In 2008, I tried to find a complete list of the free summer concerts in St. Louis, and realized that nothing I found had ALL of the free concerts in the St. Louis area. So, I put together my own list.
Over the last 5 years, this outdoor summer concert post has become the most popular feature on this website (other than searching for St. Louis homes) so bookmark this page and you can come back year after year.
I’ll get it updated each spring.
One more thing…I am NOT an organizer of any of the concert series and don’t book concerts. If you have a band and want to get on the schedule, or you want more information about a concert series, you need to click through the links and contact the concert organizers directly. I really can’t help.
Summer 2013 – Outdoor Free Concerts:
Take a look through the list below and explore St. Louis’ summer live music scene. Bring a blanket, lawn chair
NOTE: Please click on the links to confirm location, time & date before heading out for an evening.
You can also check the list from our Facebook page here.…
Many of the 2013 schedules have not been announced yet. Concerts series that were held in 2012 but dates are not yet out for 2012 are noted in grey. These concert series include a link to the site that published the schedule last year, plus the months that the concerts were held last year. As dates get announced, these concert series will be updated or removed if they will not be occurring in 2013.
ST LOUIS CITY 2013:
Mondays:
- Bellerive Park (South St. Louis): TBA (July)
- South St. Louis Square Park (South St. Louis): TBA (June)
- Tower Grove Park (South St. Louis): TBA (July-August)
Tuesdays:
- Fanetti Park (South St. Louis): TBA (June-August)
- History Museum (Forest Park): TBA (May-June)
Wednesdays:
- Missouri Botanical Gardens (South St. Louis): June 5 – August 7 (7:30- 9 pm)
Thursdays:
- St. Louis Place Park (North St. Louis): TBA (June-July)
- Union Station (Downtown): TBA (April – September)
Weekends:
- St. Louis Zoo (Forest Park): Fridays May 24 – August 30, no concert June 21 (5-8 pm)
- Fair St. Louis (Downtown): Thursday July 4, Friday July 5 & Saturday July 6 (8 pm)
- Soldier’s Memorial (Downtown): Fridays & Saturdays July 12-13 & July 19-20
- Benton Park (South St. Louis): Sunday May 19, Saturday July 6, Sunday August 11
- Lafayette Park (Lafayette Square): TBA (June-September)
- Soulard Farmer’s Market (Soulard): Saturdays June 8, July 20, August 17 & Sept 14 (6-9 pm)
- Tower Grove Farmer’s Market Concerts (South St. Louis): TBA (May – July)
- Carondelet Park (South St. Louis): TBA (June-August)
- Francis Park (South St. Louis): TBA (July-August)
- Ivory Perry Park (North of Central West End): TBA (June-August)
ST LOUIS COUNTY 2013:
Mondays:
- Heman Park (University City): TBA (June-August)
Tuesdays:
- Faust Park (Chesterfield): June 4 – August 13, no concert July 2 (7-9 pm)
- Market in the Loop (University City): June 11 – July 23, no concert July 2 (7-8 pm)
Wednesdays:
- Downtown Clayton Parties in the Park (Clayton): 2nd Wednesdays May 8 – September 11 (5-8:30 pm)
- New Ballwin Park (Ballwin): Wednesdays June 12 & 26, July 17 (7-9 pm)
- Ryan Hummert Park (Maplewood): 4th Wednesdays May 22 – September 25 (6 – 8 pm)
- Schlafly Bottleworks Market (Maplewood): April 3 – September 30 (4-7 pm)
Thursdays:
- Bluebird Park (Ellisville): June 6 – July 25 (7-9 pm)
- Station Plaza (Kirkwood): TBA (July-September)
- Westport Plaza (Maryland Heights): 3rd Thursdays April 18 – September 19 (5-8 pm)
- World Bird Sanctuary (Valley Park): August 1 – 29 (7-8:30 pm)
Weekends:
- Brentwood Park (Brentwood): 1st Fridays June 7 – August 2 (7-9 pm)
- Creve Coeur Lake (Maryland Heights): TBA (June-August)
- Des Peres Park (Des Peres): Fridays June 14, July 12 & August 9 (7-9:30 pm)
- Gazebo Park (Webster Groves): TBA June-July
- Plaza at 501 (Ferguson): Selected Fridays April 26 – Oct 26 (7-9 pm)
