Crowd shot at Grove Fest 2011

Dance party in the street, fashion, interactive live art, bikes, games, great local bands, DJs, brews, and food, national headliner Clap Your Hands Say Yeah … plus painted women, mimes, a mechanical bull and mustaches? It’s that time of the year, the most outrageously eclectic and funky street festival to hit St. Louis is back. The 7th annual Grove Fest will take place Saturday, October 6, 2 to 11 p.m. between Tower Grove and Kentucky along Manchester in the Grove.

And my, Grove Fest has grown, much like the business district itself. This year, the festival has grown to three stages, including a Urban Chestnut main stage featuring a diverse line-up starting with funky marching band tunes of our very own Funky Brass Band, a DJ “battle” with DJ Charlie Chan and DJ Mahf, plus some world, reggae, and everything in between, before ending the night with indie rockers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. This year is also the launch of the STL Loud stage, featuring a great line-up of local acts, and a refresher of last year’s DJ and Fashion stage featuring local Miss Ohio Vintage’s runway show and pop-up boutique.

And of course, expect the unexpected. With over 200 performers, every corner you turn, you’ll run into some sort of wackiness that reflects this diverse and welcoming neighborhood. And the Grove continues to lead public art initiatives among St. Louis business districts with more public art installations and an interactive mural, so all event-goers can make their mark in the Grove.
In less than a year, the Grove has welcomed 8 more businesses: SoHo Restaurant and Lounge, City Boutique, Urban Breath Yoga, Sameem Afgan Restaurant, Layla Lebanese Restaurant, O’Shay’s Pub, Work/Play Print Shoppe and will soon be welcoming Joyia to the midst. This year, Grove Fest will showcase most rapidly growing commercial district in St. Louis.

And finally, Grove Fest is made possible thanks to its sponsors: The Grove CID, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, WUMC, Front Door STL, Mangrove Restoration, Diageo, Schlafly, DO 314, Alive Magazine, St. Louis Public Radio, STL Loud, Eleven Magazine, Lou Fusz Fiat, Regional Arts Commission, Forest Park South Business Association, Space Architects, Pabst Blue Ribbon, USA Mortgage, The Art of Hospice, the Pasta House, the LGBT Center of St. Louis, Area Wide Refrigeration and the Healing Arts Center.

For more details, visit www.grovefeststl.com and www.facebook.com/grovefeststl.