31 St. Louis summer fairs and festivals

Of course, you could always pick and choose the festivals you want to go to, but then you’ll be haunted by the thought of the festivals you missed.

Here are 31 of the fairs, festivals and other fiestas that make the St. Louis region such a relentlessly fun place to be in the hot and muggy days of summer.

• When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. May 23-25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 26
• Where: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 1755 Des Peres Rd., Des Peres
• How much: Free
• More info: stlgreekfest.com

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, which for thousands of St. Louisans means it’s time for Greekfest. Some come for the music and dance, some come for the tours of the elaborately decorated church, but everyone comes for the food. If you don’t like lamb shanks, you can have half of a roasted chicken, or pastítsio, or souvlaki, or everyone’s favorite, gyros. But try the lamb shank.

• When: 5-10 p.m. May 23, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 25 (Mass begins at 10 a.m. May 25 only)
• Where: Lewis and Clark Boathouse Parking Lot, 1050 S. Riverside Dr., St. Charles
• How much: $5, $20 for a family of four or more, free for military and first responders
• More info: mrifsc.com

The 19th annual Irish blowout will feature loads of music — including some acts from Ireland — and Irish dance. There will be activities for kids (May 24-25 only) and, for people who want a little learning to go with their Guinness, discussions of such topics as genealogy and “How the English Feudal System Defeated the Irish Clans.”

Editor’s note: This was canceled because of the tornado damage in the area.

• When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 24, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. May 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 26
• Where: World’s Fair Pavilion, 1904 Concourse Drive, Forest Park
• How much: Free
• More info: stlafricanartsfest.com

 This will be the 34th version of the African Arts Festival, which once again will feature vendors selling African (and African-inspired) art, clothes, jewelry and personal care products, plus music, dance and colorful costumes. 

• When: May 24-25
• Where: 920 W. Breckenridge Street, Carlinville
• How much: Free (admission to Historical Society House is $5, $1 children 5-12)
• More info: mchssociety.org

In Macoupin County, they know their history and they’re proud to share it with all. You can see demonstrations of rug weaving, basketmaking, blacksmithing and old farm implements, visit a print shop and an old country church (with a Sunday morning service and afternoon hymns), check out a toy show, antique tractors and small engines, and swing and sway to the sounds of Back in the Saddle and Just Friends.

• When: 10 a..m.-7 p.m. May 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 1
• Where: Tower Grove Park, Northeast Drive near the old playground pavilion
• How much: Free
• More info: paganpicnic.org

For their 33rd festival, St. Louis’ pagans (and pagan allies) will present bands, workshops, authors, drumming, dancing, art, rituals and vending, plus a special area for children to have youthful fun. Australian singer-songwriter Wendy Rule (she now lives in New Mexico) is the headliner.

• When: 8 a.m.-midnight. June 3, 7 a.m.-12:30 a.m. June 4-7
• Where: 21368 State Route 4, Carlinville
• How much: $10
• More info: macoupincountyfair.org

This fair has been a Macoupin County tradition since 1852. That’s 1852. It’s chock-full of ag action and exhibits, carnival amusements, opportunities for food and drink (including a pie and cake auction) and kids activities, plus harness racing, a tractor and truck pull, a demolition derby, a concert by Diamond Rio and Easton Corbin, and the Macoupin County Fair Queen Pageant.

Like last year, there will only be one parade this year, at 5 p.m. June 7. But there will also be rides, music, food, a dunk booth, a cornhole tournament, a euchre tournament, bounce houses and beer.

Munich has its Oktoberfest. Rio has Carnival. Montreal has its winter carnival. But only Collinsville has the International Horseradish Festival, with its horseradish toss, its root grinding, its Bloody Mary contest, its cornhole tournament, its car show and its personality-based pageant (under 18 only). Some food will be served with horseradish, some will not.

• When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 7
• Where: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Ave.
• How much: Regular garden admission ($16, $6 residents of St. Louis City or County, $4 senior residents of St. Louis City or County, free for members and children 12 and under) but free to residents of St. Louis City or County before noon on Saturdays
• More info: missouribotanicalgarden.org/events-classes/signature-events/green-living-festival

We only have one environment, and this one-day festival looks into how to take care of it. Along with tips for greener living, and exhibitors and vendors of a similar nature, the festival will include yoga and ideas for DIY projects for your home. With music, of course — it’s a festival — and activities for the kids.