- Shroeder Park ( Manchester): Friday June 7, Thursday July 4, Friday August 2 & Friday October 4 (October concert is 21+ only, all concerts 7-10 pm except July 4 6-9 pm followed by fireworks)
- Town Center Plaza (Wildwood): Fridays May 17, June 21, July 19, Sept 13, Oct 11 (6:45-9 pm)
- Westport Plaza (Maryland Heights): Fridays May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27 (6-8 pm)
- Central Park Amphitheater (Chesterfield): Saturdays May 11, June 22, July 20, August 3 & 24, Sept 7 & 21 (8-10 pm)
- Harry S. Truman Park (Hazelwood): TBA (May-September)
- Kirkwood Farmer’s Market (Kirkwood): Selected Saturdays May 25-September 21 (10 am)
- Kirkwood Park (Kirkwood): TBA (June)
- St. Ferdinand Park (Florissant): TBA (July-August)
- Twin Oaks Park (Twin Oaks): Saturday June 8 & Wednesday July 3 (7 pm)
- Oak Knoll Park (Clayton): 4th Sundays June – Sept (5-7 pm)
- Gentry Park Band Shell (Bridgeton): TBA (June-August)
- Washington University Brookings Quadrangle (University City): Sundays July 7-28 (7:30 pm)
ST. CHARLES COUNTY 2013:
Tuesdays:
- O’Fallon Civic Park (O’Fallon): June 4 – August 20, no concert July 2 (6:30-9 pm)
Wednesdays:
- North Main Street (St. Charles): 3rd Wednesdays May 15 – September 18 (5-7:30 pm)
Thursdays:
- City Centre Park (St. Peters): May 16, June 13, July 18 (7 pm)
- Frontier Park (St. Charles): June 13 – August 29, no concert July 4 (8 pm)
Weekends:
- Windjammer Point (Lake St. Louis): Fridays & Saturdays May 10, June 28, August 17, Sept 14 (7-10 pm)
- Boulevard Park (Lake St. Louis): Saturdays June 15 (7-9 pm), July 20 (7-10 pm)
- Frontier Park (St. Charles): Sundays June 9, July 14, August 11 & Sept 1 (7:30 pm)
- North Main Street (St. Charles): Sundays April 21, May 19, June 9, Sept 8, Oct 6 (4:30-6 pm)
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
Do you know of any concert series that are FREE and OUTDOOR in JeffCo?
I couldn’t find any but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Let me know the details in the comments below and I’ll get the Jefferson County concert series added to this annual list too.
Did I leave something out?
Local free outdoor live music continues to gain popularity. Each year there seems to be a few new concerts series started.
Please help me make this a comprehensive list of EVERY St. Louis area free summer concert series held outside.
If you know of any other outdoor free concert series, leave me a comment and I’ll add them to the list.
Karen Goodman
Karen Goodman is Founder of Arch City Homes and leads a team of top real estate agents in St. Louis, MO.
Follow Me:
10936 Manchester Road St. Louis, MO, 63122 USA
admin@archcityhomes.com • 314-677-6538
{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
Here’s another, Karen!
Concerts at the Plaza
Victorian Plaza in Downtown Ferguson
Live Music/Food/Drinks
Friday May 29 (5:30 – 8)
(This is the first of a series, I don’t know the other dates yet. I can let you know when I find out.)
That is supposed to be 5:30 to 8:00 above…
It turned it into a smiley face!!! Ha!
Sara – Thanks for letting me know about the Ferguson concert series. I added it to the list. Let me know if you get a full schedule and I’ll add the additional dates.
June 11 The Rescue Band
The Midwest’s Original
Party Rock Band
therescueband.com
July 9 Northwinds Concert
Band Pops Concert
northwindsconcertband.org
Aug 13 Javier Mendoza
javiermendoza.com
Sept. 10 Ferguson’s own and
St. Louis Jazz Legend,
Jeanne Trevor
Oct 8 Neon Blues Band
neonbluesband.com
Kelly – thanks for adding the schedule for the Ferguson concerts!
This is great. I have thought about this for a couple of years, but thought “someone else” should do this. Thank you so much!
Thanks! I did this last year for the group at work and when I was looking this year you had this posted. It’s great!
very helpful, thanks!
Check out the above web site top right hand column; there are some on my list that you do not have and you are welcome to them if you wish to add them to your list.
