There’s an old saying that states, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” Tucked away on Manchester Avenue, between Kingshighway Boulevard and Vandeventer Avenue, is The Grove – one of the most flaunt-worthy communities in St. Louis. Whatever “it” is, The Grove certainly has it. Diverse restaurants? Yep. Expressive art murals? Absolutely. Crazy nightlife? You bet. A proud and supportive area for the local LGBT community, cycling advocates and independent thinkers? Check yes to all of the above.
With an atmosphere this rad, it seemed only appropriate that an entire day should be spent flaunting this neighborhood and all of its glory. Thus, Grove Fest was born. This free, annual, all-day affair celebrates everything that makes The Grove undeniably awesome. Grove Fest has won Best Public Event Planning and Best Event Entertainment Concept awards from the International Special Events Society (ISES), and it is known for its diverse festival offerings, with this year’s event upholding that reputation. Last Saturday welcomed the ninth annual Grove Fest to St. Louis, bringing with it a hodgepodge of entertainment and activities for attendees.
Folks could grab a bite to eat from local food establishments such as Atomic Cowboy or Taha’s Twisted Tiki, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company even introduced “Honey Grove,” a Vienna Honey Lager exclusively created for Grove Fest. Crowds could participate in a dunking booth or jousting shenanigans, throw themselves against a Velcro wall, or kick back and enjoy live fashion shows featuring local talent. Live musical performances showcased a varied collection of terrific tunes in two locations, the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company stage and an outdoor stage set up at the entrance of the festival on Manchester Avenue. The Urban Chestnut Brewing Company stage featured performances from Spaceship, Fly Moon Royalty, DJ Mahf, and even showcased some hula-hooping talent. The outdoor stage on Manchester featured performances from Ragged Blade Band, Old Capital Square Dance Club, DJ Alan Ray and more. Plus, local art vendors set up shop along the street as festivalgoers strolled down Manchester Avenue and perused everything Grove Fest had to offer.
Additionally, attendees were also given the opportunity to participate in a beloved Grove Fest tradition – creating a large paint-by-numbers mural. An impressive collection of public art murals currently decorate many buildings throughout the Grove, highlighting its artistic and eclectic atmosphere that make it such a unique area of St. Louis. This year’s annual paint-by-number mural was created on the side of The Gramophone and was appropriately hosted by The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, the area’s largest annual funder of the arts. This nonprofit organization seeks to, “promote, encourage and foster the arts and cultural institutions in St. Louis City and County,” as their website (www.racstl.org) states. This year’s paint-by-numbers mural certainly gave a nod to that artistic mission, along with adding to the celebration of the recent launch of their STL Arts app. This comprehensive calendar app, courtesy of The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, lists local arts and culture events such as Grove Fest and helps promote St. Louis as a thriving arts community.
Actually, it might be a good idea to download this app so you can go ahead and add the 10th annual Grove Fest to your calendar for next year. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience in a one-of-a-kind neighborhood that you just can’t miss.
