15 Things to Do in St. Louis This February

St. Louis is un-burr-lievable in winter. Throughout the season, the region is abuzz with fun activities for the whole family, including ice skating, snow tubing, hockey games and wild animal encounters. Plus, Mardi Gras celebrations are well underway, with all the festivities and food for the occasion.

If you’re looking for guidance on the top things to do in St. Louis this February, here’s our list of some of the best events taking place around town.

The Light

February 1 to 26

This month, The Black Rep will stage a new show called The Light by Loy A. Webb. On their two-year dating anniversary, modern-day couple Rashad and Genesis have plenty to celebrate: a marriage proposal and the promise of a new life together. Part of Genesis’ present is tickets to a concert featuring the same female artist that they saw on their first date; however, the male headliner uncovers memories that Genesis had buried long ago. As she is forced to deal with her trauma, the couple begins an emotional journey of love, laughter and heartache, working to reconcile their past and reaffirm their personal values to live in the truth.

Hot Country Nights

February 3, 10, 17 and 24

If you like country music, you’ll love Hot Country Nights at Ballpark Village. This month’s lineup includes Parmalee with special guest Shane Profitt; Joe Nichols with special guest Matt Stell; Midland with special guest Drake Milligan; and Niko Moon with special guest Dylan Schneider. Performances take place at Bally Sports Live! for an invigorating yet intimate experience. The best part? General admission tickets range from free to $30.

Cajun Cook-Off

February 4

Get your fill of Cajun cuisine at the Cajun Cook-Off in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood. Talented amateur chefs from across the region will face off in this spicy competition. As the chefs prepare their best dishes for a panel of hungry and highly discerning judges, you can enjoy a traditional Cajun lunch, unlimited Bud Light and Southern Comfort Hurricanes and live music. There will also be cooking demonstrations – with free samples! – revealing some of the secrets of Cajun cooking. Tickets are $65.

African American History Trolley Tour

February 4 and 18

Join the guides at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum for a two-hour trolley tour. During the tour, 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. Laws of the time forbade the education of Black children, but the reverend’s ingenious floating school found a way around them. You can see Meachum’s gravesite as well as other highlights of the cemetery’s grounds and monuments on the African American History trolley tour.

Blue Man Group

February 9 to 12

Original music, signature drumming, quirky comedy, surprise audience interaction and colorful moments of creativity – Blue Man Group’s new North American tour features everything you know and love about the smash hit. More than 35 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon, and now it’s your turn! Blue Man Group returns to St. Louis for a limited engagement at The Fabulous Fox from Feb. 9 to 12. In the joyful experience, the men are still blue, but the rest is all new.

Valentine’s Day Vegas-Style Pop-Up Chapel

February 10, 11 and 14

Calling all couples, newlyweds, friends, lovers and Elvis fanatics! Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis has created its own “Little White Chapel” in the iconic style of the original in Las Vegas, and award-winning Elvis tribute artist Terry Phillips of Close To Elvis will be on hand to wed couples, renew vows and hold commitment ceremonies. He’ll also perform the immortal song “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and other classics from The King that couples request. Ceremonies are available for booking every 30 minutes on Feb. 10 and 11 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Feb. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. Ceremony packages ($500 each) also include up to 10 digital photos and seating for up to 10 guests. For those who want to include an overnight honeymoon, an $850 package is available, featuring a one-night stay in one of the hotel’s newly renovated guest rooms, early check-in, a welcome amenity and the full ceremony package.

Confederates

February 10 to March 5

An enslaved rebel turned Union spy and a tenured professor in a modern-day private university are having parallel experiences of institutionalized racism, despite existing more than a century apart. MacArthur “Genius” Grant-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau brilliantly bends the continuum of time and weaves together the stark realities of racial and gender biases that both female characters face in this illuminating drama. Presented by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Confederates will run from Feb. 10 to March 5 at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

Chinese Lantern Festival

February 11

As part of its cultural program series, Passport to the World, The Magic House will host a Chinese Lantern Festival on Feb. 11. Lantern Festival celebrations date back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.), but the holiday’s exact origins are somewhat unclear. Today, in China, the Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month with colorful lantern displays, lion dances, moon-gazing and the consumption of tang yuan, a traditional Chinese dessert made of glutinous rice shaped into balls and served in hot broth or syrup. This time of year, many homes in China are decorated with lanterns, often embellished with riddles for children to solve, and during the festivities at The Magic House, children and adults alike can create their own lanterns to celebrate. While you’re here, don’t miss the new exhibit Children’s China, which reveals what life is like for children in China through six immersive environments, including a school, a neighborhood market, a panda reserve and the Great Achievement Hall.