Ron
Glad everyone seems to like the concert schedule list.
Ron – Thanks for pointing out a few more concerts. My list is only for free concerts in public places (not restaurants/bars) so I left off the Boat House and Jefferson Barracks concerts. But, I did add the Bridgeton & Manchester concerts. I didn’t know about those ones. Thanks!
Stl symphony usually plays on art hill in the summer one nite only.
dont know when
How wonderful! We are coming to visit St Louis from Ireland this summer and your information has been most enlightening. See you there!!
Thanks for the list, Karen! I’ll bookmark it and use it this year and next!
I’ll be sure to update the list next spring with a new post. I’ve gotten such a good response from the list the last two years, it’s clear that the St. Louis area needs a comprehensive concert list.
here’s a series in Wildwood
http://www.cityofwildwood.com/egov/docs/1231972196959.htm
Scott – Thanks for pointing out the Wildwood concerts. I just added them to the list!
Will there be concerts at Rothenbach Park this year.
I can’t find anything online about a Rothenbach Park except in Florida. Where is this park located?
St lois ave and rothenbach between 19th and 20th
I can’t find any information online about this park or the concerts there. If you can provide me with a link, I’d be happy to add this park to the list.
I think this comment is about the Whitaker Urban Evening Series held in St. Louis place park for six weeks each summer. This six- year old series features top St. Louis bands, free kids activities and is truly a unique event. The line-up hasn’t been announced yet, but it will be held each Thursday June 14 – July 19. St. Louis Place Park is on St. Louis Ave. (about five blocks west of Crown Candy) and Rauschenbach Ave. For more info check out: http://www.gracehill.org/content/Whitaker-Concert-Series.php.
you may want to check: newtownatstcharles.com. They have periodic music festivals during the summer including blues, jazz, bluegrass, rock, and reggae starting with the Blues festival Saturday, May 8. Lots of fun and many nearby restaurants and shops.
Amy – thanks for the tip about New Town. There are a lot of great 1 time events around town and it sounds like New Town would definitely fit that bill. Since this list includes only concert series, I’m not adding it for now. If you know of a concert series in New Town, let me know and I’ll add it.
Either way, St. Charles folks should check out their schedule if they are looking for some good music close to home.
Ivory Perry Park Jazz Series in the city: http://events.stltoday.com/st-louis-mo/events/show/118417885-ivory-perry-park-concert-series-presented-by-union-communion-ministries
I will put this down in our appointment book thanks for the booking us a time in for the young people.
Our entire group is looking foward to this concert confirming appointment May 27, strting time 4:40 p.m until
Hey Karen,
Someone asked about the free concerts in Rothenbach Park, it’s actually named Rauschenbach Park located on the corner of Rauschenbach and St. Louis Ave.
I began attending last year. They began the free session on June 17, 2010. Concerts will continue every Thursday night 7:00-9:00 pm. It is a wonderful family affair with a few vendors, water sprinklers for the children to romp and some events offer free face painting for the children. I checked and some of the lineup include;
July 1 Arvell and Company
July 8 Funky ButtBrass Band
July 15 Boogie Chyld’s Tribute to Michael Jackson
These events run all summer long and they are wonderful.
Also, a lot of the north county parks provide free concerts that are extremely wonderful.
Tracie – Thanks for the info on Rauschenbach Park. I’ll get it added to the site. If you know of any other North County parks that offer an outdoor free concert series (not just one concert), let me know and I’ll get them added too. My goal is to make sure that every option in St. Louis City, County & St. Charles is listed on this post!
Des Peres Park concert series?
Thanks for the heads up. Added to the list.
Just to get back with you again before the concert. We will be thier May 27, 2011 time 4:40 p.m. as you have posted for us form December. If you know any other places that Family over Everything: FOE can peform please let me know
I just want to make sure that you realize that this post was not put out by the people organizing any of the events listed on this post. If you are scheduled to perform, you need to confirm directly with the concert organizers, not here. I would hate to have them think you weren’t coming because you responded to them at the wrong place!
This is great! Looking forward to using it again this year. Thanks for your hard work.
Trying to fine when the free concerts start at the Carondelet Park or in Saint Louis Parks ?
This list will be updated in the next few weeks. If I do it too early, then half of the parks don’t have information out yet and I have to come back and edit it a dozen times. To get notified by email when it is updated, click on the link at the top of the post to sign up for email updates.
