15 Things to Do in St. Louis This June

Festival season is fast-approaching, and St. Louis has an electrifying lineup of concerts, performances and community celebrations that will leave you with barely a moment to rest.

For a complete list of upcoming events in St. Louis, check our events calendar.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Festival Season

May 20 to June 24

Offering its signature mix of beloved classical operas and bold contemporary works, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis will present its 48th Festival Season from May 20 to June 24. Through the talents of hundreds of local, national and international artists, audiences will experience the magic of innovative storytelling as they travel between fantasy and reality, comedy and tragedy, love and revenge.

The festival season begins by reimagining Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. The new edition of the opera celebrates the strength, beauty and wisdom of Black women and brings back to light a forgotten figure of history – Freddie Alexander Joplin. Next, audiences will travel to Rome in 1800 for Tosca. Although written more than 100 years ago, Tosca remains undeniably relevant to the political struggles and gender power dynamics of the 21st century. Mozart’s Così fan tutte then embraces the line between romantic comedy and social satire, and finally, Susannah offers a powerful indictment of religious and social hypocrisies.

All the operas will be sung in English and accompanied by the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Get your tickets today.

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival: Twelfth Night

May 31 to June 25

Often regarded as William Shakespeare’s greatest comedy, Twelfth Night is bursting with romance, music and high times. This year’s Shakespeare in the Park sets Viola and her twin brother – shipwrecked, separated and finding their way in a strange, new land – in glamorous, celebrity-filled Miami. In a world of appearances, not everyone is who they seem, but love is love in this glorious, Latin-inflected story of longing and reinvention. Part of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, all performances are free and open to the public.

Undercover

June 1 to 25

This summer, Circus Flora enters the daring world of espionage! With nods to beloved spy stories, Undercover introduces the world’s top double agent, who faces an archvillain obsessed with world domination. Our spy has plenty of helpful allies – but the villain has a team, too. Will good overcome bad . . . and how? At The Big Top in the Grand Center Arts District, aerialists, acrobats, contortionists and comedians will craft this thrilling story, which will captivate your whole family.

Disney’s Aida

June 2 to July 2

A timeless love story, Disney’s Aida tells the tale of the transcendent love triangle of Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country; Amneris, an Egyptian princess; and Radames, the soldier they both love. Set in a time of great turmoil in ancient Egypt, this story of forbidden love has thrilled audiences for more than 20 years. Wrapped in an electric Tony Award- and Grammy Award-winning score by Elton John and Tim Rice, Aida is both a stunning musical theater experience and an uplifting story of faith, duty and redemption. STAGES St. Louis will perform Aida at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center from June 2 to July 2.

Craft Beer Hobnob

June 3

Held at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, the Craft Beer Hobnob will spotlight 40 breweries from the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild. Each brewery – think 4 Hands Brewing Co., Boulevard Brewing Co., Melvin Brewing Eureka, Mother’s Brewing Co., Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Side Project Brewing and Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. – will bring at least two of its signature beers to the festival. Guests can enjoy unlimited samples, along with complementary food and live music. You also get to take home a keepsake tasting glass!

Enjoy Illinois 300

June 3 and 4

Enjoy Illinois 300, a NASCAR Cup Series race, will return to World Wide Technology Raceway on June 3 and 4, along with the Confluence Music Festival from June 2 to 4. In its second year, the music festival will showcase innovation, talent and live entertainment. Over the weekend, approximately 30 local, regional and national acts, including headliner Dierks Bentley, will perform on multiple stages. Tickets include access to mouthwatering food and beverage vendors, interactive entertainment displays, a STEAM education showcase, display cars, interviews with local sports legends and a seat for the race.

Twangfest

June 7 to 10

Twangfest, a nonprofit grassroots music festival presented by Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., returns to St. Louis from June 7 to 10. Held at Off Broadway, Twangfest will feature the best in live Americana, country, folk, pop, rock and soul. This year’s lineup includes Black Joe Lewis, James McMurtry, Nadine, The Waco Brothers and more.

