Floods Relocate St. Louis Concerts

The worst Midwest floods in 15 years have forced St. Louis, Mo.’s Fourth of July event Fair Saint Louis and the concert series Live on the Levee (July 11th to August 2nd) off the levee and Gateway Arch grounds and onto dry land at Soldiers Memorial Plaza.

"This summer it’s ‘Live OFF the Levee,’" Missy Slay of Celebrate St. Louis, which stages both events, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It’s a temporary move and it’s out of our control."

Catering, artist and crew trailers are usually parked on the levee; the main stage, vending booths and performers are usually located at the Gateway Arch grounds. This year marks the first time the event was relocated in the history of the fair, one of the nation’s largest Fourth of July celebrations.

Fair Saint Louis features concerts by Joss Stone and Drake Bell July 4th and a performance by Anthony Hamilton the next day. This year’s Live on the Levee concert series features shows Friday and Saturday evenings by STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and The Black Crowes.

Concerts at both Fair Saint Louis and Live on the Levee are free and will feature fireworks and family activities.

Although the Soldiers Memorial Plaza site lacks the natural amphitheatre and views of the Mississippi provided by the Gateway Arch grounds, Soldiers Memorial Plaza has plenty of room to accommodate the large crowds as well as better parking options.

"Next year, we anticipate we will once again return to the Arch grounds and the levee for our summer festival – assuming, of course, that the river welcomes us once again," a Celebrate St. Louis representative told the News-Democrat.