed in 24 parks throughout the St. Louis region from Aug. 1 to 27. Suki Peters, a celebrated Shakespearean director and the current artistic director of Cherokee Street Theater, will direct this production of Merry Wives, which features leading ladies out-witting the men. Throughout the month, Peters will lead a traveling caravan of six actors to a different park every night to perform the play in the style of a 90s sitcom. In typical St. Louis fashion, every 90-minute performance will be free.

City Nights: 80s Prom

August 4

Pop your collar, feather your bangs and bedazzle everything – City Museum is hosting Prom, 80s-style! This special event on Aug. 4 will feature jaw-dropping projections, a dance party under a disco ball, traditional prom photo opportunities, food and libations. Sip spiked punch, or try a sample of 1220 Spirits canned cocktails, which representatives will pass out from 7 to 9 p.m. On Aug. 18, another City Nights event will feature out-of-this-world fun. At City Nights: Spaced Out, you can dance under the stars, pose in an extraterrestrial photo booth, make a tin-foil hat and more. You must be 21 or older to attend both events. Valid IDs will be required for admittance.

Don Pasquale

August 4 and 5

Don Pasquale, an uproarious, screwball comedy presented by Union Avenue Opera, bursts with pure fun, and this production of Gaetano Donizetti’s bubbly farce will have you rolling in the aisles. Take a trip back to 19th-century Rome where Don Pasquale, a wealthy old bachelor, is determined to disinherit his rebellious nephew, Ernesto, who refuses to marry for money, insisting on marrying a poor widow, Norina, for love. With the help of mastermind Dr. Malatesta, the lovers hatch an outrageous plan to teach the old Don a lesson once and for all. The unorthodox love triangle yields a hilarious and touching masterpiece that takes a riotously entertaining slant on a threat of disinheritance, a mock marriage and a spendthrift wife who believes husbands should be seen and not heard. Don Pasquale will be presented in Italian with projected English supertitles.

Rent

August 4 to 10

Strength. Revolution. Survival. In the 1980s, New York City’s East Village was a place of struggle and angst for impoverished artists living through the AIDS epidemic; however, they persevered through love and acceptance. Rent has taught us to measure our life in love, and this summer, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical comes to The Muny. The Jonathan Larson rock musical that defined a generation features iconic songs such as “Seasons of Love,” “Light My Candle,” “One Song Glory” and “La Vie Bohème.”

Blues at the Arch

August 11 and 12

Hosted by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Blues Museum and the National Park Service, Blues at the Arch pays tribute to St. Louis’ storied blues history and showcases the talents of local, regional and national artists. Held at Gateway Arch National Park, the free music festival is the only one of its kind to take place on national park grounds. Blues at the Arch will keep you in the groove until the end of summer.

Taste of St. Louis

August 11 to 13

Serving a new menu, Taste of St. Louis returns to Ballpark Village from Aug. 11 to 13. The flavor-filled weekend is a favorite for foodies, friends and families alike, offering a selection of more than 30 local, brick-and-mortar restaurants. Eventgoers can order everything from snack-size samples to complete entrées. Taste of St. Louis will also feature local merchandise vendors, live music and culinary exhibits.

Grub & Groove

August 12

Eat, dance and be merry! At Grub & Groove in Francis Park, St. Louis’ finest musicians play to the crowd while local restaurants, breweries and distilleries keep everyone energized. Attendees can expect tunes from country band The Screechin’ Halts, new-fashioned rock band Guilty Pleasures and more, along with delectable bites and satisfying sips from 1220 Spirits, Mission Taco Joint, Rockwell Beer Co. and Steve’s Hot Dogs, among other establishments. The free annual event will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display, beginning at 9:40 p.m., sponsored by 4 Hands Brewing Co.

Sister Act

August 14 to 20

Based on the smash-hit film, Sister Act is a heavenly musical comedy that proves nothing can stand in the way of sisterhood. Featuring songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, including “Take Me to Heaven,” “Fabulous, Baby!” and “Raise Your Voice,” the score is sure to raise your spirits. As the grand finale of The Muny’s 105th season, Sister Act promises to be divine.