St. Louis Soap Box Derby

June 11

The All-American Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program, which has run nationally since 1934. Hosted by the St. Louis Jaycees, the St. Louis-based regional race has been held every June on The Hill for more than 15 years. Winners of each division of the race in St. Louis are eligible to move on to the World Championship finals, which are held every August at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. There, hundreds of kids will compete for one week to crown the All-American Soap Box Derby World Champion. At the St. Louis Soap Box Derby on June 11, the police department and the fire department will drive adult-size 1930s replica cars in the annual Oil Can race, as well, competing for the coveted traveling trophy.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

June 12 to 18

Filling Forest Park with the sounds of Broadway, The Muny will launch its 105th season with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, an inspiring true story of a music legend. With a tapestry of creativity and innovation, Carole King paved the way for female artists for generations to come, and the musical’s Grammy Award-winning album features more than two dozen of her pop classics, including “It’s Too Late,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and “I Feel the Earth Move.” The Muny will also present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast from June 22 to 30. With spectacular sets and costumes – and a touch of magic – the production brings all your favorite fanciful characters to life for an enchanting evening under the stars. Join Belle, the Beast, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Lumiere and the rest of the fabled castle’s spellbound staff for an all-ages summer celebration.

Dine Around: South Grand Restaurant Crawl

June 15

Dine Around, a restaurant crawl along South Grand Boulevard, gives inquisitive eaters the opportunity to sample the vast array of cuisines available on the six-block stretch. The 2023 event will feature dishes from around the world – think Turkish kebabs, Ethiopian injera, Italian arancini, Indian curry, Cantonese steamed buns and all-beef hot dogs, just to name a few delicious bites from the diverse collection of restaurants. Vegetarians and vegans will also have plenty of yummy options! Participants will each get five tickets to “spend” any way they want, choosing between small plates, desserts and drinks.

Open Highway Music Festival

June 16 and 17

The 12th annual Open Highway Music Festival boasts a more noteworthy lineup and a larger footprint than ever, thanks in part to a new investment from the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. The homegrown Americana music festival will return to Chesterfield Amphitheater on June 16 and 17, featuring the most exciting names across a wide range of roots-oriented genres. Headliners include Blackberry Smoke and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on Friday and Saturday, respectively, playing alongside The Heavy Heavy, The Sleepy Rubies and S.G. Goodman. Local talent includes the Funky Butt Brass Band, Beth Bombara and Mattie Schell. The spirited festival will also serve up a more diverse selection of food and drinks this year. Whether you want to see a well-known artist or you hope to discover a new favorite, we encourage you to get your tickets to the Open Highway Music Festival today.

Water Lantern Festival

June 24

Focusing on connections within the community, the St. Louis Water Lantern Festival will take place in Creve Coeur Park on June 24. Everyone is invited to create memories at the one-night event, and each adult ticket includes a floating lantern kit with an LED candle and a marker, playing cards, a commemorative drawstring bag, lantern retrieval and water cleanup. As the sun begins to set, you’ll be able to launch your lantern onto Creve Coeur Lake, sending hope, love, joy, healing, peace and connection along with it.

Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s–1970s

June 24 to September 3

Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s–1970s, is the first ticketed exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum to focus on modern Native American art. Expanding the narrative of mid-century abstraction, the exhibition highlights groundbreaking paintings, sculptures, textiles and works on paper that challenged stereotypical expectations of Native American art during the postwar era. The exhibition also deepens scholarship by highlighting many women artists whose work remains largely unknown even among specialists. Read more about the current season at the Saint Louis Art Museum here.

PrideFest

June 24 and 25

Spotlighting the diverse and dynamic LGBTQIA+ community and bringing awareness and support to the historically marginalized group, PrideFest is one of St. Louis’ signature events. This year, the festival will take place on June 24 and 25. Local, national and international talent will grace the main stage; vendors will dot the lawn between St. Louis City Hall and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum; and The Hive will welcome people aged 25 and younger to talk, listen, dance and celebrate Pride in a safe space. The spirited celebrations will culminate in the Grand Pride Parade presented by Edward Jones on June 25. Beginning at noon, the procession will travel down Market Street from 8th to 18th streets, attracting thousands of revelers to downtown St. Louis. PrideFest events are open to the queer community and its allies. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our uniqueness and uplift each other.

Pedal/Paddle Trip

June 25

Join Big Muddy Adventures for a full, eight-hour day of biking and paddling. The trip begins with a bike ride between 10 and 20 miles. As you ride, the Big Muddy crew will transport your paddling gear to the put-in. There will be two guides with you on the bike trail and two guides with you on the river. In between biking and paddling, you’ll enjoy a delicious, pre-prepared, individually packaged lunch, and once you get in the canoe, you’ll be able to soak in some glorious river time! Remember, no paddling experience or special equipment is required – Big Muddy Adventures has got you covered! The outfitter will provide you with everything you need for the adventure.