9 foodie events you can’t miss in St. Louis this spring and summer
The weather is finally warm and we cannot wait to start getting out and about to all the great events the St. Louis area has to offer. From our own Sauce Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park to Taste of St. Louis at Ballpark Village and the Festival of the Little Hills in St. Charles, there’s plenty of food- and drink-related fun to keep us busy all summer long.
Food Truck Friday*
This may be a shameless plug, but our Sauce Food Truck Friday series in Tower Grove Park seriously is one of the best foodie events in town. We’ve got about 20 trucks slated for each event, plus plenty of cocktails, beer and wine, and a killer live music lineup all season long. The lines can get pretty long, but luckily we’ve got a way around it – buy speed passes online to skip to the front of the line at any truck.
Free admission. Fridays, May 17, June 14, July 12, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, and Oct. 4 – Tower Grove Park, saucefoodtruckfriday.com
Taste of Maplewood
Now in its 16th year, this street festival shows off all the best Maplewood has to offer with Sutton Boulevard closed off just south of Manchester Road. In addition to the many restaurants, bars and shops to check out in the area, this event also features vendor booths from the businesses set up along Sutton Boulevard, along with live entertainment on two stages all weekend long.
Free admission. Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18 – multiple locations in Maplewood, midcountychamber.org
Central West End Cocktail Party*
This annual street party commemorates what was reportedly the first cocktail party on record held in the Central West End in 1917. There’s live entertainment throughout the event, including live music by local treasure Marquise Knox, as well as aerial performances and fire dancers. Don’t miss the cocktail competition (judged by yours truly, along with some of the city’s finest cocktail connoisseurs) and the many amazing food and drink offerings throughout the festival grounds, plus the surrounding CWE neighborhood. And while this is a cocktail-focused event, children are welcome.
Free admission. Saturday, June 8 – Euclid Avenue between Maryland and McPherson avenues in the Central West End, cwescene.com
Bourbon & Brews*
Explore the beautiful acreage of Frankie Martin’s Garden in Cottleville at the 3rd Annual Bourbon & Brews Festival, presented by the St. Louis Bourbon Society. There will be over 400 different bourbons, whiskeys and craft beers available for sampling, and tickets include drink tickets to try seven spirits and seven beers. The Steve Ewing Band will keep the vibes high from noon to 4 p.m., and there will be an assortment of local food trucks on-site offering a variety of cuisines. VIP and GA tickets available online for the 21-and-up event.
Prices vary. Saturday, June 15 – Frankie Martin’s Garden, 5372 St. Charles St., Cottleville, bourbonandbrewsstlouis.com
Saucy Soiree*
Aftera hiatus in 2023, much to our dismay, we’ve finally got the ball rolling on Saucy Soiree again – and this year is better than ever. In addition to the unlimited bites and sips that attendees have come to love over the years, we’re also introducing several new elements, including a VIP experience, an Iron Fork Showdown competition, mixologist demonstrations, a local vendor market and more. VIP and GA tickets available online for the 21-and-up event.
Prices vary. Sunday, June 23 – St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market St., St. Louis, saucemagazine.com
Festival of Nations
Celebrate the flavors, art, culture and music of more than 80 nations around the world at this event hosted by the International Institute of St. Louis. Details are still in flux regarding participants, so there’s an opportunity to get your business involved, but patrons can rest assured there will be dozens of amazing food and drink vendors, plus a retail market and live entertainment all weekend.
Free admission. Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25 – Tower Grove Park, festofnations.com
Alton Food Truck Festival*
This event takes the vibes of Food Truck Friday across the river to the beautiful riverfront Liberty Bank Amphitheater. With about 20 food trucks offering a wide range of cuisines slated to attend, plus live music throughout the event, this is the perfect festival to enjoy the great outdoors while noshing on food from some of the St. Louis area’s finest food trucks.
Free admission. Saturday, Aug. 24 – Liberty Bank Amphitheater, 1 Riverfront Drive, Alton, Illinois, altonriverfrontamphitheater.com
Taste of St. Louis
With a tagline of “Taste STL’s entire menu at one event,” there’s sure to be something for everyone at this three-day festival at Ballpark Village. Taste your way through the Restaurant Row, then head over to the marketplace to buy some artisan goods from the many vendors in attendance. Details are still in the works here, so reach out on the website if you’d like your business to participate.
Free admission. Friday, Aug. 2, Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4 – Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., St. Louis, thetastestl.com
Festival of the Little Hills
Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing charm of St. Charles’ Historic Main Street at this arts and crafts show featuring over 300 vendors, plus tons of food and drink from both vendor booths and the many restaurants and bars in and around the festival footprint. There’s live music all weeknd, plus entertainment for the little ones, including bounce houses, a circus tricks show and more. The expansive footprint of this festival also offers sweeping views of the Missouri River.
Free admission. Friday, Aug. 16, Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18, Historic St. Charles Main Street, festivalofthelittlehills.com
*Denotes a Sauce-supported event.
