April 17 - 19

Your St. Louis weekend rundown is here!

Spring is in full swing in the Lou, and this weekend is packed with festivals, live music, markets, and some of the city’s biggest 420-themed events.

In this episode of This Week in St. Louis, Brice breaks down everything happening around the city — whether you’re trying to be outside all day, keep things low-key, or find something unique to check out.

This week’s highlights include:

 - Major 420 celebrations like Munchie Fest STL, 420 Street Fest, and South Grand festivities.

 - Fan-favorite daytime plans like Tower Grove Farmers’ Market and the Missouri Book Festival.

 - Family-friendly events including Arch Bark, Art & Nature Days, and PAW Patrol Live!

 - Live entertainment from Cody Johnson, themed dance parties, comedy, and more.

 - Unique experiences like Raceway events, the Wine Run 5K, and the World Cup Trophy Tour stop.

This Week’s Flavors of the Lou

BBQ spots you can’t miss:
• Pappy’s Smokehouse
• Salt + Smoke
• Adam’s Smokehouse

Spot of the Week

Lucky Dog Central — a one-of-a-kind spot where you can grab coffee, cocktails, and food while your dog plays, relaxes, or hangs out with you on the patio.

Whether you’re hitting a festival, exploring a market, or catching a show, there’s something for everyone this weekend in St. Louis.

