Need a way to brighten the darkest days of winter? We’ve got just the ticket!
Our roundup of the top things to do in St. Louis in February features spirited celebrations for Black History Month, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day – plus, explosions of color, flavor and emotion.
Mardi Gras
Various dates in February
Do you bleed purple, green and gold? Plan your trip to the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, where the nation’s second largest Mardi Gras celebration takes place! With boozy drinks and delectable eats, colorful beads and epic events – including the world’s largest parade of costumed pets – Mardi Gras in St. Louis will exceed your expectations. For more information, peruse our Mardi Gras guide, which includes dates of the funnest festivities, places to satisfy your Cajun cravings and a variety of downtown accommodations.
Orchid Show
January 31 to March 1
They might not be the quintessential flower for Valentine’s Day, but pink and red orchids symbolize femininity, grace and elegance, desire, passion and love. Walking arm in arm with your loved ones, you can enjoy hundreds of the blossoms at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s ever-popular orchid show, which returns Jan. 31. The Garden’s vast orchid collection includes more than 6,000 individual plants representing almost 700 unique species, and approximately one in 10 orchids in the collection is threatened or endangered. Different species bloom at different times, so the orchid show is constantly changing – and always exciting!
Primary Trust
February 4 to March 1
Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Eboni Booth’s hilarious and heartwarming play offers up a modern, tiki-powered homage to slices of Americana such as Our Town, Harvey and It’s a Wonderful Life. In Primary Trust, staged by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Kenneth’s predictable life – a steady job at a local bookstore and Mai Tai after Mai Tai at his favorite bar – begins to unravel, forcing him to confront a childhood loss and the uncertainties of adulthood. With guidance from an imaginary friend, a kind waitress and a splash of liquid courage, he discovers that trust, love and friendship – much like the perfect Mai Tai – are best mixed in unexpected ways.
Valentine’s Date Night at Grant’s Farm
February 6 to 21
Relish a romantic dinner accompanied by live music in the Carriage House at Grant’s Farm. Valentine’s date night reservations include a plated dinner and dessert for two – think roasted red pepper and tomato bisque, citrus and spinach salad with poppy seed dressing, strawberry shortcake and your choice of entrée such as chicken Parmesan, vegetarian pasta or steak and shrimp. Guests will also receive a complimentary photo with a Clydesdale, and those who want to splurge can add a carriage ride or a bottle of wine to the experience.
African American History Trolley Tour
February 7 and 21
Join the guides at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum for this two-hour trolley tour, where you’ll hear stories about fascinating figures in Black history, including Rev. John Berry Meachum, who established the Freedom School aboard a steamboat anchored in free territory in the middle of the Mississippi River in 1847. You can see Meachum’s gravesite as well as other highlights of the cemetery’s grounds and monuments on the captivating tour.
St. Louis Birthday Bash
February 14 and 15
Loud and proud, St. Louis’ birthday bash at the Missouri History Museum will feature live performances from local musicians, iconic flavors from beloved eateries, unique goods from area makers and shared stories that showcase the city’s rich history. Between backyard games, rousing sing-alongs and pop-up trivia, guests can peruse the museum’s newest exhibition, Made in St. Louis, which will run until Jan. 3, 2027. Residents and visitors, friends and family – all are welcome to experience the creativity, resilience and pride that define the Gateway City at this annual celebration.
The Phantom of the Opera
February 18 to March 1
Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera is back to thrill American audiences once again! A revitalized production featuring Maria Björnson’s brilliant original design launched in a multiyear North American tour in November 2025, premiering at The Fabulous Fox in February 2026. The Phantom of the Opera is widely considered one of the most beautiful, most spectacular productions in history. First directed by Harold Prince with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne, the astounding original production has played to more than 160 million people in 47 territories, 195 cities and 21 languages. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s romantic, haunting and soaring score includes “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” “Masquerade” and the iconic title song, telling the tale of a disfigured musical genius known only as “The Phantom,” who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of a young soprano, Christine, The Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, The Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide.
Legends of Laughter
February 20
Brilliant, sharp and full of energy, Legends of Laughter is the best comedy tour on the road right now. Coming to Stifel Theatre on Feb. 20, the side-splitting show features a powerhouse lineup of veteran comedians, including Earthquake, Lavell Crawford, Arnez J and Sommore, known as the “Queen Chandelier” of the evening event.
