St. Louis has so many wonderful events with something for everyone.
Below are my top choices for things to do in St. Louis during September 2009.
Japanese Festival (September 5-7):
The Missouri Botanical Garden puts on a lot of great events, but the annual Japanese Festival is a favorite for many local residents. Highlights include tours of the Japanese garden, special art exhibitions, traditional processions, tea ceremonies, kimono demonstrations, traditional music and dancing, Japanese marketplace, arts and crafts, Ikebana, Bonsai, martial arts, karaoke, Japanese theatrical performances, cooking demonstrations, food booths and many more fun family activities.
Though some of the outdoor events may be affected by the rainy weekend, all indoor events will continue as scheduled.
Visit the event website for more information on hours, pricing and schedules.
Greek Festivals (September 5-7 AND 25-27):
St. Louis is lucky enough to have not just 1, but 2 Greek Festivals each September. I love authentic Patitsio. What is your favorite Greek Food?
St. Nicholas GreekFest (Central West End) – September 5-7
Authentic Greek food and pastries, dance demonstrations and live music. Imports from Greece are sold in the bazaar For all of the event details, visit the GreekFest website.
Assumption Greek Festival (Town & Country) – September 25-27
Live Greek music, traditional Greek folk dancers, church tours, Hellenic Travelogue movie and Kids Korner. For all of the event details, visit the Greek Festival website.
University City Puppy Pool Party (September 12):
The 7th Annual UCity Puppy Pool Party is one of the area’s largest dog swim fundraisers. After the pool closes for the summer, residents from across the area bring their well mannered dogs for a chance to swim and play. You’ll find dogs swimming in the big pool and baby pool, dogs sporting life jackets and even dogs jumping off the diving board.
The event is held at Centennial Commons and all proceeds go toward maintaining the University City Dog Play Area, the first off-leash dog park in St. Louis County. Make sure you bring proof of rabies vaccination so your dogs will be admitted.
Italian Fest (September 18-19):
The festival features a Paisan Pedal Push, 5K run-walk, continuous entertainment on two stages, bocce ball, craft area, grape stomp, parade, wine garden, wine making contest, lil Miss/Mr. Italian Fest pageant, a children’s area and Club Italia for pre-teen/teen crowd.
Consider taking a drive across the Mississippi to check out this fun event in Collinsville, IL. See the event website for all the details.
Great Forest Park Balloon Race (September 18-20):
One of my favorite St. Louis events is the annual hot air balloon race and glow.
The Friday night Balloon Glow draws a huge crowd and is a fun event for the whole family. Take a nighttime stroll and stand within feet of the balloons. Parking is crazy, so you might want to consider getting there early or taking MetroLink to the Kingshighway station (only a 15 minute walk to Central Field, the event site).
The actual race takes place on Saturday. The balloons launch from Forest Park and all of the race entrants chase the Energizer Bunny balloon. The final destination isn’t planned in advance. The balloons go where the wind takes them.
Take a look up at the sky on September 20 and see a long line of hot air balloons dotting the skyline.
Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival (September 19):
I can’t explain it better than the festival’s website, so here is the basic info:
The Webster-Kirkwood Times presents the ninth annual festival just 10 miles southwest of St. Louis. This year the free, award-winning, family jazz and blues fest recreates the music of the Las Vegas jazz scene during the 1960s. Not unlike Vegas at that time, this year’s festival offers great entertainment, food and spirits along the strips of Gore, Allen and Lockwood Avenues. Listen for a dazzling array of styles and tune-in to retro sophistication born in the Las Vegas heyday that is still alive today.
Do you have a favorite event that I missed?
Leave a comment below and fill us in on the details.
PDF Possibly Related Posts:
- St. Louis Free Summer Concert Schedule 2010
- St. Louis Event Schedule – October 2009
- St. Louis Event Schedule – August 2009
- St. Louis Summer Free Concert Schedule
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Get on over to the Grove for St. Louis’ most eclectic urban street festival, Grove Fest. The fourth annual version of the event will be held between 4 p.m. and midnight Saturday, Sept. 19 on Manchester Avenue between Sarah and Boyle.
This year’s Grove Fest will showcase St. Louis’ hottest bands and DJs, the Art Dimensions Village featuring live art demonstrations and a live auction, a community mural painting, street performers, the Zombie Squad, Arch Rival Roller Girls, the Future Legend Skaters, and a Freakers Ball starring the one and only Clownvis Presley. You’ll also get to sample food and drink from the Grove’s top eateries and clubs.
The party continues after the event during Late Night in the Grove, with shuttle service to the Grove’s nitespots up and down Manchester Avenue.
For more information, visit grovefest.org or 17thwardstl.org.