The big chill of this past winter finally thawed, just in time for the weather — and the St. Louis arts scene — to sizzle. As the temperature heats up, so does the local entertainment scene, with literally dozens of live performances, concerts, festivals and other arts- and culture-related events this summer. To help you navigate them, we’ve put together a handy, dandy list of more than 60 fun local events that are taking place between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends we’re sure you won’t want to miss.

May (Starting with Memorial Day weekend)

A couple’s wedding ends with a sudden death, setting in motion an increasingly strange evening that leaves the bride and groom questioning just what it is they’re celebrating as “I Now Pronounce” continues at the New Jewish Theatre through June 2. NJT artistic director Edward Coffield directs the show at the Jewish Community Center’s Wool Studio. Tickets are $42 to $46. See newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283. 

Dance St. Louis holds the 12th Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival May 23-25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St Louis campus. Bringing together more than 30 professional dance companies, including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet and National Ballet of Cuba, the festival showcases a range of dance styles such as ballet, modern, flamenco and hip-hop. Performances start at 5:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. each day. Tickets are $5-$35 each night and $50-$90 for all three days. Call 314-516-4949 or visit dancestlouis.org. 

The St. Louis Zoo kicks off its free Jungle Boogie Friday Night Concert Series on May 24 with country crossover band Wildfire. Concerts are held from 5 to 8 p.m. each Friday through Aug. 30 in the Schnucks Family Plaza in the center of the Zoo (bring a lawn chair). Craft beer and wine and snack and dinner options will be available for purchase. Visit stlzoo.org/events.

During Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26), enjoy food, music, dance, the arts and a host of cultural activities on St. Louis’ festival circuit, starting with the St. Louis County Greek Festival at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in West County (1755 Des Peres Road). Visit stlouisgreekfest.com. 

Art, beer, music and food collide at the annual Art Outside Festival May 24-26 at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave. in Maplewood. More than 65 artists will have booths and a dozen bands will perform at the family- and dog-friendly event. Free. Visit schlafly.com/events-calendar.

Alternative music fans will want to head to this year’s Pointfest beginning at noon May 25 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights. The line-up includes Seether, Coheed and Cambria, Fuel, Filter, P.O.D. and more. Tickets are $20-$59.50. Visit livenation.com for more information.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis kicks off its season with Mozart’s classic, “The Marriage of Figaro.” Evening performances are May 25 and 31, and June 6, 12, 16 and 29, with 1 p.m. matinees on June 8 and 19. OTSL’s other productions, which play in repertory through the month of June, are “Rigoletto” by Verdi, “The Coronation of Poppea” and “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” which features collaboration between composer Terence Blancard and screenwriter Kasi Lemons (“Eve’s Bayou”). Performances are at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves. Tickets are $25 to $130. For more information, call 314-961-0644 or visit opera-stl.org.

Head to a different continent with the St. Louis African Arts Festival from May 25-27 at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. Visit stlafricanartsfest.com. 

The outdoor Whitaker Music Festival continues every Wednesday through July 25 at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. The performers are Old Souls Revival (May 29), Terence Blancard (June 5), Tonina Suputo (June 12), River Kittens (June 19), The Gene Dobbs Experience (June 26), Mardra and Reggie Thomas (July 3), Boomtown United (July 10), Annie and the Fur Trappers (July 17) and Dave Grelles Playadors (July 24) and Starwolf (July 31). Shows start at 7 p.m. at the Cohen Amphitheatre and are free. Bring a picnic, or purchase food and drinks there. For more information, call 314-577-5100 or visit missouribotanicalgarden.org. 

New Line Theatre closes its 28^th season with the sci-fi rock musical “Be More Chill,” which has been described as “The Breakfast Club” meets “Little Shop of Horrors.” It runs from May 30 to June 22 at The Marcelle Theater in Grand Center. Performances are held Thursday through Saturday, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$30. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call Metrotix at 314-534-1111.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis will present “Love’s Labors Lost,” telling the story of the Princess of France and her ladies who are met on a diplomatic mission by a young king and his lords who have taken a vow not to see women. Affairs of state give way to affairs of the heart as Shakespeare reveals, with great humor and compassion, the way our culture sometimes doesn’t fully prepare us for the realities of love and intimacy. Free performances are held nightly (except Tuesdays) at 8 p.m. from May 31-June 23 at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park (just off Fine Arts Drive on the east side of Art Hill between the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Art Museum). The Green Show starts at 6:30 p.m., with local entertainers, a family activity and craft area, a presentation summary and character outline of the play, and (Thursday through Sunday) a 25-minute adaptation of the play. Preferred seating, box dinners and reserved blankets are available for purchase. For more information, visit sfstl.com.  

