There has been no shortage of "festivals" in St. Louis over the last week. Perhaps most excitingly, Forest Park hosted the first LouFest Music Festival, featuring two days of music in what is almost certain to become a hugely popular annual event. On the blues scene, St. Louis Bluesweek celebrated its Bluesweek Festival outside the Peabody Opera House last weekend, and its Blues "Cruise" in Soulard went head-to-head with the Big Muddy Blues Festival this weekend.
Cultural festivals were celebrated throughout the City as well, starting with last weekend's Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park. This weekend, St. Louisans enjoyed the Japanese Festival in the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and the popular (and crowded!) Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.
Here are a few pictures from some of the festivities:
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| The first LouFest Music Festival, in Forest Park |
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| Jeff Tweedy puts on a stellar solo performance at LouFest |
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| The market at Festival of Nations, Tower Grove Park |
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| Scottish caber toss at Festival of Nations |
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Girl poses at Japanese Festival,
Missouri Botanical Gardens |
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| Japanese Drum |
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| Bluesweek Festival, Peabody Opera House |
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| Greek Festival, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church |
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Again, I'd like to see stl event planning better coordinated so there's less conflict and more synergy. Obviously the Greek and Japanese festivals ought to try to line up their stuff to compliment the Festival of Nations, and vice-versa. City Sound Tracks or my City Bus Fare (fair for BRT) idea would be a good model.
ReplyDeleteMultiple blues festivals ought to be run together the same way South by Southwest organizes three different events under one name. The Taste of St. Louis blues festival is coming too...