• When: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. June 7
• Where: Downtown Park, 101 South Buchanan Street, Edwardsville
• How much: Free
• More info: edwardsvilleroute66.com

Folks have been getting their kicks at this festival for years. Of course there will be a classic car show and cruise, plus oodles of food and drink, and a kids zone with bounce houses, face painting and a petting zoo. The five bands include Miss Jubilee and Chaz45.

• When: 12-3 p.m. June 7
• Where: Frankie Martin’s Garden, 5732 St. Charles St., Cottleville
• How much: $45, $30 designated driver, $85 VIP. Be sure to reserve tickets in advance
• More info: bourbonandbrewsstlouis.com

This festival is what it sounds like: Admission gets you tickets to sample up to 14 bourbons, beers, cocktails or seltzers out of the 400 that will be offered. The VIP ticket gets you unlimited samples, plus admission an hour earlier. With live music and food, too.

The charming little town of Kimmswick is inundated with visitors every first weekend in June for its annual strawberry festival, which presents strawberries in every way you can think of, and several ways you can’t. The town’s boutiques and gift shops will be open for business, with lots of fun for kids and strawberry jam as far as the eye can see.

• When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 14
• Where: St. Charles Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles
• How much: Free
• More info: pridestcharles.org

Pride St. Charles wants to make St. Charles a little more festive, so it holds this annual event. We don’t know much about the details of this year’s festival, but we do know that the hosts will be Roxxy Malone (Miss Gay Gateway America 2019) and KSDK Channel 5’s Travis Cummings.

The Soulard Pride event opens with a golf-cart parade (at 11:30 a.m.). The festival that follows includes a full afternoon of entertainment by a host of performers, vendors selling an assortment of doodads and knick-knacks, and fun activities for children.

An 8:30 a.m. 5K Race for Reconciliation begins a day of food, art and music, with a focus on Black-owned businesses. Food trucks will be cranking out the snacks and meals while performers perform and DJs spin tunes. Live music begins at 4 p.m. and lasts into the night.

• When: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. June 14
• Where: Tivoli theater parking lot, 6350 Delmar Blvd., University City
• How much: $20.75, $7 children 12 and under
• More info: art2063.org

The Caribbean Heritage Festival (the price includes a “cultural meal”) features museum and museum-like exhibits, speakers, an awards ceremony, a children’s village, entertainment, vendors and a food court.

A day of food, music, vendors and dance performances gives way to a 5:30 p.m. Freedom March to St. Louis Place Park, for a music festival. For more Juneteenth activities, see the June 13 edition of the Go! section.

• When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. June 28, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 29
• Where: Downtown between Market Street on the south, Pine Street on the north, Tucker Boulevard on the east and 15th Street on the west
• How much: Free, but they’d prefer it if you donated $5
• More info: pridestl.org

This marks the 45th year for this venerable festival, with its signature parade (noon June 29, from Market and 10th streets to 16th Street), local and national musical acts, food, vendors, drinks and dancing for those who are inclined to dance.

• When: 6-9 p.m. June 27-28
• Where: Alton Amphitheater at Riverfront Park, 1 Riverfront Drive, Alton
• How much: $55
• More info: mississippiriverfest.com

This fest is two full evenings of mostly country and countryish music, with a bit of rock and folk and soul mixed in for good measure. Ben Rector and Blackberry Smoke are the headliners, with plenty of support from such acts as Wilder Woods, Ben Holcomb and the Neighbors and St. Louis’ own Beth Bombara.

No parade this year (it has been moved to the fall), but this longtime event is still the granddaddy of St. Louis’ Independence Day celebrations. The live music includes headliners Russell Dickerson and Gavin DeGraw, the food includes pretty much everything you’d expect at a street festival and we hope the airshow and skydiving will be back again. And don’t forget the salute to our troops. It all ends in fireworks both nights, of course, seen over the Arch. For information about all the other local Independence Day celebrations, see our full coverage in the June 27 edition of Go!

