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, get a taste of St. Louis at Ballpark Village, celebrate the timeless work of a St. Louis native during the Tennessee Williams Festival and listen to blues music in Gateway Arch National Park. 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 throughout the area.

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.

Waitress

July 30 to August 5

The Muny is proud to produce the smash Broadway and West End hit Waitress. Featuring extraordinary music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles, Waitress promises to be a little slice of musical heaven! The story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage, will move, uplift and inspire. Join the cast in celebrating friendship, motherhood and the magic of a well-made pie. This month, The Muny will also stage In the Heights from Aug. 9 to 15 and Anything Goes from Aug. 19 to 25.

Taste of St. Louis

August 2 to 4

One of the best food festivals in the Midwest returns to Ballpark Village, and it’s turning up the heat with a Spice Wars theme. From Aug. 2 to 4, Taste of St. Louis will feature bites from almost 50 regional restaurants and six entertainment acts on the Plaza Stage. Whether you’re into food, music or fun, Taste of St. Louis has got you covered.

City Nights

August 2, 16 and 30

Do you wish you could experience the wonderfully wacky City Museum without any children in it? City Nights is granting your wish! The series of events invites those 21 and older to eat and drink, dance and play to their hearts’ content. On Aug. 2, the attraction will host a 1990s prom complete with a mixed tape, spaghetti straps and butterfly clips, and on Aug. 16, the surrealist space will turn into a neon haze. On Aug. 30, send off summer with another party where everyone in attendance will receive samples of City Museum Hard Seltzer, a new product from 4 Hands Brewing Co.

9th Annual Tennessee Williams Festival

August 8 to 18

“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. Delighting fans from across the country, the ninth annual Tennessee Williams Festival will feature a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, readings of one-act plays about show business, walking tours of Grand Center, panel discussions, a pool party and more.

Blues at the Arch

August 9 and 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.

P!NK: Summer Carnival

August 10

Raise your glass – P!NK is coming to St. Louis. Performing everything from upbeat anthems to emotional ballads at The Dome at America’s Center, the unconventional entertainer, outspoken social activist and all-around badass will be joined by special guests Sheryl Crow and The Script. Tickets for P!NK’s Summer Carnival are on sale now.

Grub & Groove

August 10

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. Stay tuned for more details on this year’s festivities.

STLFringe Fest

August 12 to 18

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.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 NTT INDYCAR Series

August 17

Drivers to your cars! The annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 IndyCar Series race draws NTT IndyCar drivers from across the globe to World Wide Technology Raceway. Racing enthusiasts can enjoy a pre-race party, an autograph session and the highest class of regional North American open-wheel racing in the U.S.

18th Annual Gateway Dragon Boat Festival

August 17

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. To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, the 18th annual festival will include a dragon dance, a lion dance and taiko drummers.

Jammin’ at the Zoo

August 23

The Saint Louis Zoo invites those 21 and older to Jammin’ at the Zoo. The special event will feature live entertainment as well as beer and wine tastings from 6 to 8 p.m. while supplies last. After that time, you can purchase additional beverages and food.

Festival of Nations

August 24 and 25

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.

Hamilton

August 28 to September 8

A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition and the dawn of a new nation, Hamilton follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love and a legacy that would shape the course of the U.S. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education. See it for yourself when it comes to the stage of The Fabulous Fox this month.

Gateway Cup

August 30 to September 2

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 31 to September 2

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. If you have time, consider taking one of the special tours offered in conjunction with the event.