St. Charles Jewish Fest, new rides at Union Station headline things to do in the Greater St. Louis Area in August. 7-30-25

The Cardinals will have a day off on Thursday and then start a West Coast trip with San Diego August 1-3 and then they head to Los Angeles from Aug. 4-6. Starting August 8 they return to Busch to take on the Cubs and the Rockies. Just as the Cardinals season is heating up, summer events are heating up and here are a few coming up in August. If you know of a festival we should include in this list feel free to email: Rains@STLSportsPage.com.

St. Charles Jewish Festival- Aug. 10

Returning for its fifth year, the St. Charles Jewish Festival promises an unforgettable summer celebration of Jewish life and culture. Taking place on Sunday, August 10, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Lewis & Clark Boat House Parking Lot, this vibrant event is the region’s largest annual Jewish gathering. Attendees will immerse themselves in the vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors of Jewish culture from around the world—all against the charming backdrop of historic St. Charles.

The photo, above, shows attendees enjoingy kosher cuisine at last year’s St. Charles Jewish Festival. (Credit: Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County)

The festival is organized by the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County and The Gan St. Charles Preschool, serving the estimated 6,000 Jews in St. Charles County, in proud partnership with the City of Saint Charles, the host city.

Festival-goers will enjoy a stellar lineup of live Jewish music, headlined by acclaimed Jewish-American singer-songwriter Aryeh Kunstler, renowned for his dynamic and soulful performances. Complementing the headliner, a diverse array of musical talent—including celebrated local artists—will bring additional energy to the stage.

“Now more than ever, it means so much to create a space where people from all backgrounds can come together, connect, and celebrate,” said Bassy Landa, who directs the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County with her husband, Rabbi Chaim Landa. “This festival is more than great food or music—it’s about publicly, and proudly, sharing the joy of Jewish life and culture.”

The photo, left shows  Rabbi Chaim and Bassy Landa, directors of the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County kicking off the fourth annual St. Charles Jewish Festival with a ribbon cutting flanked by public officials and community leaders. (Credit: Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County)

The festival welcomes people of all walks of life to enjoy live Jewish music, kosher cuisine, family-friendly entertainment, and vibrant celebrations of Jewish culture. Last year’s event drew nearly 3,800 attendees.

Organizers intend to expand the popular Israeli “shuk” experiance—a lively open-air market inspired by those found in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Guests can shop for fresh produce, baked goods, sweets, jewelry, Judaica, and fragrant spices like za’atar and sumac, evoking the sights and scents of Israel.

Children will enjoy a packed lineup of activities, including a giant bubble party, cultural crafts, inflatables, a petting zoo, and more—all designed for family fun. The photo, right, shows a father and child enjoying bubbles at the fourth annual St. Charles Jewish Festival. (Credit: Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County)

“It’s about creating fun, meaningful experiences that kids and families can enjoy together, building memories and connections that last a lifetime,” says Landa.

Attendees can also look forward to a high-end kosher culinary experience, curated by Chicago-based Zelda’s Catering. The specialty menu showcases gourmet Jewish cuisine from around the world, with a focus on Israeli flavors. Featured dishes include shawarma, kefta kabobs, falafel, brisket, and schnitzel.

Festival sponsors and partners include Peoples National Bank; Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Progress West Hospitals; Wallis Companies; Baue Funeral Homes; Wright Construction Services; OPO Startups; M1 Bank; Hamilton Weber LLC; Heartland Coca-Cola; Jewish Federation of St. Louis; First State Bank; The Kaufman Fund; and the cities of St. Charles, O’Fallon, and St. Peters, among others.

Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance. For more information and to secure your FREE ticket, visit: www.JewishStCharles.org/Festival.

St. Charles Jewish Festival At A Glance:

WHAT: 5th Annual St. Charles Jewish Festival

WHEN: Sunday, August 10, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Lewis & Clark Boat House Parking Lot | 1050 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301

FREE TICKETS: www.JewishStCharles.org/Festival

 The Tennessee Williams Festival August 7-17

The 10th Annual Tennessee Williams Festival runs from August 7 to 17, 2025, featuring “A Streetcar Named Desire,” performed at The Grandel. Fans can also join walking tours of the Central West End, scholarly panel discussions, Stella shouting contests, epic pool parties and more.

For more information, https://www.twstl.org/

Festival of Nations- Aug. 23-24

Tower Grove Park- August 23–24, 2025

Festival of Nations brings an energy you can’t find anywhere else! Ignite your senses with cuisine and drinks from around the world, dance to music spanning genres, shop global arts and goods, and do it all with purpose.

Produced annually by the International Institute of St. Louis, Festival of Nations is the region’s largest multicultural event. Originating in 1934, the two-day festival is open to the public, attended by over 100,000 people, and features the traditions, flavors, sounds and art of more than 80 nations. For more: CLICK HERE

The St. Louis Street Food Festival- Aug. 23, 24 at Ballpark Village

The third annual St. Louis Street Food Festival returns to Ballpark Village with bites from area food trucks and restaurants priced at $5 or less!

Guests can sample a wide range of flavors while enjoying live entertainment, axe throwing, bull riding, cooking demonstrations and crazy eating challenges.

Open to all ages, the event will also include a free chocolate fountain and cheese fry bar.

ST. LOUIS UNION STATION ANNOUNCES NEW RIDES THURSDAY, AUGUST 28

PIRATE SHIP, WAVE SWING & ROLLER COASTER ADD TO THE FUN IN THE ST. LOUIS WHEEL PARK

St. Louis Union Station is adding to the fun at the family entertainment destination with three new rides in the outdoor Wheel Park.

The new rides, located adjacent to the St. Louis Wheel’s south side and next to Union Station’s landmark train shed, will open to the public on Thursday, August 28.

