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Labor Day 2017: 15 Things to Do
(There’s Always Lots of Events Labor Day Weekend!)
Japanese Festival at Botanical Garden
Join the Missouri Botanical Garden in celebrating the culture and traditions of Japan when the annual Japanese Festival returns to St. Louis Sept. 2-4.
From traditional music to martial arts, sumo to sushi, bon odori dancing to bonsai displays, and thunderous taiko drumming to Tea House Island tours, the three-day Labor Day weekend is filled with sights, sounds, and experiences for the entire family. Hours are Sept. 2-3, 10 a,m, to 8 p.m. and Sept. 4 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buy tickets in advance online at www.mobot.org. Please note: No trams, free hours, or early morning walking hours on signature event weekends. Regular admission rates to the Children’s Garden apply.
Admission is $15 adults (ages 13 & over), $7 Garden Members, $7 children (ages 3–12). Garden members’ children (ages 3–12) are free.
Midwest Wingfest Sept. 1-2; 5K Run
Midwest Wingfest, held on the parking lot of St. Clair Square Mall, will offer dozens of varieties of gourmet and hot wings to sample, plus a wing eating contest, 5K run and car cruise. There’s live music from Dustin Clark, Dylan Scott and Steel Creek.
Annual St. Nicholas Greek Festival in Central West End
This annual event, located at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church at Kingshighway and Forest Park Parkway, attracts thousands of visitors who enjoy music, dancing and some of the best Greek food anywhere.
The fun kicks off Friday night, Sept. 1, then continues through Labor Day.
Extended Hours at the Zoo Coming to an End
Labor Day weekend means the last days of extended hours at the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park. The Zoo will be open until 7 p.m., Friday through Monday for Summer Zoo Weekends.
Friday’s events include the final Jungle Boogie concert of the season featuring the Soulard Blues Band. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can watch animal enrichment and training at 5 p.m.
Reminder: Pools Closing
Labor Day weekend is your final chance this year to take in the sun and fun at Raging Rivers, Splash City, Hurricane Harbor and other local water parks. Labor Day is also the last day of the season for most smaller community and neighborhood pools.
7-Acre Great Godfrey Maze Open Fri.-Mon.
The Great Godfrey Maze opens Labor Day weekend in Glazebrook Park in Godfrey, Illinois during the Fall Corn Festival. The maze is a tradition in the Metro East and a great day of fun for families.
Wander through the seven-acre maze and see if you can find a way out. If you go at night, don’t forget to bring a flashlight. In addition to the maze, there are also hay rides, a cow train, corn slides and other activities for the kids.
The Great Godfrey Maze is open Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m. to dusk, and holiday Mondays 1 p.m. to dusk. It runs Sept. 1-Oct. 29 this year.
Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children ages six to 11. Children five and younger are free. There are discounted combo packages as well.
Big Muddy Blues Festival On Laclede’s Landing
The Big Muddy Blues Festival will be Sept. 2-3 on Laclede’s Landing. The outdoor music festival will feature local and nationally known artists and begins each day at 3 p.m., and goes until midnight.
More than 50 musical acts will perform on different stages set up throughout the Landing. Local favorites including Marquise Knox, Jeremiah Johnson, and Big Joe Brock will all be performing.
Daily admission is $10 a person or you can get a two day pass for $20. Restaurants on the Landing will be open during the festival as well.
Queeny Park Art Fair
Queeny Park hosts its annual fall art fair over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-3, at the Greensfelder Recreation Complex. More than 130 artists from 20 states will be showing works in various media including painting, sculpture, and jewelry making. Admission is $5.
Gateway Cup Bicycle Race; 4 Days of Fun
Take in four days of bicycle racing in four different St. Louis neighborhoods. Pro-am cyclists compete for cash and prizes during the annual Gateway Cup in Lafayette Square, St. Louis Hills, Benton Park and The Hill. There are also recreational and children’s rides for amateur cyclists of all abilities.
Harvest Fest at Stone Hill Winery
Stone Hill Winery in Hermann is hosting Harvest Fest on Saturday, Sept. 2. The celebration includes pumpkin painting, grape stomping and free live music from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Applefest at Eckert’s Orchards Sept. 2-3
Eckert’s is celebrating Applefest over Labor Day weekend at its Belleville farm. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are all kinds of apple treats for sale, as well as pick-your-own apples. The celebration also includes wagon rides, live entertainment and plenty of children’s activities for kids of all ages.
Labor Day Weekend River Cruise
Celebrate Labor Day weekend with a cruise on the Mississippi River. Guides will share the history of the river and its important geological features. The one-hour tour is on the 49 passenger River Rambler.
The tour boat has an enclosed first level with air conditioning and open top level. It sets sail from Grafton Harbor north of St. Louis. Tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for children.
Live Music in Frontier Park
Enjoy an evening of jazz at a free outdoor concert along the banks of the Missouri River in Frontier Park. The St. Charles Jazz Band will perform Sunday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m., at the park’s Jaycee Pavilion. Everyone is invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and relax under the stars.
Downtown Labor Day Parade Sept. 4
Thousands of local union members will march through Downtown St. Louis for the annual Labor Day Parade. The parade begins at 9 a.m., at 13th and Olive. It then makes its way down Tucker Street, past St. Louis City Hall and west on Market Street to 15th Street.
Belleville Labor Day Parade and Picnic
Many Metro East union members and their families will celebrate Labor Day at the annual parade, Sept. 4, in Belleville. The parade begins at 10 a.m., along First Street in downtown Belleville. After the parade, there is a picnic in Hough Park beginning at 11:30 a.m.
