A Few Things to Do In The Lou - October 2018

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. — L.M. Montgomery

St. Louis was recently ranked #2 in Fortune Magazine's Top 10 Rising Cities for Start-ups! That accolade makes the crisp autumn air of October just a little sweeter. Yes, this month, we will enjoy a month full of sweaters, pumpkin patches, warm beverages, and leaves crunching beneath our feet. St. Louis is embracing the fall excitement with amazing festivals, Oktoberfests, and spooky Halloween activities for everyone.

And of course, I have a few suggestions for you to get out and enjoy some of it with me. In fact, I have something for everyday of the month! Also, you can find my weekly video update on Facebook and on my livingstl website. I can't wait to enjoy this special month with you.

All the best. -Nate

October 1-4

Cardinals Nation is hosting another Family Night on Wednesday. Bring your family down to play games and win prizes, and kids eat free, too!

Check out Beale Street Market in the Streets of St. Charles on Wednesday to see the amazing fresh produce, local products, and arts that their vendors have to offer.

On Thursday, visit the Boo Cat Club to see the Pins and Needles Fashion Show in which designers show off their talents. Pins and Needles’ goal is to assist with the success of emerging designers such as those who have just completed their degree or working on their first collection.

The Clayton Education Foundation is hosting the Clayton Filmmakers Showcase Big Sonia Screening on Thursday. Clayton alumna Leah Warshawski and her husband will present their award-winning movie, Big Sonia that has won 18 awards and screened at many film festivals.

October 5-11

Start off the weekend with the Best of Missouri Market on Friday at the Missouri Botanical Garden. This event will showcase more than 120 outstanding artisans and food producers. There will be live music, a food court, wine and beer samples, a Kid’s corner with barnyard animals, crafts, pumpkin decorating, and more. This event continues through Sunday.

On Friday, the Pageant and KSHE 95 are hosting Celebration Day: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin at the Chesterfield Amphitheater. The show starts at 7:30 pm, so grab your tickets so that you can rock out at this show.

Enjoy a History Hayride through Faust Park after dark on Friday. You can wander through candlelit historic homes, where refreshments and storytellers await. There will also be a campfire to warm up around.

On Saturday, the Saint Louis Zoo hosts theirZootoberfest 2018 where you can enjoy a family-friendly Oktoberfest experience. Listen to the Good Times Polka Band, enjoy fall-related games and crafts, live entertainment and a plethora of German specialties like bratwurst, pretzels, and a variety of German beers (root beer for the kids).

The Oktoberfest activities continue on Saturday at Ballpark Village. The Oktoberfest Bar Crawl will bring Germany to you with beer, food, and live music. Butch’s Polka Kings will perform, and there is also a stein holding challenge, beard competition, keg toss, root beer contest and who knows what else!

The 26th Historic Shaw Art Fair will be held on Saturday in the Shaw Neighborhood. This fine art fair features 135 artists and includes food, music, art demonstrations and kids activities, and, of course, great art.

“Tunes on Tap - A Benton Park Tour” is a truly unique event as it is both a neighborhood/hour tour and a music festival. Up to 10 live bands will be performing at 10 different houses within the Benton Park neighborhood. There will also be beer samples from local breweries.

On Saturday, the Magic House will host Big Truck Daywhere you can get up close to some really big trucks like a cement mixer, crane, fire truck, and more.

A Celebration of Muny 100 will be on Sunday hosted bythe Muny and the St. Louis Symphony to celebrate their centennial with songs and music from its first quarter century. You will hear classics from Annie Get Your Gun, Show Boat, and more.

On Sunday, the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park hosts Cool Architecture & Hot Glass at Third Degree Glass Factory. Celebrating modern architecture and beautiful glass work, this event will showcase live glass-blowing demonstrations, a mid-century inspired silent auction, music by the 442s, and cocktails and creative cuisine.

Check out the St. Louis Renaissance Festival in Wentzville on Sunday for their Oktoberfest celebrations. You can participate in the stein holding competition, keg toss, beard competition, root beer chug competition, belching contest, and more!

The Arbormeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival is on Sunday at CommuniTree Gardens in Creve Coeur Park. Each homebrew includes at least one ingredient sourced from a tree. All proceeds benefit Forest ReLeaf’s mission of “planting tree, enriching communities.”

On Monday, the St. Louis Public Library - Schlafly Branch is holding their Beyond Aesthetics: A Juried Art Exhibition that spotlights the creative work of art therapists, their identities as both artist and art therapist, and their engagement in personal and professional reflection through art.

Das Bevo is hosting a Harry Potter Trivia Night on Tuesday, so if you are one with the wizarding world, join the fun with questions from all 7 books.