Flying Louie, Loco Motion and Wave Swinger will be open daily from

10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Guests can purchase individual ride tickets or combination tickets that can include Union Station’s other attractions.

“We’re excited to bring more family fun to St. Louis Union Station’s visitors,” said Brian O’Loughlin, vice president of Lodging Hospitality Management (LHM), Union Station’s owner. “These rides expand the variety of things to enjoy when visiting so our guests can stay at the hotel and play, dine and enjoy all St. Louis has to offer from their base at Union Station.”

The attractions in the St. Louis Wheel Park are developed by Icon Experiences and include the 200-foot-tall St. Louis Wheel which offers a 20-mile view of the downtown skyline from the top of the ride. Also in the Wheel Park are the St. Louis Carousel and the 18-hole St. Louis Mini-Golf.

FLYING LOUIE

Ahoy mateys! Flying Louie is a swashbuckling pirate ship-themed ride that swings in an arc reaching a height of 42 and a half feet. Riders on the 42-seat amusement will get amazing views of St. Louis if they dare to open their eyes. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride alone or 42 inches tall with a supervising companion at least 16 years old.

LOCO MOTION

In keeping with Union Station’s rich railroad history, Loco Motion is a train-themed roller coaster that will race around a track in the Wheel Park. It promises to deliver twists and turns of fun for the whole family. The 16-seat coaster will reach a height of 22 feet. Riders must be a minimum of 42 inches tall to ride alone or at least 36 inches tall with a supervising companion who is at least 16 years old.

WAVE SWINGER

Guests can take a trip back in time to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair on this classic swing ride decorated in themes from the famous Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Riders will sit in a swing seat and be whirled through the sky. The ride stands 43 and a half feet high and will seat 64 people at a height of 25 feet. They must be at least 48 inches tall to ride alone or 42 inches tall with a companion at least 16 years old.

MIDWAY GAMES

Complementing these new attractions, a selection of classic carnival games will be introduced to the Wheel Park, enhancing the nostalgic, family-friendly atmosphere. Guests can test their skills and win prizes in a variety of games.

ABOUT ST. LOUIS UNION STATION

Opened in 1894, St. Louis Union Station was once the busiest and biggest railway terminal in the nation. The castle-like structure was designed by architect Theodore Link to resemble the medieval walled city of Carcassone in southern France as a nod to St. Louis’ French heritage. A National Historic Landmark, Union Station houses the 567-room St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton. Union Station hosts a variety of annual special events, including the popular Polar Express Train Ride each holiday season. The St. Louis Aquarium is the centerpiece of Union Station’s indoor attractions. Animals from the oceans, lakes and rivers of the world live in habitats with nearly a million gallons of water. In 2025, the aquarium was named among the top four in the country by the readers of USA Today in the publication’s 10Best Readers’ Poll. It is widely known as the most interactive aquarium in the U.S. Other indoor attractions include the St. Louis Ropes Course, the A-Maze-Ing Mirror Maze and the Selfie Express photo illusion experience. Dining opportunities at Union Station include Soda Fountain, a retro-style diner; the soccer-themed Pitch Athletic Club; Train Shed gastro pub; Station Grille and the 1894 Cafe. St. Louis Union Station is owned by Lodging Hospitality Management (LHM), St. Louis’ largest independent hotel operator.

ABOUT ICON EXPERIENCES:

ICON Experiences develops and manages giant observation wheel attractions, retail entertainment experiences and iconic events. Partnering with outstanding clients, suppliers, investors and developers, ICON provides advisory, management and operations services. In addition to the St. Louis Wheel Park, Icon’s portfolio projects include The Capital Wheel, Flight Deck and Harbor Carousel at National Harbor, the KC Wheel and Pennway Putt Mini Golf in Kansas City, as well as other regional retail attractions.

“With these new rides, Union Station offers unparalleled entertainment for the whole family,” said Eli Stovall, owner/managing partner, Icon Experiences.

WHEN YOU GO

For more information and tickets, visit www.stlouisunionstation.com or www.thestlouiswheel.com.. Facebook: @stlunionstation. Instagram: @unionstationstl. St. Louis Union Station is located at 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis, MO 63101.

 

The 1904 World’s Fair Exhibit

 Free
July 30 @ 10:00 am5:00 pm

The 1904 World’s Fair was a fascinating yet complex event that continues to evoke a range of emotions. It was grand and shameful. It was full of fun and full of indignity. Now, 120 years after it opened in St. Louis, the 1904 World’s Fair exhibit at the Missouri History Museum will reintroduce audiences to […] For information: CLICK HERE.

 

And Coming in September…

Northside Trap Run, is St. Louis’ first and only hip-hop 5K and festival.- Sat. Sept. 6

With more than a dozen DJs, this run, hosted by Northside Community Housing, Inc., offers great music and celebrates the important roles that strong communities, families, and good health play in North St. Louis.

The annual event, established in 2018, is embedded in community and aimed at empowering North St. Louis neighborhoods and unifying grassroots, civic, educational, commercial and residential efforts to bridge the city’s north-south divide.

Saturday, Sep 6, 8am to 2pm

The 5K start/finish line is at N. Sarah and Dr. MLK Drive

The festival will take place on MLK Drive between Sarah and Whitter streets.

SIGN UP

They adopted the name “Trap Run” to celebrate the beauty that perseveres through struggle. Just as hip hop and trap music transcended hardship, our run highlights beauty in communities of St. Louis that too many ignore. This is especially important in the wake of the May tornado that devastated north city neighborhoods. The storm, its aftermath, and the people-powered recovery (which we’ve been part of) only strengthened our resolve to make this year’s Trap Run the biggest and best for the community.

Author

About stlsportspage 3423 Articles
This article was combined by staff of STLSportsPage.com, Rob Rains, Editor.