The jukebox musical “Boy From Oz” follows legendary Australian singer-songwriter Peter Allen from his humble beginnings performing in backcountry pubs to his international stardom beside such Hollywood icons as Judy Garland and her daughter, Liza Minnelli. The show kicks off the Stages St. Louis season and runs May 31-June 30. Performances are at the Robert G. Reim Theatre, 111 S. Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For ticket prices or more information, call 314-821-2407 or see stagesstlouis.org.

June

Bob Dylan fans won’t want to miss Tangled Up In Blue at Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., starting at 8 p.m. June 1. Featuring the Brothers Lazaroff, this show celebrates Dylan and his vast catalog of music on the occasion of his birthday. Tickets are $15-$20 and available at ticketmaster.com.

Experience the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and a full rock band perform the music of Led Zeppelin at Powell Hall at 7:30 p.m. June 1, featuring favorites including “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” “Immigrant Song” and more. Tickets range from $35 to $71. For more information, call 314-534-1700 or go to slso.org.

The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival will screen 15 films June 2-6 at Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema. This 24th annual festival, planned by the J, will feature documentaries and feature films from all over the world. Highlights include “Carl Laemmle,” “Golda’s Balcony,” Inside the Mossad,” “Working Woman,” “Shoelaces” and “Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People.” Tickets are $8-$15 (with discounts when purchasing tickets to multiple films), available at 314-442-3179 or stljewishfilmfestival.org. 

Funny man Adam Sandler brings his comedy and music to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre at 8 p.m. June 5 for what promises to be a memorable show. Bear in mind that this show is intended for mature audiences. Tickets range from $29-$250 and can be gotten at livenation.com 

Twangfest will celebrate American roots music June 5-8 at Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave. This year’s festival includes James McMurtry, Superchunk, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Craig Finn & the Uptown Controllers and Kevin Gordon. Tickets cost $20-$150. For details, see twangfest.com.

Circus Flora opens its 33rd season with “The Caper in Aisle 6,” about an ancient and powerful substance, long thought to be gone from the Earth, that’s found in the unlikeliest of places: aisle six of the local grocery store.The magic takes place June 6-30 under the Big Top at 3401 Washington Blvd. in Grand Center. Tickets range from $10 to $60 at metrotix.com.

Stray Dog Theatre tackles A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia,” June 6-22 at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave. The play is about a man named Greg who brings home a dog he found in Central Park or that has found him bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her collar. She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age. To his wife Kate, however, Sylvia becomes a rival. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with one 2 p.m. performance Sunday, June 16. Tickets are $25-$30. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org.

The 16^th annual Webster Arts Fair will be held June 7-9 at the corner of Lockwood and Bompart avenues on the grounds of Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves. More than 100 juried artists from 23 states will take part in the free festival, and guests can enjoy live music on three stages and family-friendly arts activities, and food and beverages are available for purchase. Visit webster-arts.org. 

The Innsbrook Institute’s 19th annual Summer Music Festival and Academy presents “Music Through the Centuries” June 7-15. Daily concerts are open to the public. Classical music lovers will enjoy a variety of chamber concerts that feature music composed in the 1920s, 1980s and 1990s. Innsbrook is about an hour’s drive west of St. Louis. For ticket prices and concert schedule, visit innsbrookinstitute.org.

Join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in a tribute concert celebrating the legacies of Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie Cole on the 100th anniversary of his birth. This concert features the talents of jazz vocalists Dee Daniels and Denzal Sinclaire, under the direction of IN UNISON Chorus director Kevin McBeth at 2 p.m. June 9 at Powell Symphony Hall. Tickets are $35-$68, available at slso.org or 314-534-1700. 

The all-time Broadway classic “Guys and Dolls,” which features a royal flush of a score, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “If I Were a Bell” and “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat,” kicks off the 101^st season of The Muny June 10-16. Then, from June 19-25, its time to kick up your heels with “Kinky Boots,” about a struggling British shoe factory that finds a surprising way to recreate itself. Winner of six Tony Awards and featuring 16 Grammy Award-winning original songs penned by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, this sparkling, stiletto sensation will likely “lift you up.” All Muny performances start at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $105, or come early to grab a free seat. Call 314-534-1111 or visit www.muny.org.

Gordon Lightfoot comes to the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd.,June 11 for an evening that fans will likely not forget. His song catalog is incredibly vast and includes such immortals as “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,” “Sundown,” “(That’s What You Get) For Lovin Me,” “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” and “Rainy Day People” to name a few. Tickets range from $67.50 to $97.50 and are available by calling 314-533-9900 or online at thesheldon.org.

