12 things to do this summer: New events meet St. Louis favorites (2024)

Some St. Louis institutions are eternal.

The Arch. The museums. The parks. And it's hard to get more eternal than Cahokia Mounds.

In the summer, St. Louisans flock to these places and more for their hot-weather fun. And many of these jewels in the region's crown have special events throughout the season.

Some are expected. Many are not.

Here we present a dozen of our absolute favorites for all ages and interests, from a garden tour that only happens once every three years to a new and ridiculously scary amusem*nt park ride to a whole bunch of Juneteenth-related activities.

Six Flags: The Joker: Carnival of Chaos

The Six Flags folks claim their newest ride offers a "maximum" thrill level, and they aren't kidding. A few dozen brave riders sit on the end of a large disc that swings like a pendulum higher and higher. How high? It tops out at 172 feet — that's 17 stories — and reaches a speed of 75 mph. Oh, and the disc is spinning at the same time. The ride will open later this summer, but don't forget to visit Hurricane Harbor water park with its 11 rides.

Gateway Arch: Evening Dinner Cruises

Nowhere else in the world can you get this view. The Gateway Arch National Park's weekly two-hour riverboat cruises feature a meal (choice of chicken, beef, seafood or vegetarian) plus music performed live or via a DJ — and, of course, views of the city and the Arch from up and down the Mississippi River.

Cahokia Mounds: Nature Day

This event begins with a four-hour nature/culture hike that will examine the natural environment of the mounds and how it affected their development (arrive at 8:45 a.m. for his hike). At 2 p.m., horticulturalist Rico Rose will talk about the impacts of colonialism, class hierarchy and the Industrial Revolution on American Land Management. Guests will get to make wildflower seed bombs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Best of all, the gift shop, which has been closed during the ongoing renovations, will be open.

Missouri History Museum: Gateway to Pride Exhibit

The Missouri History Museum celebrates Pride Month with a 6,000 square-foot exhibit tracing the lives, struggles and accomplishments of some of the area's LGBTQ folks, told through oral histories, artifacts and images. Of note to local partiers is the opening weekend celebration, which includes music, art, face-painting and dance music provided by DJs (June 8) and bands (June 9).

Raging Rivers: Storm the Beach

Eighty years and one day after U.S. Army Rangers scaled 100-foot cliffs under heavy fire at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France, Raging Rivers is holding an event to raise money for a local memorial commemorating the incredible feat. The "salute to veterans past and present" will include live music, a patriotic costume contest (adults and children), photos with a mermaid plus all the amenities of the area's largest waterpark.

City Museum: Pride Art

The City Museum rooftop has one of the area's best views — complete with a giant praying mantis, a fighter jet and a school bus careening off the edge, of course — which makes it a great spot for this combination of live art by the art and media project Cranky Yellow and recorded music spun by DJ Jillian. Adults 21 and older only.

Missouri Botanical Garden: St. Louis Garden Tour

MoBot's St. Louis Garden Tour only happens once every three years, and this is the year. One (admittedly kind of pricey) ticket gives you access to 11 particularly notable home gardens throughout St. Louis and St. Louis County. The tours are self-guided, so you can soak in all the cool garden ideas at your own pace. Proceeds benefit the Missouri Botanical Garden's plant science, conservation and education work.

Juneteenth Celebrations

At least 11 organizations in the area are holding Juneteenth celebrations from June 13-19. All are free:

• The Missouri History Museum begins with a presentation about the history and meaning of Juneteenth, 5-8 p.m. June 13,5700 Lindell Boulevard.

• The St. Louis Art Museum presents a panel of artists whose work incorporates aspects of Juneteenth and freedom, 6 p.m. June 14,1 Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park.

• The Caribbean Heritage Festival puts an island vibe to the celebration, with food, music, dancers, speakers and a wheelchair ride through Forest Park, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. June 15,Cricket Field, Forest Park.

• Neighbors Impacting Communities' Juneteenth celebration will include music, dance, food and vendors, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 15 at Soulard Market Park, South 8th Street.

• The Delmar Loop notes its location on the Delmar Divide with a Juneteenth celebration beginning with a 5K race for reconciliation (a 1-mile race is also available), a vendors fair and live music and dancing in the evening, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. at and around the former Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Boulevard.

• River City Outdoors will have a community bike ride, plus live music. The ride is 11 miles, with four leisurely stops, beginning at 9 a.m. June 15 (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) at theTandy Recreation Center, 4206 Kennerly Avenue.

•At 18 years, Sabayet's Juneteenth party is perhaps the oldest in town. It will present music, dance, poetry, children's activities, food, vendors and the like, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 15 at4000 Maffitt Avenue.

• The city of Ferguson's Juneteenth extravaganza will include a ribbon cutting at a new business along with live music and entertainment, an art fair, a children's area, food trucks and small business vendors, 4-9 p.m. June 15,Plaza at 501, 501 South Florissant Road, Ferguson.

• A fireworks display will cap the Dellwood Juneteenth Festival, but before that there will be music (bands will include Dirty Muggs), a community resource fair, a skate show, a parade, an art contest and an oratory contest, noon to 9 p.m. June 19,Dellwood Recreation Center, 10266 West Florissant Road, Dellwood.

• The third annual St. Louis African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar's Juneteenth Free-Dome celebration blends shopping for clothes, art and jewelry with African dance and food, 1-7 p.m. June 19 at a new location, theGriot Museum of Black History, 2505 St. Louis Avenue.

• Live music is the focus of the Illinois Black Woodstock Festival, Juneteenth Edition, although there will also be food and an array of vendors, noon to 9 p.m. June 19,8206 State Street, East St. Louis.

F1 Powerboat Midwest Championships

Formula One powerboats can reach speeds of 120 mph, though that much power tends to make them flip dangerously into the air. The delicate question of how hard to push them is at the heart of F1 powerboat racing, a combination of speed, skill and daring. The Mississippi River Festival follows the June 29 races, featuring roots rock band Larkin Poe among others; music festival tickets are $25.

St. Louis Art Museum: Spanish-American art

This exhibit, taken from the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, looks at 300 years of art from colonial Spanish America, from 1500 to 1800. The era blended artistic influences from indigenous people, Europe, Asia and Africa. A free public preview will be held from 4-8 p.m. June 21, with a free public lecture about the exhibit from 6-7 p.m. June 21.

St. Louis Science Center: SciFest

They're calling it a Play and Creativity Expo, which pretty much explains the whole concept: Educational information, such as science, is easier to understand if you learn it by working with it — or in this case, playing with it.

St. Louis Zoo: Jammin' at the Zoo

This wildly popular event draws as many as 3,000 people (21 and older only, please) to the zoo for a night of music and alcohol in a venue that is often a childhood favorite. The band has not yet been announced, but it is always local, with more than 50 (probably closer to 100) types of beer and wine to taste. Also with DJs and wandering performers scattered throughout the zoo.