On Wednesday, Molly’s in Soulard is hosting Paint Your Pet. You'll take a seat in front of your canvas, pre-traced with your pet, and will be walked through how to Paint Your Pet step-by-step.

The 2018 Compass Improv Festival starts on Thursday at the Improv Shop - STL and will celebrate the local improv community, exposing local audiences to national performers and promoting improvised theater as an art form in St. Louis.

October 12-18

Meet up at the Midwest Metalsmiths Art Show at theEthical Society of St. Louis on Friday so see the handmade metalworks created by 25 talented local artists. These works are made from silver, gold, copper, precious gemstones, media and more.

On Friday, Artica 2018 MississipEpiphany will be held, where artists, musicians, poets, performers, and creative citizens participate in a multi-media, outdoor participatory arts festival. Artica provides the people of the St. Louis metropolitan area with the opportunity to come together as a community through creative self-expression.

The Fenton Parks and Recreation/RiverChase are hosting the 6th Annual Harvest Jam on Friday. Celebrating Thanksgiving, harvest time, and cooler weather, you can indulge in Chick-Fil-A, hot cider, dancing, and music from the Backstreet Cruisers for a night of Rock n’ Roll from the 50’s and 60’s.

Saturday is Oktoberfest at Soulard Market, celebrating both the city’s and neighborhood’s German Heritage through two days of food, drink, live music, and entertainment. The 2018 event will feature an open-air plaza, wine garden, seven bands, axe throwing activities, stein holding competitions, and the return of OkTUBAfest (with St. Louis Low Brass Collective).

StreetFest is back again in celebration of Main & Mill Brewing Company’s 3rd Anniversary on Saturday. Music will be kicking off at 2:00 pm and continue with alternating bands until 11:00 pm. There will be food, drinks, and plenty of good times to be had.

The Marthasville Chamber of Commerce is hosting their 1st ever Chili Cook-Off and Pumpkin Hunt on Saturday. In addition to these events, there will be several festival games, pumpkin decorating, and live music. The Marthasville Community Club is also donating their time and will have a Beer Garden for the adults.

Saturday also boasts the VFW Post 805 BaconFest in O’Fallon, IL. More than 50 food, craft, and direct sales vendors will line the streets along with live music performances. Also, there will be bacon! Imagine the BLT’s, the bacon kabobs, bacon nachos, bacon cupcakes and cookies, chocolate covered bacon! Things will be so bacon flavored or infused, even your drink could have bacon, like the featured beverage, the Maple Bacon Bloody Mary. All the profits from this event go our local veterans.

The Hollywood Amphitheatre will have Tons of Trucks on Saturday. Trucks and other vehicles of shapes and sizes will be on display for you to admire and interact with. This event is free and food truck will be available for lunch options. A siren-free quiet hour will be held from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm.

Get into the spirit of fall and dive into a colorful pile of festive activities and autumn beauty at the Hawley Harvest Hoedown. This event will be full of brews, a fall crawl, kids games, contests, demonstrations, family activities, crafts, day and night entertainment, fresh locally grown foods, local maple syrup, pies, and more!

On Sunday, the Florissant Fall Festival is happening on the entire St. Francois Street and surrounding areas in Historic Old Town Florissant. Attracting over 35,000 people, this event will showcase a chili cookoff, wine garden, food and drinks, crafts, flea market, children’s activities, flower show, Fido Follies (dog contest), pumpkin decorating, pony rides, music on EVERY block, a car show...the list goes on and on.

Sababa Jewish Arts & Cultural Festival is Sunday at Washington University showcasing the vibrancy of contemporary Jewish culture. The festival features local, regional, and national visual art exhibitors, culinary experiences, and musical performances, as well as activities from local Jewish organizations.

The STL Square Off Pizza Festival on the Hill kicks off on Sunday to decide who will earn the title of “Best St. Louis Style Pizza.” Vote for your favorite and enjoy the family activities, live music, artists, vendors, and exhibitors as well.

The Soulard Blues Band will be lighting up the stage on Monday at the Broadway Oyster Bar. This award winning band will bring their superbly balanced songs that will have you fading into the city’s rich blues history.

Kids can stop in and spend time with some very good pups! On Tuesday, between 6:30 and 7:30 at the Six Mile Regional Library District in the Niedringhaus Building, kids K-8 can practice their reading skills by reading to a dog from C.H.A.M.P. Assistance Dogs. The dogs get to practice their good behavior and kids can gain their confidence in reading in a fun environment. It will definitely a pawsome time.

Learn some sweet moves at Tin Roof for Shake and Shout Wednesdays where you can enjoy free swing dancing lessons, followed by a vibrant swing dance party with live music by The Ambassadors of Swing! They sound pretty official, so stop by and shake it out.

On Thursday, destroythebrain.com presents its Horror Trivia Night at Moolah Theatre & Lounge. There will be five rounds of grueling terror and this event is free!