Jelly Roll: Backroad Baptism Tour

August 19

On fire since winning three CMT Music Awards in April 2023, Jelly Roll will bring his Backroad Baptism Tour to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis on Aug. 19. Expect the genre-bending artist to rock the house with hits such as “Son of a Sinner,” “Need a Favor,” “Same Asshole” and “Save Me.” This month, the venue will also host Nickelback (Aug. 3), Amon Amarth (Aug. 11), Jodeci and SWV (Aug. 15), Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top (Aug. 17), Lil Durk (Aug. 18), KIDZ BOP (Aug. 20), Luke Bryan (Aug. 26), The Offspring, Sum 41 and Simple Plan (Aug. 27), Pentatonix (Aug. 28) and Disturbed (Aug. 29).

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century

August 19 to January 1

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century presents a sweeping art history of hip-hop culture and its myriad expressions across the globe. The exhibition, co-organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Saint Louis Art Museum, encompasses everything from the genesis of hip-hop as a way to amplify marginalized voices, especially those of Black, Latinx and Afro-Latinx youth, to its resounding impact on contemporary art and culture. In addition to spotlighting the importance of the written and spoken word, The Culture will explore hip-hop’s unique contributions to innovations in performing arts, visual arts, technology and fashion with significant examples, including looks from Virgil Abloh’s collections for Louis Vuitton and legendary streetwear brand Cross Colours. The multidisciplinary and multimedia exhibition will also identify pressing issues within the realm of hip-hop, such as the complex relationship between capitalism, commodification and racial identity.

Beyoncé: Renaissance World Tour

August 21

When Beyoncé performed in St. Louis in September 2016, the BeyHive buzzed with excitement and anticipation from the moment they took their seats. This month, the global superstar returns to The Dome at America’s Center to deliver one of St. Louis’ biggest concerts of the year. Get your tickets today!

Moonlight Ramble

August 26

Moonlight Ramble is the most unique cycling tradition in St. Louis. On Aug. 26, grab your bicycle, light it up and join other riders for the 59th annual event. Attracting thousands of participants each year, Moonlight Ramble includes a leisurely bike ride through the closed streets of St. Louis and a street festival with entertainment, food and drinks. Riders receive a commemorative glow-in-the-dark T-shirt and an after-party with snacks and drinks.

Evolution Festival

August 26 and 27

Are you ready for the next evolution? A brand-new music festival will shake up St. Louis this summer. Bringing music, bourbon and barbecue to Forest Park, Evolution Festival will feature headliners Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys, The Black Crowes and Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals. The live music will be infused with a bold beverage experience focused on bourbon from Blood Oath and Withered Oak, among other distilleries. Concertgoers can also feast on elevated barbecue curated by Sugarfire Smoke House. The food will spotlight traditional recipes and cutting-edge trends from some of the most recognizable pitmasters in the Show-Me State, such as Beast Craft BBQ Co., Gobble Stop Smokehouse, Pappy’s Smokehouse and Vegan Deli & Butcher. Tickets to the two-day event are selling fast, so get yours today.

Festival of Nations

August 26 and 27

The beauty of St. Louis lies in the diversity of its people. At Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park, we celebrate the myriad cultures that make up the Gateway City, honoring each other’s individuality, rejoicing in our differences and cultivating a more prosperous region for all. Bringing an energy that you can’t find anywhere else, Festival of Nations, produced by the International Institute of St. Louis, is the region’s largest multicultural event of the year, representing more than 75 nations. Originating in 1934, the two-day festival is open to the public and attended by more than 100,000 people. Here, you can ignite your senses with cuisines from around the world, dance to music spanning genres, shop international and local arts and goods and do it all with purpose. When people from different cultures gather to share food, music, art and traditions, we get to know each other on a deeper level. We create a spirit of unity where every culture is seen as special and no culture is truly foreign.

Discover Laumeier

August 27

Discover Laumeier, an annual, free community event at Laumeier Sculpture Park, features a wide variety of activities for all ages, from scavenger hunts along the trails to art projects indoors. This is a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the 105-acre sculpture park and discover new connections between art and nature.