12 St. Louis Summer Concert Series Perfect for Kids and Families

There’s a lot to love about summer in St. Louis, but our area’s many family-friendly concert series are near the top of the list. Where else can local parents kick back and relax at the end of a hot summer day while the kids dance and play (and maybe even fall asleep) nearby?

From smaller community music nights held in parks throughout the metro area to larger concert series hosted by some of our city’s favorite attractions, there’s a concert that’s right for every family in St. Louis this summer. So what are you waiting for? Grab your lawn chairs and blankets, stock a cooler with snacks and beverages and celebrate the lazy days of summer by rockin’ out with your kids to classic tunes designed to appeal to family members of all ages.   

1. Summer Concerts in Faust Park (Tuesdays, 7 p.m.)

The summer concerts held in Faust Park every Tuesday are a great way to enjoy time outdoors with your family. In addition to live music by local bands, beer, wine, soda, popcorn and candy are all available for purchase, and local restaurants and food trucks will be on hand too. The park opens at 5:15 p.m.for seating and concessions are available beginning at 5:30. Concerts begin at7 p.m. To learn more, visit www.chesterfieldmochamber.com.

2. O’Fallon Jammin’ Outdoor Concert Series (Tuesdays, 6:30-9 p.m.)

Local families can also jam out to some great tunes on Tuesday evenings at the O’Fallon Jammin’ Outdoor Concert Series at the Civic Park Bandstand. Admission and parking are free, and different food trucks will be on-site each week. Bring your own chairs or blankets for lawn seating; call the O’Fallon Events Hotline at 636-379-5614 for more information.

3. Children’s Concert Series at The Piper Palm House (Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.)

Treat your kids to a free summer concert in beautiful Tower Grove Park! At the Piper Palm House Children’s Concert Series, children of all ages are invited for a fun, interactive and educational musical experience. A different theme and musical style is featured each week, so visit once or enjoy the entire series. Doors open at 9 a.m., with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

4. Citygarden Summer Concert Series (Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m.)

Beat the mid-day heat AND dance to the beat at the Citygarden Summer Concert Series. The urban oasis in downtown St. Louis is home to not only a free, hour-long summer concert every Wednesday morning at 11:45 a.m., but also several water features where St. Louis families can cool off on hot summer days. The Voyage pool, Lower Basin pool, Spray Plaza and fountains open at 10:00 a.m

5. Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens (Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.)

The Whitaker Music Festival is a ten-week lineup of free Wednesday evening outdoor concerts on the grounds of the beautiful Missouri Botanical Gardens. Pack a picnic of your own, or take advantage of the picnic fare, beer, wine, soda and sno-cones that are available for purchase. Free Garden admission begins at 5 p.m. and admission to the Children’s Garden is also free from 5 to 7 p.m. To see the complete schedule of performers, visit www.mobot.org

6. Family Dinner and Concert Nights at Sunset Hills Aquatic Center (Thursdays, 5:30-8:30 p.m.)

7. Free Concerts in Bluebird Park (Thursdays, 7 p.m.)

Bring your own seating to Bluebird Park in Ellisville on Thursday evenings this summer for food, fun and family-friendly concerts. All performances are free, and located on the amphitheater stage.  More information is available atwww.ellisville.mo.us.

8. Jungle Boogie Concerts at the Saint Louis Zoo (Fridays, 5-8 p.m.)

Jungle Boogie Concerts, which are held on Friday evenings from late May through August, are fun for the entire family. Bring your own lawn chairs so you can kick back and relax at Schnuck Family Plaza at the center of the Zoo, or enjoy your favorite Zoo Exhibits, which are open late on Jungle Boogie nights until 7:00 p.m.

9. Citywalk Concert Series (Fridays, 7-9 p.m.)

Explore the Ferguson Citywalk in the city’s downtown historic district and enjoy an evening concert under the stars. The free concerts are hosted by the City of Ferguson on the 2^nd and 4^th Fridays of every month, and are open to all ages. Picnic tables are available, or bring your own blankets for seating.  

10. Outdoor Concerts at the Chesterfield Amphitheater (select Saturdays, 8 p.m.)

The City of Chesterfield is hosting its first season of free outdoor concerts at the Chesterfield Amphitheater on select Saturday evenings this summer. A combination of fixed and lawn seating is available, and there will be concessions for purchase. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m. and end at approximately 10:00 p.m. See the complete schedule atwww.chesterfieldamphitheater.com.

11. Free Summer Concerts at Des Peres Park (select Fridays, 7-9:30 p.m.)

Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and coolers and enjoy a cool summer concert on a hot summer night in Des Peres Park. Arrive early to play on one of the park’s two playgrounds, walk or bike around the many trails or fish in the well-stocked lake. Concessions will be available courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 313.   

12. Musical Nights in Oak Knoll Park (select Sundays, 5-7 p.m.)