The semester’s wrapping up, and at this point, you probably have a good idea if you’re spending the summer in St. Louis. While you may be expecting swelteringly hot and mind-numbingly boring days in your future, fear not! You’ll find plenty of fun activities to keep yourself busy. Here are some of our favorites:

PrideFest St. Louis

Located downtown, PrideFest STL is a two-day event on June 24 and 25 beginning at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., until 6 p.m. It is one of the Midwest’s biggest pride events with over 300,000 attendees each year. This year’s celebration will include festivities such as a DJ and a dance area, a vendor fair with local artists, food courts, and the parade itself. The annual Grand Pride Parade, a march in support of the LGBTQ+ community, will be on Sunday and span down Market Street, overlooking the Arch. Especially during a time in which LGBTQ+ rights are being fervently attacked by the Missouri Legislature, with currently 48 anti-LGBTQ bills, it is more important than ever to stand in support of and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in St. Louis, the entire state of Missouri, and every place where these rights are being threatened. Despite these dark times, the festival will be celebratory and fun, embracing community, diversity, and pride!

— Sylvie Richards, Senior Forum Editor

The MUNY

The MUNY is the oldest and biggest outdoor musical theater in the country, and for every show, they give away 1,400 seats for free! The free seats are given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so get there early. This summer, shows include “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “Chess,” “West Side Story,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Rent,” and “Sister Act.”

— Amelia Raden, Junior Forum Editor

Missouri Botanical Garden 

The Missouri Botanical Garden is an incredible place to go for a stroll, spend time with friends, and enjoy the outdoors. This summer, along with normal garden hours, visitors can see the Chihuly in the Garden art and nature installation. People 21 and over can also participate in events like Grapes in the Garden, where they can enjoy wine and live music with a view of beautiful flowers. 

— Jordan Spector, Junior Forum Editor 

St. Louis Cardinals Games

Full confession –– I saw my very first Cardinals game after over three years at WashU. But now I’m hooked. The season stretches through the summer and is a great way to sit in the sun, chat with friends, (or go solo!) and enjoy baseball’s attempts to entertain you. Caramel popcorn? Delicious! Dance Cam? Hilarious. Fireworks when the Cardinals score? A little startling, but festive. With the new pitch clock, the games last only about 2.5 hours, ending right when you’re about to get bored. Oh, and the baseball is okay, too. 

— Via Poolos, Editor-in-Chief

Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery

Quickly acquiring a line on hot afternoons, Clementine’s Naughty or Nice Creamery is well worth the wait. Located on De Mun Avenue, the small-batch, hand-crafted ice cream shop’s flavors are rich, luxurious, and suited to various customer preferences. Flavor offerings change regularly, but guests 21 and over often enjoy alcohol-infused, “Naughty” options in beloved staples like Maple Bourbon and Boozy Banana Rum, in addition to “Nice,” alcohol-free classics like Honey Lavender and Salted Crack Caramel. Clementine’s also offers various vegan and non-dairy flavors, and alcohol-infused options are available with dietary restrictions (Pink Champagne sorbet is a must!) So whether you’re in the mood for sorbet or ice cream, a treat naughty or nice, Clementine’s is sure to have something for everyone!

— Jasmine Stone, Senior Forum Editor 

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

While as a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur I recommend both Clementine’s and Jeni’s, one factor stands out in my mind as particularly enticing during the summer months — indoor seating. The Jeni’s on N. Euclid Avenue in Central West End provides the option to eat your ice cream in an air-conditioned place, especially appealing in the swampy misery that is St. Louis summertime heat where both you and your ice cream might melt in just a few seconds of being outside. But even without that factor, the ice cream itself is refreshing and delicious, with my favorite year-round flavor being Brambleberry Crisp. Jeni’s also rotates seasonal flavors — including summertime specials such as Lemon & Blueberries Parfait and Golden Nectar. To top it all off, Jeni’s includes a triangular slice of a waffle cone with each ice cream order, the perfect treat for those like me averse to spending extra dollars on the full waffle cone.

— Reilly Brady, Managing Forum Editor 

Concerts

It always surprises me when an artist that I have listened to before comes to St. Louis, (mostly because I cannot believe that anyone would come to St. Louis), but there are a variety of fun concerts and performers coming to St. Louis in the coming months. Among the more notable performers are Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, who can be found in The Dome and The Enterprise Center, respectively. There are also performers like Hippo Campus coming to The Pageant, which is located on The Loop. One benefit of living in St. Louis is that because it is not a popular vacation spot, tickets will not break the bank for those trying to save money over the summer. 

— Elle Su, Senior Photo Editor

Forest Park

Everyone knows about the park (duh!), and it exists all year (double duh!), but it really shines during the summer. Once the weather becomes consistently nice, there’s nothing like a run or bike ride to get yourself some vitamin D. If there’s a nice breeze, go take your picnic blanket or hammock and find a cozy spot to nap. You can wrangle some of your friends and toss a frisbee or fly a kite, too. The zoo is a great time sink, and both the history and art museums provide an air-conditioned respite from the heat — did I mention that all three are free? Here’s an even more niche activity: weather cooperating, the St. Louis Chess Club has 4 outdoor tables near the ice rink and hosts classes on Saturdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

— Ved Patel, Managing Chief of Copy

Staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of our editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the junior and senior staff.