Celebrate at Fair St. Louis on July 4, 2009

Fair St. Louis returns this July 4th to the St. Louis waterfront under the Gateway Arch. Fireworks will fill the sky in celebration of the birth of the United States, just as John Adams predicted in the dark days that followed the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

A two-day celebration is planned this year with free performances by country star and Southern Illinoisan Gretchen Wilson, Counting Crows, the Naked Brothers Band, and the Grammy Award-winning band Train.

Last year, due to flooding, the concerts were held at Soldiers Memorial. But they are back at the riverfront this year starting at 6pm, July 3 with festivities along Leonor K. Boulevard and the Mississippi River levee below the Gateway Arch.

Music Schedule

The Counting Crows are scheduled for July 3. The group was nominated for a 2005 Grammy as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for "Accidentally in Love." Nicklodeon's Nat and Alex Wolff, The Naked Brothers Band, will perform July 4 at 1:30pm, followed by Train.

The Independence Day Fireworks display follow the July 4 performances at 8pm.

For the Kids

There's much more than music and fireworks. For the kids, there's the K-Town Kids Zone sponsored by AmerenUE and Schnucks open from 6-8pm each evening at the north end of the festival grounds near the Eads Bridge pedestrian entrance. Featured are hands-on activities from the Magic Hopuse St Louis Children's Museum, Saint Louis Rams NFL Experience, the Upper Limits Climbing Wall, inflatable games, and more.

VP Parade

The 132d annual VP Parade featuring floats, marching bands, costumed marchers, mascots, and more, is at 1am, Saturday, a lingering link to the Veiled Prophet organization, a secret society of St Louis bluebloods. The group sponsored Fair St Louis prior to 1992, when it was known as the Veiled Prophet Fair, or VP Fair for short.

Free Live on the Levee Performances

Following the July 3 and 4 Fair St Louis will be the weekend entertainment featuring a free six concert Live on the Levee series. Performances are 6-10pm Friday and Saturday nights.

On July 17, SonicYouth will perform, kicking off a six-concert Live on the Levee series. Little Feast will follow as part of its 40th anniversary tour July 18, R&B performer Angie Stone appears July 25, Gretchen Wilson appears July 25, followed July 31 by alternative rockers Guster, and R&B star Lupe Fiasco on August 1.

Those attending are asked to partonize on-site food and beverage vendors. Beverages booth profits go to local charities. Outside food and beverages, to include bottled water, are not permitted.

One parking tip, especially for those coming from the Illinois side of the Mississippi: use the
MetroLink light rail system. Not only will it provide a cheap round-trip to the Arch grounds, but

you can utilize the free parking privileges at the lots located at the various MetroLink stops.

Maps and additional information are available at the Fair St Louis website at http://celebratestlouis.org/LIVE/LIVE09/index.cfm

References:

Fair St Louis, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Saint_Louis

Official Fair St Louis wesbite, http://celebratestlouis.org/Celebrate/index.cfm

Roger Schlueter, "Redneck Girl" Wilson Will Sing During Fair St Louis, http://www.bnd.com/yourlife/story/777045.html Belleville News-Democrat