The year is coming to a close, and soon, many students will be heading home or abroad, missing all of the events that St. Louis offers during the spring and summer.
Well, not all of them.
Some spring celebrations have already started, and others will begin soon. Between the stress of exams and summer preparations, taking a break to check out St. Louis’ seasonal offerings could be the perfect way to unwind.
Twilight Tuesdays
at the Missouri History Museum
When stress starts to get overwhelming, heading over to Twilight Tuesdays at the Missouri History Museum is an excellent option. Pack a picnic dinner, grab a blanket and take the short walk from campus to Forest Park to enjoy a free outdoor concert in the warm evening weather. The first show will be on April 29 at 6:30 p.m., but for those staying in St. Louis over the summer, there will be concerts every Tuesday until June 10. The season will open with the local jazz band The Bosman Twins.
‘Dinoroarus’
at the St. Louis Zoo
Also in Forest Park, the St. Louis Zoo opened its newest exhibit, called “Dinoroarus,” this past Friday. For anyone with the tiniest bit of kid in them, the life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and the fossil dig are definitely worth the $3 admission fee. However, that fee can vary. People willing to wake up early can get in free from 9 to 10 a.m. If you’re in the mood for a more intense experience, the 3-D motion simulator charges $4 for a wild ride. Big spenders can pay $5 for a Dino Pass that includes admission and the simulator ride.
Six Flags
30 miles southwest of St. Louis
Some people may not be willing to get in touch with their inner five-year-olds, but that’s okay. Six Flags recently opened for the year. Washington University students will need a car to get there; it is about 30 miles southwest of downtown, off of I-44, but the St. Louis location of this famous amusement park is home to the Screamin’ Eagle, which the Guinness Book of World Records once named the world’s fastest roller coaster. The $45 entrance fee is pricey, but thrill-seekers have to try this park while they have a chance.
Jazz at the Bistro
on Washington Avenue
If screaming your lungs out on a roller coaster seems like a little too much, then more mellow, sophisticated entertainment can be found at Jazz at the Bistro, a restaurant and jazz club on Washington Ave. near the Fox Theater. Jazz at the Bistro is not seasonal, but its shows only come every so often, so it’s a good idea to take advantage of their few remaining performances before school ends. The Ray Brown Tribute Band will play from April 23 to April 26, the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra will play on May 1 and artist Erin Bode will take the stage on May 2 and 3. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. for the first set of each show at 8:30, followed by the second set at 10:30. Tickets for students are either $10 or $15, depending on the show.
Haunting tours
in Alton, Missouri
For those looking for something a bit more unusual, the city of Alton hosts a few haunting tours each spring and summer. The first tour this year will take place on April 26 at 7 p.m. Alton is supposedly one of the most haunted cities in America, sporting a long history of murders, plagues and mysterious happenings, including the first penitentiary in Illinois, which was abandoned and reopened again as a Confederate prison. The drive is long, and the $20 charge is a little steep, but who would turn down the chance to see a real ghost?