Explore St. Louis
The official home for all things St. Louis! #ExploreStLouis Explore St. Louis welcomes 28 million guests to the Gateway City every year.
06/07/2026
Why is so much in Forest Park free? 🌳✨
Forest Park was created in 1876 and hosted the 1904 World's Fair. Since then, St. Louis philanthropists and civic leaders have worked to make many of its cultural institutions accessible to everyone. Forest Park's biggest attractions remain free year-round, something that's incredibly rare for a major city. It's one of the reasons Forest Park is the greatest city park in America.
FREE Things to Do in Forest Park This Summer:
🎨 Saint Louis Art Museum – Explore thousands of years of art from around the world for free. Bonus: special ticketed exhibitions are free on Fridays.
🎭 Shakespeare in the Park – Every summer, the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival brings free live performances to Forest Park, turning warm nights into one of St. Louis’ most beloved summer traditions under the stars.
🦁 Saint Louis Zoo – One of the top-ranked zoos in the country with more than 12,000 animals and free admission every day.
🔬 Saint Louis Science Center – Walk through hands-on exhibits, watch giant airplanes overhead from the skybridge and spark your curiosity at one of the nation's largest free science centers.
🏛️ Missouri History Museum – Discover the stories, people and events that shaped St. Louis and the region through engaging exhibits and artifacts.
🐢 Turtle Playground – A favorite for families featuring giant turtles, climbing structures and plenty of space for kids to burn off energy.
🎶 The Muny – America's oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre offers 1,500 free seats for every performance under the stars.
🌺 The Jewel Box – Step inside this stunning Art Deco greenhouse filled with seasonal floral displays. Admission is free Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m.–noon.
As Forest Park celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026, it's the perfect time to appreciate one of St. Louis' greatest gifts. A summer day in Forest Park can include a world-class zoo, museums, a science center, a playground and even a Broadway-style show — all without spending a dime. That's something you won't find in many destinations. ☀️🌳💙
Check out our Forest Park guide here: https://explstl.us/4dN9MSj
🎆🇺🇸There are fireworks... and then there are fireworks above the Gateway Arch. ✨
If you’re spending Fourth of July weekend in St. Louis, don’t miss Celebrate St. Louis in the heart of downtown. Not only will you get one of the most iconic fireworks backdrops in the country, you’ll also get FREE concerts from a lineup that includes Miranda Lambert, Zedd, Ludacris, Big Wild, Kenny Loggins, Stephen Marley and Rebirth Brass Band. 🎶🔥
And that’s just one of the many ways to celebrate.
🎡 Ride the carnival and catch free concerts at Heritage & Freedom Fest
⚾ Watch the Gateway Grizzlies and stay for postgame fireworks
🚁 Experience a drone show during Summer Nights at Grant’s Farm
🎶 Enjoy riverfront views, live music and fireworks at St. Charles Riverfest
🎢 Spend the day at Six Flags before Star-Spangled Nights lights up the sky
With America celebrating its 250th birthday, communities all across the St. Louis region are going all out with festivals, parades, live entertainment and spectacular fireworks displays.
Who’s adding fireworks over the Arch to their summer bucket list? ❤️🤍💙
What a day for St. Louis. 🇺🇸🏅
Did you know St. Louis hosted the first Olympic Games ever held on U.S. soil in 1904?
Today, our Olympic story got even bigger.
It was announced today that St. Louis will host the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials – Marathon in March 2028, helping determine which athletes will represent Team USA on the world’s biggest stage. This is in addition to Energizer Park being selected to host Olympic Football (Soccer) matches during the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games!
More than 120 years after welcoming the Olympic Games to America for the very first time, St. Louis is once again stepping into the spotlight.
In a full circle moment, today’s announcement took place at , home of the 1904 Olympics. The marathon trials course will start at the university, allowing athletes chasing their Olympic dreams to compete on the ground that helped shape Olympic history in the United States.
This is more than a win for sports. It’s a chance for the world to experience our city, our hospitality and the energy that makes St. Louis unlike anywhere else.
The countdown to 2028 starts now. 🔥
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