Students new to the Saint Louis University community will be able to get a taste of the neighborhood beyond campus at the Midtown Alley Street Fest on Aug. 20. The event, hailed as “the happy hour of the summer,” takes place just north of the Olive-Compton Garage on Locust, from Compton to Garrison Streets.

The festival, now in its second year, will showcase businesses, restaurants, and artists from the revitalized neighborhood. Nine restaurants, including Pappy’s Smokehouse, the Triumph Grill and Vito’s, will be offering selections from their menus. Local brewery Schlafly will be providing their beer, with proceeds from sales going to the charity Food Outreach.

The event will feature six local bands throughout the evening, including Sleepy Kitty, the Murder City Players and Tilts. For art lovers, local artists will be giving demonstrations and selling artwork.

The Arch Rival Roller Girls will also make an appearance.

“The whole premise behind Street Fest is to promote the branding of new businesses,” Jassen Johnson, a developer of the Midtown Alley area, said.

The festival will serve to “bring neighbors together and get a flavor of what this is all about.”

However festive the street party may sound, don’t expect Ferris wheels and face painting.

The street fest will honor the neighborhood’s urban, industrial history. Once known as “Automotive Row” for its many automobile showrooms, it is undergoing a revival, boasting nightclubs, restaurants and loft living.

“It’s definitely an urban area wrapped around creative ideas of the city,” Johnson said.

New students are encouraged to explore the neighborhood and see for themselves. The festival will be from 4 -11 p.m. For more information on the festival or Midtown Alley visit the Midtown Alley website at www.midtownalley.com.