Valentine’s Soul Jam

February 11

Fall in love all over again at the Valentine’s Soul Jam coming to Stifel Theatre in St. Louis. Featuring performances by R&B soul stars Russell Thompkins, Jr. & the New Stylistics; The Manhattans; Ray, Goodman & Brown; Blue Notes; and Enchantment, fans will have the chance to hear some of the greatest songs ever recorded, sung by the artists who made them famous. Valentine’s Soul Jam is presented by North American Entertainment Group, Inc., one of the leading independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the U.S.

Purina Pet Parade

February 12

The Guinness World Record holder for the largest costumed pet parade in the world, the Purina Pet Parade boasts thousands of festive four-legged friends strutting their stuff. As the adorable animals prance through Soulard, the best-dressed pets will be selected as members of the Court of the Mystical Krewe of Barkus and invited to the Coronation Pageant at Soulard Market Park, where the King and Queen of Barkus will be crowned. Tito’s Vodka Wiener Dog Derby, the nation’s longest-running wiener dog derby, will also take place on Feb. 12. Starting at 1:45 p.m., participants will square off in Soulard Market Park to determine the “dashingest” dachshund in all the land.

Bud Light Grand Parade

February 18

Attracting tens of thousands of merrymakers, the Bud Light Grand Parade is the crown jewel of the Soulard Mardi Gras season – and the second largest Mardi Gras parade in the U.S. Approximately 130 Krewes spend months building their floats, hoping to win prizes as well as bragging rights. In addition to the floats, the parade features marching bands and, of course, millions of beads flying through the air. Beginning at 11 a.m. at Busch Stadium, the Bud Light Grand Parade makes its way to the heart of Soulard and ends where the King of Beers is brewed: Anheuser-Busch Brewery. This year, though, the fun doesn’t have to stop after the parade. From 1 to 5 p.m., Horseshoe St. Louis will present an all-new post-parade street party. Rue du Cirque will set the vibe with an emcee and live music, and it aims to smash the world record for the largest game of Flip Cup!

Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum

February 18 to May 14

The Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum is the nation’s second largest collection of arms and armor, including more than 1,500 objects ranging from ancient Egypt to 19th-century Japan. Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum presents highlights from the collection in a major survey of defensive armor in Europe from its origins in the 1300s to today. The exhibition begins with an ancient Greek helmet to demonstrate armor’s long history in Western civilization and includes superb helmets from Japan, India and Sudan to suggest the universality of armor as a defensive tool and a medium for artistic virtuosity. The heart of the exhibition is the gloriously decorated armors – including several full suits – produced by Renaissance craftsmen in the 1500s. Basic forms of plate armor have inspired designers and creators throughout time and into the late 20th century, and the Saint Louis Art Museum’s presentation of this exhibition will add examples of modern defensive gear developed by the U.S. Army as well as representations of armor from Hollywood films.

Lift Every Voice: A Black History Month Celebration

February 24

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, in conjunction with IN UNISON Chorus – an all-volunteer, 120-voice auditioned ensemble – will perform a concert to exemplify African and African American traditions through music. The annual concert, featuring a reflective and uplifting score, is especially meaningful when experienced with family and friends.

Giordano Dance Chicago

February 25

Dance St. Louis, one of the country’s longest-running nonprofit arts organizations, continues its 57th season with a performance by Giordano Dance Chicago, the original jazz dance company in the U.S. The company’s new works continually expand the boundaries of jazz and contemporary dance, solidifying it as American jazz dance royalty, then, now and forever. “From the first moment that Giordano Dance Chicago steps on stage, the audience knows that the evening will be electric,” Chicago Tonight wrote in a recent review. Secure your seat for this one-night-only performance before it’s too late.

To Kill A Mockingbird

February 28 to March 12

All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece. The emotionally shattering landmark production of the American classic is “the most successful American play in Broadway history,” according to The New York Times Critic’s Pick. Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas will play the role of Atticus Finch in the national tour of To Kill A Mockingbird, which will run from Feb. 28 to March 12 at The Fabulous Fox.

Looking for other ways to experience the arts in St. Louis? See our guide to making your trip to St. Louis a masterpiece.