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, celebrate the timeless work of a St. Louis native during the Tennessee Williams Festival, listen to free blues music in Gateway Arch National Park and immerse yourself in Japanese culture at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Festival of Nations, the region’s largest multicultural event of the year, also takes place in Tower Grove Park, and the Gateway Cup continues a cycling tradition in area neighborhoods.

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.

Austen’s Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice

July 25 to August 24

Before its journey to Broadway, Austen’s Pride will be performed by STAGES St. Louis at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. In the new musical, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s most beloved tale, is reimagined when the esteemed author begins her own journey of self-discovery. As the stormy romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy unfolds in a fresh narrative, Austen gains new insights into both her creations and her own identity. Austen’s Pride presents Pride and Prejudice as never before, blending wit and wisdom with a gorgeous original score that whisks audiences away to an era rich with passion and longing.

City Nights: Yacht Rock

August 1

Ahoy, mateys! City Museum is hosting an adult-only, after-hours event to kick off the month. Grab your captain’s hat and strap on your Sperrys for a memorable evening on the rooftop of the all-ages playground. The eccentric party will feature yacht rock, craft cocktails and arts and crafts. Costumes, singing and general merriment are encouraged.

Balloon Glowdeo

August 1 and 2

Balloons, bulls and barrels come together for Brookdale Farms’ Balloon Glowdeo. Witness an exhilarating rodeo followed by a magical balloon glow at this special event. Before the hot air balloons light up the night, visit with the farm animals, bounce around the inflatable playgrounds, grab a bite to eat and enjoy a live outdoor concert. After the glow, you’ll also be treated to a beautiful firework display.

Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

August 7 to 17

“I don’t want realism; I want magic!” Tennessee Williams wrote in A Streetcar Named Desire. And magic is what you’ll find at the Tennessee Williams Festival. To enrich the cultural life of St. Louis, the annual theater festival features artistic and educational events that celebrate the timeless work and strong influence of the American playwright and screenwriter, who lived in St. Louis for 20 years. For the 10th annual festival from Aug. 7 to 17, the main stage production will be A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Austin Pendleton and performed at The Grandel. Fans can also join walking tours of the Central West End, scholarly panel discussions, Stella shouting contests, epic pool parties and more.

Blues at the Arch

August 8 to 10

Blues at the Arch will keep you in the groove until the end of summer. 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 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.

La Cage aux Folles

August 8 to 14

For the first time in almost four decades, The Muny presents La Cage aux Folles, Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman’s hilarious romp about complicated family dynamics. After 20 years together, things turn rocky for Georges and Albin when their son becomes engaged to the daughter of a politician. Adding to the tension is the couple’s drag nightclub in Saint-Tropez, where Albin stars as “Zaza.” This musical theater triumph, which inspired the 1996 film The Birdcage, features memorable tunes such as “I Am What I Am,” “The Best of Times” and “A Little More Mascara.”

STLFringe Fest

August 11 to 17

Champion uncensored work. Connect artists with audiences. Engage and educate local, regional and global cultural communities. These are the pillars of STLFringe. At the organization’s annual performing arts festival in the Grand Center Arts District, you can experience world-class, multidisciplinary pieces by diverse, independent creators.

Salome

August 15 to 23

The 2025 festival season of Union Avenue Opera will close in a blaze of passion and peril. Richard Strauss’ Salome is a provocative, electrifying masterpiece based on Oscar Wilde’s notorious play. In the decadent court of King Herod, the young princess Salome becomes dangerously obsessed with the imprisoned prophet Jochanaan, setting into motion a chilling spiral of desire, manipulation and deadly consequences. Featuring the legendary “Dance of the Seven Veils” within a sumptuous, cinematic score, Salome is a fearless plunge into the darkest corners of human obsession. Prepare for an unforgettable night of seduction, prophecy and raw power – Salome will leave you breathless. This production will be presented in German with projected English subtitles.

Gateway Dragon Boat Festival

August 16

The Gateway Dragon Boat Festival is unlike any other event in St. Louis. Hop aboard a traditional Chinese boat as part of a team of 20 paddlers – plus, a drummer – or join thousands of spectators to watch as the race unfolds. In between rounds, enjoy cultural performances, delicious food, hands-on games and arts and crafts.

Jersey Boys

August 18 to 24

Jersey Boys tells the inspiring story of four blue-collar kids who became pop-music legends. The global sensation explores the journey of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, uncovering the secrets behind their 40-year friendship as they rise from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of superstardom. Featuring chart-topping hits such as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn” and “My Eyes Adored You,” Jersey Boys is a heartfelt celebration of the bonds of brotherhood, the pursuit of dreams and the price of fame.

Silk Road Dinner Series

August 20

Madrina, an Italian-American restaurant in Webster Groves, will close out the Silk Road Dinner Series with guest chef and James Beard Award finalist Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box. For the special event, Nalic will combine Italian-American techniques and bold Balkan flavors for a meal that epicures won’t soon forget. Inspired by the famous trade route pioneered by Marco Polo, the dining experience celebrates diversity in the St. Louis culinary space. “Food and culture are historically intertwined,” Tim Adams, executive chef of Madrina, said in a recent press release. “Food is a universal language that transcends borders, and the Silk Road Dinner Series invites guests to immerse themselves in flavors such as clove, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon that have shaped so many people’s lives in our city.”

Festival of Nations

August 23 to 24

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, powered by the International Institute of St. Louis, is the region’s largest multicultural event of the year, representing more than 80 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.

Renata Cassiano Alvarez: Passage

August 23 to December 15

Renata Cassiano Alvarez, the 2025 Visiting Artist in Residence at Laumeier Sculpture Park, works predominantly in clay, focusing on process to develop an intimate and collaborative relationship with her chosen material. Influenced by archeology and historical artifacts, the Mexico-born artist finds inspiration in objects’ resilience, permanence and timelessness. In her upcoming exhibition, Cassiano Alvarez will present a large-scale sculpture titled “Passage,” which consists of four interconnected archways that form an open-air construction. Clad in colorful mosaic tiles – some of which will be made by St. Louis community members – the piece was influenced by the iconic Gateway Arch and its status as the symbol for westward expansion. Interested in how the shape might act as an entry way for local immigrants today, Cassiano Alvarez states that “the work is a symbol, an archway to a new beginning.”

Gateway Cup

August 29 to September 1

Big Shark Bicycle Co. presents Missouri’s top cycling event over Labor Day weekend. The Bommarito Audi West County Gateway Cup features four days of racing by some of the best professional and amateur cyclists, who will put on a show as they zip around Lafayette Square, Francis Park, The Hill and Florissant. The full tilt races showcase “criterium format” racing on one-mile laps. This Americanized style of racing appeals to both athletes and spectators as the peloton speeds by the crowd every few minutes, holding lines only inches apart from one another. Watch the race develop lap after lap and hear commentators announce race strategy as the excitement builds.

Japanese Festival

August 30 to September 1

Spotlighting and celebrating the history, culture and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the U.S. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the garden to absorb the traditional Japanese art, food and entertainment on display. Expect taiko drumming, bon odori, martial arts, candlelight walks and more. If you have time, consider taking one of the special tours offered in conjunction with the event.