We’ve got the list updated now. It should have everything you need!
Karen,
I have a starter list up on my blog and hope to add to it as the schedules become available. I know your business is tough right now but wish you the best for 2011.
I will add a link to your web site when you get your 2011 concert list posted.
Take care,
Ron Jackson
I finally got the list updated, and played with the formatting so the link to your blog is more noticeable. I created the list for people like me who don’t care as much about who is playing as much as finding a convenient concert on the day that they want to get out. BUT, I know there are tons of people who would plans for weeks around hearing their favorite bands. You offer a really great service!
And thanks for your concerns about our business. We’re actually having a good year so far, and are expecting a contract today on one of our listings.
Karen.. also the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park:
http://www.stlfestivalofnations.org/
Don’t think they have specifics yet on the groups, but it’s usually late in the summer, and there is some great music! I played last year with a Bosnian group called Albosy.
I’ve heard great things about this Festival. Other than Fair St. Louis, I really don’t include Festivals on this list. This is more about a concert series that spans weeks or months. One of these days I should create a list of annual festivals.
But I’m still glad you mentioned it, since I know that people get ideas from these comments too.
Thanks!
Great list! Please add our concert series as well.
Edwardsville Arts in the Park
• Friday & Saturday, June 10th & 11th Route 66 Festival (festival with live music)
• June 17 Funky Butt Brass Band
• June 24 George Portz & Friends of Bluegrass
• July 1 Masters Voice Choir
• July 8 Marquise Knox
• July 15 Pik’n Lik’n
• July 22 Orange
• July 29 Rich McDonough & Rough Grooves
Thanks!
Thanks for adding your concert series to the list. I have to have some limits to keep the list manageable, so I’ve opted to stick to just the MO side of the river. The reality is that while I love that this list provides a good community resource for so many people, the fact that it draws people to our real estate site who might buy one of our listings or hire us is what justifies me spending time on it. And since we don’t sell homes in IL, I can’t justify spending time creating IL related content here.
Still, I’m sure that some of our readers will be very interested and will show up!
This is great…thank you sooooooo much for doing this.
Bluegrass music in Jefferson Co. (House Springs) on Thursdays. Great outside venue. See http://www.durhamparkandcatering.com/ for details.
Thanks for the EXTREMELY complete list! Much better than the one I’d started for myself.
Hey everyone…don’t miss the brand new concert series located in Chesterfield at the Central Park Amphitheater. I just added it to the list!
The Lafayette Park concerts page is from 2011 – this year (2012) is not posted as yet. Thanks for this page! It's great!
I've got the link updated now. The Lafayette Square site changed the way they display information, and it's a calendar now instead of a list, so I linked to the city site instead.
Ferguson and Florissant both have free concerts…
Sounds to me like we need to do Cork and a Ferguson concert one night!!
I knew about Ferguson, and just updated that one. I didn't know about anything in Florissant. I'll see what I can find, but if you know of a link to the info, I'd appreciate you passing it along.
These concerts are safe, family oriented, and fun!
Looking for schedule for concerts @ st ferdinand park in florissant, concerts in clayton shaw park ? Also cork in ferguson ?
Excellent! Thanks for putting together this list. I hope you will update it as soon as specific dates and bands are available. -Ralph Burns
Ralph thanks for this, it is nice to have a variety of fun things to experience.
I've got most of the concerts updated now. I need to run out to an appointment, but will check through the 5 I haven't double-checked yet…the rest don't have info out yet. I'll keep working on the list until everything is updated!
So useful. With all this great weather, can't wait to go to some outside concerts!
Great page……love the summer park concerts!
This listing is great! Thanks for compiling!
I look forward to your list every year! Thanks so much! There are 4 concerts in Ballwin this summer at New Ballwin Park. http://www.ballwin.mo.us/index.php?view=calendar&PageID=39&e=1161
Thanks for the information. I had no idea that Ballwin was doing concerts. I just added them to the list!
JB park usually has concerts in June on Friday
I’m not able to add the Jefferson Barracks concerts to this list because they aren’t free. Granted, at $5 per person (kids free), it’s cheap…but this list is about free concerts. Thanks for passing on the tip though since our JeffCo friends may go for it given the lack of any free concerts in the area.
These concerts are a great idea. They good community activity and great family fun.
