Late-summer festivals and more outdoors fun are the name of the game in August. Enjoy our picks, from STLFringe Fest’s jaw-dropping lineup, the Festival of Nations celebration at Tower Grove Park, the epic Blues at the Arch Festival, Shakespeare Festival’s “Midsummer” parks tour, and the long-awaited Muny premiere of “The Color Purple.”
WHAT: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
WHERE: 24 local parks throughout the St. Louis metro area
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 2 to 27 (Tuesday through Sunday)
This month’s St. Louis Shakespeare Festival tour of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Kiener Plaza and continues throughout parks in and around St. Louis City, St. Louis County and the Metro East. The company’s bold, afro-futurist musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy stars an all-black cast and will be presented during a slate of free performances in 24 area parks.
All performances include a “Living Study Guide,” a 10-minute introduction to the cast and themes of the play. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
Free; stlshakes.org
WHAT: THE COLOR PURPLE
WHERE: The Muny
WHEN: 8:15 p.m.; Aug. 3 to 9
At long last, “The Color Purple” is making its Muny debut! Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and Stephen Spielberg’s award-winning film, the story of Celie, an African American woman who endures years of violence, abuse and bigotry, is a testament to the healing power of love, faith, resilience and sisterhood. “The Color Purple” is the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical and features a Grammy Award-winning score infused with jazz, ragtime, gospel and African blues.
$18 to $115; muny.org
WHAT: BLUES AT THE ARCH FESTIVAL
WHERE: Gateway Arch
WHEN: Aug. 12 to 14
The weekend-long festival on the grounds of Gateway Arch National Park features live blues music, and food and drink from local food trucks such as Sugarfire Smokehouse, Jive Turkey Eats, Kimchi Guys, The Little Busy B Catering, Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill, Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream and Booze @ Blues.
A lineup of national and local blues acts, including Annika Chambers, Marcia Ball, Ms. Hy-C & Fresh Start and Jeremiah Johnson, is slated for Friday and Saturday night. A special, ticketed Blues Brunch on Sunday, as well as a Circus Harmony performance, line dancing, an artisan market and a Kids Korner, are also planned. The event is hosted by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation in partnership with the National Blues Museum and the National Park Service.
Free; archpark.org/blues
WHAT: STL FRINGE FEST
WHERE: Various locations throughout Grand Center and in downtown St. Louis
WHEN: Aug. 15 to 21
Theatre, dance, storytelling, burlesque, visual art and more are in store for St. Lou Fringe’s STLFringe Fest, with this year’s festival taking place across four stages in Grand Center and at the Schlafly Tap Room downtown.
Headline acts include “A Storyville Burlesque” starring Lola Van Ella; “The Art That Is, Was, & Will Be,” an all-inclusive, immersive fashion show; and 24HR Plays, done by local companies who will write, rehearse and perform original plays in just 24 hours. In all, more than 40 diverse acts will be showcased throughout the weeklong festival.
For passes and tickets, visit stlfringe.org
WHAT: FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
WHERE: TOWER GROVE PARK
WHEN: Aug. 27 to 28
Festival of Nations, one of the largest of its kind in the country, is returning to Tower Grove Park this month following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. More than 80 food and retail vendors will be on hand, as well as live entertainment from around the world, including West African dance and drums, Brazilian music and more.
Sample cuisine from Egypt, Haiti, Colombia and other countries and enjoy artisan demos, shopping and a family craft area. New this year is a ticketed VIP area inside the air-conditioned Piper Palm House. Proceeds benefit the International Institute of St. Louis’ programs and services for immigrants and refugees throughout the region.