October 19-25

The 3rd Annual Terror at Tower Grove Park will be held on Friday. This is a family-friendly event features live music, food trucks, drink booths, kettle corn, funnel cakes, fire pits, yard games, candy, children’s crafts, a costume contest, a Halloween film, and more. Costumes are encouraged so come in your spooky attire.

On Friday, the City of Festus BBQ Cook-Off will take place at West City Park. Enjoy the great BBQ from the pros and backyard gurus and live music from Crystal and the Boneshakers.

Faust Park is hosting a Night in the Cemetery. Governor Frederick Bates has been at rest for 193 years and now he is rested enough to visit with you at his graveside. Join Frederick and the other resident ghosts to hear them explain the mourning practices and superstitions of the period.

On Saturday, stop by Purina Farms for some fall fun with your pup at Howl-o-Ween Fest featuring games, live entertainment, food trucks, music and more. Kids can enjoy facepainting, storytelling, circus & magic shows, canine performances, a costume paw-rade, pony rides, and so much else. Reservations are required, so save your spot now.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show will screen at midnight at Landmark's Tivoli Theatre on Saturday. This musical spoof is the longest-running midnight movie of all time and the shadow cast Samurai Electricians will perform during the show.

Also on Saturday, you can enjoy the Halloween Comedic Dinner Theater Show at the Famously Haunted Lemp Mansion. An evening full of murder, mystery, and mayhem with a three-course dinner will leave you dying for more!

On Sunday, Legends & Lanterns will be held onSt. Charles Historic Main Street. St. Charles will become a ghost town, invaded by playful paranormal creatures. These ghouls have treats to offer and you can interact with villains from history and folklore, take a horse-drawn hayride, visit the scarecrow contest, and more at this spooky event.

The St. Louis’ 1st Annual KPopOWeen will take place on Sunday at UMSL’s JC Penny Auditorium for games, Korean food, and K-Pop music and merchandise.

The City of Wildwood continues its Art Festival on Sunday featuring a group of talented artists, selected by jury, who will be selling their work. There will also be food, drinks, and music throughout the event.

On Monday, the Tivoli Theatre is hosting theTechnofutures: Science Fiction Film and Modernist Design Film Series, which will showcase “Algol: Tragedy of Power.” Inspired by expressionist art, this rare film can be viewed on the big screen again. All film and art enthusiasts will surely love this experience.

Titus Andronicus is back at Off Broadway on Tuesday with special guest, Ted Leo. Titus Andronicus is an American punk/indie rock band who has toured and opened for the Pogues, Bright Eyes, and Okkervil River.

On Wednesday, take the Potions, Poisons, and Herbal Medicine Halloween Class in St. Charles. Learn about the historic uses and recipes of modern day common poisonous herbs, explore the folklore and ‘magic’ abilities surrounding these plants and how some of them turned into strong modern day medications.

The Science Spooktacular starts on Thursday at the Saint Louis Science Center for hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and free Halloween screenings in the OMNIMAX Theater.

October 19-25

On Friday, the Missouri Botanical Garden is hosting Spirits in the Garden where you can celebrate All Hallows’ Eve while sampling tastings from local distilleries, wineries, and breweries. There will also be a costume contest, a scavenger hunt, dancing to spooky tunes, haunted tram rides, fortune tellers, fire performers and more!

Pumpkin GLOW at Historic Main Street in Saint Charles happens on Friday. The shops will be open late, glowing in the light of hundreds of glowing pumpkins. Many stores will be giving away samples and doing demonstrations, and costumes are encouraged.

The Event That Must Not Be Named is hitting the Family Arena on Saturday for a truly magical time. See magical creatures, learn about magic’s history, study herbology, take a potions class, and more.

Stop by the STLBeer Halloween Party at Lafayette Park on Saturday for samples of St. Louis’ finest while enjoying live music, great food, wild costumes, and plenty more.

On Sunday, Flavor Fest: 2018 Chili Cook Off will be at the BeerSauce Shop in St. Peters. All you can eat chili with live music and 50’s horror films playing on the TV...sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The Trunk-or-Treat Car Show for St. Louis Children’s Hospital is on Sunday in St. Charles, where there will be a live DJ, vendors, food and drink served up by the Babylon Bar & Grill, a bubble bus, and of course, a lot of really cool cars.  

On Monday, the Alton History & Hauntings Walking Tour will be available for you to discover the history and hauntings of “one of the most haunted small towns in America.” Each tour is led by one of our trained guides and is based on the book Haunted Alton by Troy Taylor.

Stifel Theatre will host Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live! Featuring The Brain on Tuesday. Join the American television series that brought laughs and see if live and in person for their 30th Anniversary Tour!