SLAM Cinema: Everything Everywhere All at Once
February 20
Part science fiction, part drama, part comedy, Everything Everywhere All at Once will be screened at the Saint Louis Art Museum as part of its cinema series. The 2022 film follows a middle-aged Chinese immigrant as she travels to parallel universes on a mission to save all existence. Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress, the film is worth seeing in this grand setting.
Lift Every Voice
February 27
“Let our rejoicing rise, High as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.” Presented by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the IN UNISON Chorus, Lift Every Voice is a joyful celebration of Black History Month. This year, the special concert will honor the lifetime achievements of renowned vocalist and choral composer Rosephanye Powell, showcasing the magnificent variety and depth of Black musical expression as well as her extraordinary body of work. Guest soloist Imara Ashton Miles joins for an unforgettable evening of Dr. Powell’s enduring artistry, influence and contributions to choral music.
Saint Louis Dance Theatre Winter Series
February 27 to March 1
Saint Louis Dance Theatre’s season of love languages continues with its winter series, featuring Johan Inger’s award-winning Walking Mad, which compellingly addresses how we navigate barriers – both physical and emotional. As dancers interact with a transforming wall set piece, the choreography – set to Ravel’s Boléro – vividly explores how boundaries shape and reshape human relationships. Complemented by a world premiere from artistic director Kirven Douthit-Boyd, this performance explores the environments we occupy and how they mold our interactions.
Art in Bloom
February 27 to March 1
Art in Bloom, the Saint Louis Art Museum’s annual celebration of flowers and fine art, returns this month. With every iteration, dozens of works from the museum’s collection are imaginatively interpreted through floral designs by the area’s most talented florists. In addition to the colorful, textured, aromatic displays, the festival includes special ticketed events, family activities, dining and shopping.
Looking Back Toward the Future: Contemporary Photography from China
February 27 to July 27
More than 40 large-scale photographs created in China between 1993 and 2006 make up Looking Back Toward the Future at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. Featuring the work of 14 contemporary artists, the survey represents a wide cross section of the conceptual photography that flourished in the nation in the decades following the 1989 protests and massacre in Tiananmen Square – a pivotal moment of sociopolitical change that signaled the beginning of strict repressive measures and ended democratic social reforms that had been initiated after the death of communist leader Mao Zedong in 1976. The free exhibition is divided into three interrelated thematic sections – The Presence of the Past, East and West and Performance and the Body – which together explore how these artists used performance in conjunction with diverse photographic and aesthetic methods to capture, freeze and criticize the new sociopolitical, economic and cultural environment of China. On view for the first time at the museum, which sits on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, these glossy photographs constitute a significant recent addition to the institution’s holdings of contemporary Chinese art. Created during a tumultuous period of recent history, they together make visible the radical transformations that China underwent during these critical decades, challenging past, present and future.
STL Coffee Fest
February 28 and March 1
Following a sold-out inaugural year, STL Coffee Fest returns in 2026 with an expanded two-day celebration of St. Louis’ coffee community. Designed for everyone from casual coffee drinkers to seasoned espresso enthusiasts, the immersive tasting and educational experience will feature the region’s top producers, roasters and cafés. Learn to brew a better cup of coffee at home while sampling St. Louis’ hottest beans. There will also be complementary coffee-inspired fare from local bakeries alongside coffee-forward spirits from local distilleries. Want to take a taste of STL Coffee Fest with you? Freshly roasted beans, specialty foodstuffs and coffee-themed merchandise will be available for purchase.
Totally Rad Vintage Fest
February 28 and March 1
Walking into America’s Center Convention Complex during the Totally Rad Vintage Fest is like entering a time warp. Event vendors specialize in clothing and accessories from the 1980s, 1990s and Y2K eras as well as home goods and toys to complete your nostalgic shopping experience. At the totally tubular festival, gnarly guests can unleash their inner gamer at the Free-Play Vintage Arcade and dope dudes can explore the Rad Rewind Museum brimming with relics from the past. Strike a pose at the throwback photo ops and share your raddest moments via social media.
