St. Louis in May means great weather and lots of reasons to get outside. There are festivals, concerts and fairs almost every weekend. You can savor sweet strawberries at Eckert's Orchards, check out "man's best friend" at Bark in the Park, or catch a bit of Shakespeare under the stars in Forest Park. Here are details on those events, plus more worth checking out.
For holiday events this month, see articles on Where to Take Mom for Mother's Day Brunch and What to Do on Memorial Day Weekend in St. Louis.
1. St. Louis Microfest
St. Louis Microfest is your chance to sample a wide variety of international and craft beers. The festival also includes live music, food and brewing demonstrations. Microfest is held at the Upper Muny Parking Lot in Forest Park. General admission tickets are $30 on Friday and $34 on Saturday.
May 4 & 5, 2012
Forest Park
2. Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
St. Louis celebrates Cinco de Mayo with music, food, drinks and fun. Local restaurants are serving up special celebrations, or join the festivities at the big street festival along Cherokee Street.
May 5, 2012
Various Locations
3. Strawberry Festival
Photo by Chris Windsor, courtesy Getty Images
A sure sign that spring is here is the annual Strawberry Festival at Eckert's Orchards in Belleville. The festival is a family friendly event with food, live music and plenty of fun for kids including wagon rides, a petting farm and inflatables. But the best part are Eckert's delicious, ripe strawberries. You can pick your own or take home pies, muffins and other goodies from the bakery.
May 5-6, 12-13 & 19-20, 2012
Eckert's Orchards, Belleville
4. Laumeier Art Fair
The annual art fair at Laumeier Sculpture Park is held over Mother's Day weekend. More than 150 artists from across the country will be displaying and selling their original works. There is also food, drinks, music and a hands-on art area for kids. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 11. Members and children younger than 6 get in free.
May 11-13, 2012
Laumeier Sculpture Park
5. Spring Wildflower Sale
Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden
The flowers are blooming at Shaw Nature Reserve, and you can have some of that same beauty in your own yard. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., several local nurseries are joining forces at the Reserve for the Spring Wildflower Sale. They'll be selling hundreds of varieties of wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs. You can also get expert advice on how to care for your new plants.
May 12, 2012
Shaw Nature Reserve
6. Art on The Square
Photo courtesy ART on the SQUARE
It's just a short drive to Belleville to see one of the top ranked art fair's in the country. This year's Art on the Square features more than 100 artists showing off their talents in painting, ceramics, photography and more. The festival also has food, live music and a Children's Art Garden where kids can make their own masterpieces.
May 18-20, 2012
Downtown Belleville
7. Bark in the Park
Bark in the Park promises a day of fun for both dogs and their owners. The annual pet walk and festival in Forest Park is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Humane Society of Missouri. After the pet walk, enjoy a full day of entertainment. There's also a fun area for kids and a food court where you can get favorites like funnel cakes, kettle corn and fresh squeezed lemonade. All of the money raised goes to the Humane Society to provide veterinary care for homeless animals.
May 19, 2012
Cricket Field, Forest Park
8. Allertini Affair
Enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d'oeurves and music while helping make sure young children with food allergies have a safe place to go to school in St. Louis. The Allertini Affair raises money for St. Stephen ECD and Preschool in south St. Louis, the first allergy friendly preschool in the nation. The fundraiser will be held at 4Hands Brewery from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 a person.
May 19, 2012
Downtown St. Louis
9. Kids Day at Cahokia Mounds
Photo courtesy Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Cahokia Mounds is one of the most historic attractions in the St. Louis area and kids of all ages are invited to learn more about the site that was home to the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. Children can learn about the Cahokia culture with hands-on activities like making pottery, grinding corn and throwing spears.
May 20, 2012
30 Ramey Street, Collinsville
10. Lewis & Clark Heritage Days
Photo by Joe Armour, courtesy Lewis & Clark Heritage Days Board
Come along for one of the greatest expeditions in American history. Lewis & Clark Hertiage Days mixes history and adventure with food, fun and celebration. You'll see life-size replicas of Lewis and Clark's boats, visit a military camp from 200 years ago and taste meals the way they would have been prepared in the 1800's.
May 19-20, 2012
Frontier Park, St. Charles