Get on board “The Love Train” to catch Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The O’Jays with special guest Stephanie Mills when they pull into the Fox Theatre at 8 p.m. June 15. Tickets, if still available, are $49.50 to $129.50. Call 314-534-1111 or see fabulousfox.com.

Women rockers unite as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and special guests pay tribute to iconic female singers and songwriters who have changed pop and rock ‘n’ roll through history. Expect to hear songs from artists such as Carole King, Holly Knight, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Minnie Riperton and Heart when the show starts at 7:30 p.m. June 15 at Powell Symphony Hall. Tickets are $35-$65, available at 314-534-1700 or slso.org.  

Join the evil Cruella De Vil and her klutzy henchmen as they try to steal a litter of the cutest puppies ever to hit jolly old London town when Stages St. Louis stages the musical “Disney 101 Dalmatians” June 18-30 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood. Kids-friendly performance times are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For tickets or more information, call 314-821-2407 or see stagesstlouis.org. 

Country superstar Carrie Underwood brings The Cry Pretty Tour 360, named after her new album coming out in September, to Enterprise Center at 7 p.m. June 18. Special guests include Maddie & Tae and Runaway June. Tickets start at $42 and are available at ticketmaster.com

Max and Louie Productions presents Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel’s “Indecent,” which tells the true story of a groundbreaking scandalous play and the artists who risked their careers and lives to perform it. The play runs June 20-30 at the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center. For more info go to maxandlouie.com. 

Whether you’re a music-maker or just a listener, you can enjoy Make Music Day on June 21. The free festival originated in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, and is now celebrated in 120 countries. Find participating venues, including clubs, parks, concert halls, restaurants, sidewalks, schools and more at makemusicstl.org.

Groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, featuring Victor Wooten, Roy “Futureman” Wooten and Howard Levy perform at Powell Symphony Hall at 7:30 p.m. June 27. All manners of genres come into play – from classical and jazz to bluegrass and African music to electric blues and Eastern European folk dances – resulting in their utterly indescribable sound. Tickets range from $40-$65 and can be gotten at slso.org or 314-534-1700. 

Insight Theatre Company will present “The Revolutionists” June 27 – July 14 at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, in Grand Center. Billed as an “irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror,” the play centers on a playwright, an assassin, Marie Antoinette and a Haitian rebel. Tickets range from $20 to $40 and are available at metrotix.com.

With 21 Top 40 hits — seven of which went gold — Three Dog Night will have no shortage of hits to draw from when it plays the Chesterfield Amphitheater (located in Chesterfield’s Central Park) at 6 p.m. June 28. Some of the classic rock favorites the audience is sure to hear: “Joy to the World,”  “Old Fashioned Love Song,” “One” and “Black and White.” Tickets are $35-$95, available at chesterfieldamphitheater.com. 

Sample short performances from 20 local theater groups during the Grand Center Theater Crawl June 28 and 29. Evening performances take place from 7-10 p.m. both days, with a family-friendly program from 2-5 p.m. Saturday. Participants can rotate through venues in Grand Center every 30 minutes. For more information, visit stlpublicradio.org/theatrecrawl.

July

Fair St. Louis returns to the Gateway Arch July 4-6, with  America’s Birthday Parade (formerly the VP Parade) through downtown at 9:30 a.m. July 4. As of press time, Fair St. Louis had not announced this year’s entertainment lineup, but on their social media they say an announcement is coming later this month. For more information, go to fairsaintlouis.org.

Kicking off its 2019 season, Union Avenue Opera will present “Candide,” Leonard Bernstein’s operetta based on the 18^th century novella by Voltaire. Soprano Christine Brewer, a St. Louis favorite, will perform as the Old Lady. Director Annamarie Pileggi  is making her UAO debut. The show, presented in English, will be performed at 8 p.m. July 5, 6, 12 and 13 at its theater at 733 N. Union Blvd. Later in the month, UAO performs Puccini’s La bohème” July 26-27 and Aug. 2-3. For ticket prices, call 314-361-2881 or see unionavenueopera.org.

The St. Louis Actor’s Studio returns with the 7^th Annual Neil LaBute New Theater Festival July 5-28. Each evening will feature short plays by new playwrights throughout the country at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 N. Boyle Ave. Tickets range from $30-$35. For a complete listing of the plays, and ticket information call 314-458-2978 or go to stlas.org. 