Question: Why are there no concerts scheduled in Sherman Park, Fairgrounds Park or O’Fallon Park? All located on the north side of the city, where hard working, tax paying citizens reside?
I’ve never seen anything published online for these parks. There are definitely more concert series in St. Louis City and St. Louis County than in St. Charles County. Sounds like something that needs to be addressed with the city by residents in the area.
Karen,
Great job on this list. Two updates –Laumeier has decided not to continue concerts, and your link to chesterfield amphitheater takes you to the botanical gardens website.
Thanks for the information! I got busy with selling homes and have neglected updating the list over the last couple of months. I’ll get your updates to the list tonight.
Do you know the group that played on Clayton’s Plaza during Wonderful Wednesdays today?
I don’t. You should check their website to see if it is posted.
Florissant has Concert under the Stars Series. Saturdays at 7 (I believe) in St Ferdinand Park. Seating on hilll above the duck pond.
Yep. St. Ferdinand is on the list for St. Louis County/weekends.
Birds In Concert is a series of free concerts held every Thursday night in August at 7:00 pm, at World Bird Sanctuary.
August 2: The Raptor Project followed by Javier Mendoza
August 9: The Raptor Project
August 16: The Raptor Project followed by Augusta Bottoms Consort
August 23: The Raptor Project followed by Babaloo
August 30: The Raptor Project followed by The Rebounds
Check out our website for more information and directions: http://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org
Hi Karen, I learned about your concert list from my daughter Marie at Shawn Williams Salon. I collect lists of cocnerts myself when I see them so was very happy to see your list! Here’s another outdoor concert that I play in every summer. U-City Summer Band, free concerts every Tuesday, 7:00pm June 12 – July 24 (except July 3), Market in the Loop at 6655 Delmar in U-City. Website: UCSummerBand.org.
Ric & Debbie – thanks for letting me know about the concert series. I just added the World Bird Sanctuary concerts in Valley Park to the Thursday list and already had the Market in the Loop Tuesday concerts listed.
Keep ‘em coming. If anyone knows of something I’ve missed, please let me know!
Dear Karen
I am from JeffCo (Arnold). I have been going to concerts almost every night during the summer for the last few years. I just learned of your posting from another free concert fan that I met in the park. Great job. I have for the last few years been attending Jefferson Barracks Sat concerts at $10 per person (not $5). I called Friends of JB as to why no concerts in 2012 and reason given was financial they could not continue. There always seem to be large crowds during the concerts (held Fri & Sat in June) but I am not the one funding the events. I asked how much it cost to do the Patsy Cline/Buddy Holley/Elvis recently at Carondelet. The answer was $2,000. I have seen people give a $5 bill to the donation ladies and ask for $4 back. Although the concerts are free, I would like to see them continue and not cancel like JB, Laumeier, or cut back like Tower Grove did for June of this year. Concerning free concerts not listed, Arnold had 1 this year (cut back from other years). Also, Grafton, Illinois had concerts close to the river (nice view) this year. When concert season is over in the parks, live music can be found at the Boat House in Forest Park every Fri and Sat (I believe the same is this year). There is long playing music (10 pm at least). People are in lawn chairs outside the fence with own baskets. I usually get nachos or some other food to help Boat House with cost of band. Thanks Again for your work. Cal Weber
Twilight Tuesdays start up (again, after a recess) on Aug 28 and run through Oct 9 at the Forest Park History Museum (6-8 pm). May want to update your list. Thanks. Cal Weber
Twilight Tuesdays start again tonight (Aug 28) from 6-8 pm and continue through Oct 9.
This concert series is over but they have them every year: http://www.gracehill.org/content/Whitaker-Concert-Series.php
This is over too…sorry: http://stlouiscore.com/blog/2010/07/07/ofallon-park-jazz-concert-series-begins-tonight/
But this isn’t: http://stlouiscore.com/blog/2011/10/12/divas-in-the-park-concert-series-finale/
http://www.fergusoncitywalk.com/events.html
Found them here: http://stlouis.about.com/od/eventsfestivals/tp/Free-Fall-Events-And-Activities-In-The-St-Louis-Area.htm
Thanks for the confirmation of the dates and the current link. I’ll get it added to the list. Do you know what the start/end times are for the music?
The music is from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.. There is free face painting and art projects for kids from 7:00 – dark (usually around 8:15).
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