Tag @STLBucketList if you check anything out — we love seeing your adventures. 💛

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi, and welcome back to This Week in St. Louis. I'm Bryce, and I'm so glad you're here because this weekend is kind of a wild one in the best way. We are officially in that spring sweet spot. The weather's starting to cooperate, patios are filling up again, and it feels like the city is waking back up. And this weekend in particular has a really fun mix. You've got everything from outdoor festivals and markets to concerts, dog events, and honestly, a lot of 420 themed happenings across the city. So whether you're trying to be outside all day, hit something a little more niche, or just figure out what's actually worth leaving your house for, I've got you covered. Let's get into it. This week in St. Louis is presented by Hoffman Brothers, trusted by St. Louis families and businesses for over 40 years. Whether it's your AC, water heater, plumbing, or even EV charging, Hoffman Brothers has you covered. Local, licensed, family owned, book your service at Hoffman Bros.com. Big thanks to them for supporting local stories like this one. All right, so starting things off, if you're trying to be outside and in the middle of the action this weekend, this is your category. One of the biggest things happening is a Munchie Fest STL going down Saturday at Tower Grove Park. This is the full day festival that blends food, wellness, music, and cannabis culture all into one. It's got food trucks, local vendors, live performances, and overall just a really high-energy community vibe. It's one of those events you can pop into for an hour or accidentally stay all day long. Also on Saturday over in the loop, you've got the 420 Street Fest by Sunshine Daydream happening at the Tivoli lot. This one leans a little more music and vendor focus with DJs, live bands, local booths, and drinks. It's also tied into record store day energy that in that area, so the whole neighborhood should feel pretty lively. And then rolling into Sunday, the 420 celebrations keep going with a few different options. There's the South Grand 420 Fest, which is a really community-focused setup with live music, local vendors, and even specialty menu items from nearby spots. You've also got the Voodoo 420 Market over at Atomic, which is more of a block party vibe with music, food, and a vendor marketplace. And if you want something a little more food-driven, the STL Pot Chef competition is happening Sunday at Handlebar, which is exactly what it sounds like. Chefs competing in infused culinary creations. So if you're looking for something unique this weekend, there's definitely no shortage of options. Now, if your ideal weekend is a little slower, a little more local, let's talk markets and daytime plans. Saturday morning is stacked as usual. The Tower Grove Farmers Market is back again at Tower Grove Park. And while it does happen every weekend, this time of the year is really when it hits fresh produce, local vendors, coffee, baked goods. It's just one of the best ways to start your Saturday in the city. You've also got the Youth City Farmers Market happening over at Hemmon Park, which is has a really strong mix of local food, crafts, and goods. And then the Kirkwood Farmers Market is open all day if you're out that way and want something a little more flexible timing-wise. Also worth mentioning the Missouri Book Festival is happening Saturday morning in Washington at the Washington Public Library. This one's a little different. It's more focused on local authors, storytelling, and Missouri culture. So if you're into something a little more low-key and thoughtful, that's a great option. And if your weekend plans involve kids, dogs, or honestly just wanting to be outside during something wholesome, this section is for you. One of the standout events is Arch Bark, happening Saturday at Gateway Arch. This is basically the ultimate dog day. You've got a community dog walk, agility courses, performances, and even a dog fashion show. It's free, it's outside, and it's just one of those feel-good St. Louis events. Also on Saturday, Art and Nature Days is happening at La Mier Sculpture Park. This one blends art and the outdoors with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and just a really relaxed environment. Great if you want something creative, but still outside. And for something a little more interactive, there's a planting workshop called For the Porch up in Maryland Heights, where you can actually build your own container garden and learn how to take care of it. Also, quick shout-out if you've got kids, Paw Patrol Live is happening at Stifle Theater with multiple shows on Saturday. So if you're a parent, that might be your entire weekend plans right there. All right, now shifting gears a little. If your weekend starts later in the day and ends very late, here's what's going on. Saturday night has a pretty big headliner with Cody Johnson performing at Shea Fitz Arena with special guest Alexander K. That's a major country show and also supports Cardinal Glennon. So it's a cool mix of big concert energy and a good cause. If you're looking to get into something a little different, KB is performing at the Hawthorne, more of a hip-hop and spoken word vibe, and then pure fun energy. There's the hot in here 2000s dance party at the old rock house. This one is exactly what it sounds like throwback hits, early 2000s outfits, just full nostalgia. You've also got Ladies' Night featuring Sheena Easton and Tiffany over at River City Casino and a more casual country rock show with Clover at Hollywood Casino, which even includes dancing lessons beforehand. And heading into Sunday, there's a really unique one, Smokes and Jokes 420 Eve at the pageant, which blends comedy and live entertainment into one show. Plus, if you're into K-pop, forever K-pop is happening at the factory, super high energy, performance-driven show. And if you're looking for something a little more interactive or adrenaline-filled this weekend, out at Worldwide Technology Raceway, there's a full weekend of activity. You've got a high performance driving experience where you can actually get on the track, which is just very cool and not something you get to do every weekend. And then Friday night, there's Midnight Madness, which is basically a late night drag racing event with music drifting and a full-on party atmosphere. Also on Friday, something pretty unique: the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy tour is stopping at Westport Plaza. So you can actually go see the real World Cup trophy in person, which is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And then for something a little more relaxed but still active, the wine run 5K is happening Saturday at Eckert's Country Store and Farms. Run, walk, whatever, and then reward yourself with some wine after. But now it's time for our flavors of the Lou, and this week we're keeping it simple with barbecue staples you really can't miss. First, Pappy's Smokehouse. This is the classic, known for their dry rub ribs and their lines at the door, but it's always worth it. Neck, salt, and smoke, a little more sit-down, great for groups, and super consistent across the board, especially their brisket. And then Adam's Smokehouse, more low-key, no frills, but some of the best barbecue in the city. If you know, you know. If you're craving barbecue this weekend, be sure to head to our Instagram at STL Bucketlist for the full lineup. And we have a new spot for you to check out this week. Lucky Dog Central is a must-visit spot for you and your pup. Coffee, cocktails, and food for you, plus a space where your dog can run around in the yard or relax with you inside or on the patio. Dog parents, be sure to check them out this weekend. All right, that's everything I've got for you this week. As always, if you end up checking out any of these events, make sure to tag us at STL Bucket List. We love seeing where you guys are going and what you're getting into around the city. We drop new episodes every week. So if you're not already following, make sure you are so you never miss what's happening around St. Louis. Have the best weekend. Stay safe, and we'll see you out there.