Superstar Ariana Grande postponed her April 13th St. Louis concert date to headline Coachella. But she made good on rescheduling, and now her Sweetener World Tour comes to the Enterprise Center at 8 p.m. July 6. Tickets range from $104 to $1,100 and are available through www.ticketmaster.com.

From July 8-16, Rodgers and Hammer-stein’s “Cinderella” returns to The Muny for the first time in 16 years. The musical debuted on TV in 1957 (with Julie Andrews starring), and includes favorites such as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” and  “Impossible/It’s Possible.”  The Muny’s next show, “Footloose,” — based on the Oscar-nominated 1984 film — will be July 18-24, followed by a “reimagined” adaptation of Lerner and Loewe’s classic “Paint Your Wagon” July 27 through Aug. 2.Tickets cost $15-$105. Call 314-534-1111 or see www.muny.org.

Rock fans have plenty to look forward to at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre this summer. Heart, Sheryl Crow and Lucie Silvas perform July 9, followed by Santana and The Doobie Brothers on July 12. The following night, catch ’90s favorites Hootie & The Blowfish and Barenaked Ladies. Tickets are available at livenation.com. 

The 14th Annual Let Them Eat Art, Maplewood’s whimsical tribute to France’s Bastille Day, takes place from 6-11 p.m. in downtown Maplewood Friday, July 12. The event features live art demonstrations by regional artists, live music, and food and drink by Maplewood’s food purveyors. For more info, go to cityofmaplewood.com.

Admission to the featured exhibits at the St. Louis Art Museum is free on Friday nights, so make time to pop in and have a look before you head across the street for a free outdoor movie. The 2019 Art Hill Film Series will feature a fun mix of adventure and comedy, with “Black Panther” on July 12; “Anchorman” on July 19, “Ocean’s 8” on July 26 and “The Goonies” on Aug. 2. Expect creative art activities, live music and food trucks. The films begin at 9 p.m. For more information, go to slam.org.

Reconnect with the 1959 class of Rydell High when Stages St. Louis performs “Grease” on “Summer Nights” (and many afternoons) July 19 through Aug. 18 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood. Danny, Sandy, and the whole gang of greasers and Pink Ladies will sing favorites like “Greased Lightning,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” and “You’re the One that I Want.” For ticket prices or more info, call 636-530-5959 or see stagesstlouis.org.

Get ready to “Grove Tonight” and expect the earth to move, when the elements — Earth, Wind & Fire — one of the world top-selling musical groups of all-time returns to the Stifel Theatre on July 21 as part of a national tour. With a signature sound beyond category, the band’s legendary journey has set the standard for music of all genres and made a profound and lasting impact on popular culture. Don’t miss out. Tickets range from $42.75 to $228.25 and are available by calling 800-745-3000, or visiting ticketmaster.com.

French artist Paul Gauguin will be in the spotlight this summer when the St. Louis Art Museum opens its exhibition “Paul Gauguin: The Art of Invention,” which runs July 21-Sept. 15. Ninety works of art will be on display, including Gauguin’s iconic paintings from his travels to Polynesia as well as lesser-known work such as his early Impressionist paintings and his three-dimensional works. Tickets ($15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $6 for children aged 6 to 12) are available at the museum or through metrotix.com. 

Families can check out James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s take on The Brothers Grimm in COCA‘s production of “Into the Woods” July 26-27 at Washington U’s Edison Theatre. The show uses familiar storybook characters to create “epic fairytale about wishes, family, and the choices we make.” The show is for ages 5 and up. Tickets are $14-$18. Call 314-725-6555 or visit edison.wustl.edu. 

Billed as “America’s Most Patriotic Show” the All Hands on Deck Show! visits the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts at Lindenwood University in St. Charles on July 27. Paying tribute to the radio shows, songs, dance and comedy of the early 1940s, the show features Broadway performers Jody Madaras and Valerie Hill, and a nine-piece big band orchestra. Tickets are $24.50-$59.50. Visit luboxoffice.com or call 636-949-4433.

With nearly a decade of steady touring, Tedeschi Trucks Band carries a distin-guished reputation as one of the premier live bands in the world.The band’s “Wheels of Soul 2019” tour arrives the Fox Theatre at 7 p.m. July 30. Tickets range from $33.75 – $159.50 and can be gotten by calling 314-534-1111 or online at fabulousfox.com.

AUGUST

British-American rock icon and Grammy-award winner Peter Frampton brings his farewell tour to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4.  Frampton is best known for such hits as “Breaking All the Rules,” “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” “Do You Feel Like We Do,” and “I’m in You,” which remain staples on classic rock radio. Tickets are $22.50-$129.50 and available at livenation.com. Also of note to classic rock fans: Kiss brings its own farewell tour to the venue on Sept. 1 (tickets are $39.50-$1,000).

