A full day of fun slated for St. Louis’ Fourth of July celebration promises something for everyone this upcoming holiday.
The Celebrate Saint Louis July 4th Festival downtown is planned for one day, on Thursday, Independence Day – a departure from the multi-day event from previous years.
An entire day of festivities starts with America’s Birthday Parade through the streets of downtown. An airshow, a Salute the Troops ceremony, live music under the Gateway Arch and the Fireworks Spectacular are also among the events planned.
“While it is a challenge to roll [what was once] a multi-day experience into a single day of festivities – including everything from selecting the music lineup to ensuring all the coordination needed is allied on that one day – one advantage is that since the Fourth of July falls on a Thursday, more people can start their weekend taking in everything Celebrate Saint Louis has to offer in one day, leaving the rest of the long weekend to head to the lake, river or enjoy the backyard with family,” said Tim Meers, chair of Celebrate Saint Louis.
The parade, which kicks off at 10 a.m., will have floats, live performances and marching bands as it winds its way west along Market Street. Beginning at noon, the riverfront along Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard will feature food and drink vendors and a Family Fun Zone. At 12:30 p.m., finalists from the 2024 Teen Talent competition will perform live; followed by the airshow at 2 p.m. featuring pilot Chuck Coleman from the film, “Top Gun: Maverick,” and other acrobatic performers. This year’s milestone anniversary of the Eads Bridge will be marked with a ceremony at 4 p.m.
“The Eads bridge was a monumental endeavor 150 years ago and is the oldest operating bridge along the Mississippi River, truly bridging the community at that time and still today,” Meers noted, adding there will be a special presentation from the Missouri History Museum on the main stage and a dedication from the National Civil Engineering Society.
Live music under the arch begins at 4:15 p.m., with a lineup featuring FEEL, Lupe Fiasco, LOCASH and headliner The Urge.
Meers says the planning and selection of this year’s offerings was intentional.
“Because the music scene and tastes in St. Louis are just as diverse as the community, we really tried to be thoughtful about bringing a variety of music, events and food that offers something for everyone to enjoy,” he said. “We reached out to partners and looked at other local venues acts to try and reflect the best of what St. Louis has to offer.”
The evening’s finale, the Fireworks Spectacular, will light up the downtown sky beginning at 9:40 p.m. For a complete schedule of events, visit the Celebrate Saint Louis website.
