Outdoor Arts

“St. Louisans celebrate the arts in all its forms, and during nice weather, one of my favorite things to do is to attend any one of the myriad, typically free outdoor exhibits and events going on each week. Many of my best fair weather experiences in St. Louis involve packing some food, wine or beer, and a blanket or lawn chairs and sitting on the grass with friends, socializing and enjoying the music or waiting for the movie to start.”

Kristin P., M1

Pack your chairs or blankets and grab a seat on Forest Park’s Art Hill any Friday in July. Movie selection is loosely centered around a central theme each year, and a schedule is available on the St. Louis Art Museum website. Live music and food trucks start at 6 p.m., and the movie starts at 9 p.m. Food truck lines can be long, so consider packing a picnic. Lifehack: Take the MetroLink to Mai Lee and order some inexpensive banh mi and a pork bun to-go, buy some wine and snacks nearby at Dierbergs before taking the MetroLink over to the park.

Downtown on the Landing in late August. Featuring many types of blues and blues-inspired music, including delta, country, R&B, soul, and rock. Three outdoor stages, no picnics allowed.

Enjoy live blues on the Arch grounds on Friday nights in August. Local food and drink vendors will be there, or pack a picnic. The Arch is accessible by MetroLink.

[caption id="attachment_12505" align="alignleft" width="350"] Boulder sculptures at Laumeier Sculpture Park.[/caption]

Looking for some art in the park? Laumeier is worth a visit. The front portion features large fields with interesting sculptures, including a realistic giant eyeball that will give you Anatomy lab flashbacks. Follow the big line of boulders back into the woods for interactive, climbable art, including some unique dog runs.

The only free outdoor professional theatre in St. Louis, Shakespeare in the Park runs for three weeks in June. Held in Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park (just south of Art Hill).

St. Louis’ largest all-local music festival, held in the Grove each June.

Held in downtown Clayton each September, just off the Clayton MetroLink stop. Buy some drinks and local eats at the food tents before strolling the 170 tents exhibiting independent and emerging artists from around the country.

Don’t miss out when the acclaimed St. Louis Symphony leaves their post downtown at Powell Hall to play a free concert under the stars on Art Hill each September. Pack a picnic, wine, and a blanket, and cozy up with your friends while the sunsets on an early September evening. Last year, the evening culminated in fireworks. Pro tip: Rent a paddle boat from the Boathouse and paddle down the reservoir to the stage, enjoying the show from the water (bring a camping light).

The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre, aka The Muny (pronounced “myoo-knee”), is a beautiful outdoor amphitheater in the heart of Forest Park. It seats 11,000 people, and offers 1,500 free seats at each performance (show up early to take advantage of that first come, first served offer, though ticket prices range from expensive to quite affordable). Each year, the season of musicals they perform runs from June to August. Pack a picnic to enjoy in the side yard before the performance, which starts at dusk. Check their website for musical schedule and ticketing.

Held in front of the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park on Tuesdays in September. Bring food and seating, or buy food at the local food trucks. Music styles vary but usually include some jazz and Motown.

Enjoy local bands under the stars, surrounded by the smells of summer flowers. Held at the gorgeous Missouri Botanical Garden every Wednesday from May to August. Music begins at 7 p.m. and the last entry is 8:30 p.m. You can pack a picnic and blankets, or purchase food and drinks there (just limit glass).