The Muny closes out its season with “Matilda,” the musical based on the 1988 children’s book by Roald Dahl. The story centers on a gifted young girl who uses her powerful imagination and telekinetic powers to deal with her cruel school principal and neglectful parents. The show runs Aug. 5-11, Tickets cost $15-$105. Call 314-361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

Comedian and actress Maria Bamford has made quite an impression in TV and online. She is the star of the semi-autobiographical “Lady Dynamite” Netflix series, which ran two seasons, as well as a comedy special on the streaming service. In 2012, she had roles on “Arrested Development” and “Louie.” She is bringing her stand-up act to the Helium Comedy Club in the St. Louis Galleria Aug. 8-10 for five shows. General admissions tickets are $35; VIP goes for $65. Call 314-727-1260 or go to st.-louis.helliumconedy.com.

Catch Stray Dog Theatre’s take on “Guys and Dolls” Aug. 8-24 at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave. Gary F. Bell directs this production, which has performances at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with additional shows at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21. Tickets are $25-$30. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org. 

Bob James, David Sanborn and Marcus Miller will perform their 1986 Grammy-winning smooth jazz album “Double Vision” in its entirety at The Sheldon Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 13. The “Double Vision Revisited” tour includes special guests Billy Kilson on drums and Larry Braggs on vocals. Tickets are $55-$150. 

The St. Louis Fringe Festival runs Aug. 13-18 and features an array of original material in all genres of the arts — theater, music, dance and more – throughout Grand Center. Check out stlouisfringe.com for more information and tickets prices.

The Gesher Music Festival, a series of chamber music concerts and community events, works to build bridges across the diverse cultures of St. Louis. Based on the Hebrew concept of Gesher, or bridge, the theme for this year’s festival is “Shelter of Peace,” with three main concerts at three different venues: “Safe Haven” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the History Museum; “Shelter from the Storm” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at the 560 Music Center; and “Sacred Spaces” at 2 p.m. Aug. 18 at the J’s Wool Studio Theater. This year, there is a special Gesher preview event at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at the World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End. For tickets and more information, call 314-422-3283 or go to geshermusicfestival.org. 

St. Louis World’s Fare Heritage Festival brings an eclectic assortment of local musicians, performers, artists, food trucks, and businesses to the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park Aug. 16-18 highlighting the diversity, history, and creativity our St. Louis has to offer. Go to stlworldsfare.com.

Based on the true story of Col. Jim Thompson — a Special Forces soldier in Vietnam who became the longest held American prisoner of war in history — the opera “Glory Denied” looks at the difficult transition veterans face going from the battlefield back home. Presented by Union Avenue Opera, the show is in English with projected English subtitles. It runs Aug. 16-17 and Aug. 23-24 at its theater at 733 N. Union Blvd. Tickets range from $32 to $55; call 314-361-2881 or visit unionavenueopera.org.  

Tower Grove Park will once again be the location for the annual International Institute’s Festival of Nations, which brings together food, culture, live music, dance performances and shopping from more than 40 nations of the world (and St. Louis). The free festival runs from 10-7 Saturday, Aug. 24 and from 10-6 Sunday, Aug. 25. For more information, go to festivalofnations.org.

Facing a deadline for his next play, young Will Shakespeare finally finds inspiration — and defeats writer’s block — when he falls for the lovely Viola. That’s the premise of “Shakespeare in Love,” which The Insight Theatre Company will presentAug. 28 – Sept. 15 at The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Tickets range from $20 to $40 and are available at metrotix.com. 

Labor Day Weekend

Celebrating the history, culture and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. It offers Japanese-influenced art, dance, food and entertainment for thousands of visitors each year and takes place from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 2. Admission ranges from $8 to $16. Find out more at missouribotanicalgarden.org. 

The Big Muddy Blues Festival takes place Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in historic Laclede’s Landing to celebrate the rich St. Louis history of “the Blues.” A wide range of blues music including, Delta, country, R&B, soul, rock and more is featured on three outdoor stages, performed by a 100 percent local line up of over 50 bands and musicians. As of press time the line-up and ticket costs weren’t ready but check back at bigmuddybluesfestival.com. 

The annual art fair at Queeny Park features more than 130 artists from 20 states showing works in various media including painting, sculpture and jewelry making. The fair, held at Greensfelder Recreation Complex, includes children’s activities and wine tastings. Admission is $5. For hours and more info, go to artfairatqueenypark.com.