• When: 6-10 p.m. July 11
• Where: Downtown Maplewood
• How much: Free
• More info: maplewoodmo.gov

More than 70 artists will be featured, including poets who will spontaneously create works based on topics or themes suggested by the public. The Maplewood restaurants will be out in force, and street performers will be performing in the street.

• When: July 17-20
• Where: 10349 Business Route 21, Hillsboro
• How much: To be announced
• More info: jeffersoncountyfair.net

The JeffCo fair is an old-fashioned fair, with agricultural competitions for livestock and crops, pig races, Tyke Town, a carnival, live music aplenty (including July 18 headliner, Missouri’s own Tyler Farr, of “Redneck Crazy,” “Whiskey in My Water” and “A Guy Walks Into a Bar”) and a variety of motorsports including a demolition derby, MX racing and a truck and tractor pull.

• When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 20
• Where: St. Nicholas Family Life Center, 12550 S. Forty Drive, Town and Country
• How much: Free
• More info: opastl.com

The smallest of the area’s three summer Greek festivals offers the same amenities as the other two, it’s just open for a shorter time. If you want authentic Greek food, this is where to find it. And while you’re chowing down on dolmades and spanakopita, you can listen to Greek music and watch Greek dancing.

• When: July 22-26
• Where: Rotary Park, 2577 West Meyer Road, Wentzville
• How much: $15-$25 adults, $5 children, $5 seniors on July 22 only, half-price military with ID
• More info: stcharlescofair.org

A 4-H/FFA event and livestock shows highlight the ag portion of the fair, and there will also be entertainment, kids activities, motorsports, a midway, a pageant and a tug-of-war competition.

• When: Aug. 2
• Where: Beginning in the Grove; route to be announced later
• How much: Free
• More info: facebook.com/wnbrstl

You don’t absolutely have to ride naked, and in fact most people do not — though they typically wear underwear or other skimpy clothing. Amusing costumes are also popular. The idea is just to let it all hang out (or to let as much hang as you care to) while enjoying a pleasant ride through some of STL’s hipper neighborhoods. After the ride, there is a party with music, dancing, food and beer.

• When: 7 a.m.-midnight Aug. 6-9, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 10
• Where: 6 Fairground St., Washington, Missouri
• How much: $10-$45, depending on age and date. Season passes available
• More info: washmofair.com

The always-impressive music acts at the WashMo fair include ZZ Top, Dustin Lynch, Jackson Dean and a lineup of ’90s acts including Vanilla Ice, Young MC, C&C Music Factory and Joe Denim. The rest of the fair features bronc and bull riding, trick riding, monster trucks, truck and tractor pulls, a livestock auction, motocross and a concluding fireworks display. In other words, you might want to pick up a season pass ($76.10 for adults, $60.65 for children).

For this festival’s 10th anniversary, they’re making it a big three days of music (plus a preview night at the National Blues Museum). The artists haven’t been announced yet, but the festival is promising local and national performers, along with food, fireworks and kids corner.

• When: 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 17
• Where: Historic Main Street and Frontier Park, St. Charles
• How much: Free
• More info: festivalofthelittlehills.com

The hills may be little, but the festival is huge. We’re talking more than 300 artists and crafters, we’re talking nearly 50 food vendors, we’re talking more than a dozen music acts from around the region. Will there be activities for children? Of course there will.

• When: Aug. 23-24
• Where: Tower Grove Park
• How much: Free
• More info: festofnations.com

What is certainly the tastiest of St. Louis festivals is back for the 90th year. It brings in 100,000 people who sample the food from as many as 50 countries or more, while they watch music and dance performances from cultures that span the globe and perhaps purchase a trinket or two.

MoBot’s annual Japanese Festival is one of the region’s most beloved events. As with all of the region’s other beloved events, lots of food will be offered, this time typical of the cuisine from Japan. But St. Louisans also flock to the festival for the sumo wrestling, the taiko drums, the art, the dance and all the other expressions of Japanese culture.

• When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 30-31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 1
• Where: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 4967 Forest Park Ave.
• How much: Free
• More info: opastl.com

If the summer festival season begins with one major Greek festival, then it ends with another one. This one is sponsored by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and it has Greek food (including pastries) along with Greek beer and wine, plus live music and dancing.