Memorial Day Weekend 2009 in St. Louis

Memorial Day is almost here and that means most of us will get to enjoy a long holiday weekend. If you're looking for something to do, here are some of the most popular Memorial Day events in the St. Louis area.

Rib America - They're serving up bar-b-que in downtown St. Louis all weekend long. The Rib America festival is your chance to taste award-winning ribs, pork and chicken. Once you've eaten your fill, relax and enjoy live music from Night Ranger, Warrant, Cowboy Mouth and more. Rib America runs Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25 at Soldier's Memorial. Admission is free before 5 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Greek Festival - The Greek Festival at Assumption Orthodox Church in Town & Country is a Memorial Day weekend tradition. Thousands of visitors flock to the church to enjoy authentic Greek food, music and dancing. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25. Admission and parking are free.

Gypsy Caravan - The Gypsy Caravan is a huge, one-day flea market filled with antiques, crafts, art, jewelry and more. It is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Memorial Day on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Admission is $5, but children under 12 get in free. Money from the sale helps support the St. Louis Symphony.

Alton Memorial Day Parade - The oldest consecutive running Memorial Day parade in the nation is right across the river in Alton, Illinois. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of College and Washington Avenues.

Memorial Day Concert - The Compton Heights Concert Band is performing a free patriotic concert on Memorial Day in Tower Grove Park in south St. Louis. The concert begins at 3 p.m.

Veterans Ceremony - Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is one of the best places in the St. Louis area to pay tribute to veterans on Memorial Day. The cemetery will hold a special service at 10 a.m. Local boy scouts will also decorate the more than 170,000 grave sites with small American flags in honor of the holiday.

(Photo courtesy Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)