Tower Grove Park celebrates 150 years with birthday bash this Sunday

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Tower Grove Park is celebrating 150 years of “common ground” with a birthday bash from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23. This free public event will honor the history and legacy of the iconic park with a fun-filled lineup of food, drinks, activities and entertainment for all. 

“One of my favorite parts about working here is when people talk to me about how much the park means to them,” said Beth Casagrand, director of community programs at Tower Grove Park. “We wanted to celebrate with the community by bringing together anyone and everyone who loves the park.”

Roads will be closed around the event area, so attendees should plan to park near 4145 Main Drive before walking over to the center corridor for the main event area. For delicious food to fuel you through the party, head to Sauce Magazine’s Food Truck Alley, featuring the following trucks frequently at Sauce Food Truck Fridays: Farmtruk, Tuk Tuk Thai, Cha Cha Chow, Angie Burger, Cajun Seduction, Pretzel Boys and Roxy’s Hot Grill. Pair your tasty treats with beverages from STL Barkeep and Schlafly Beer, which will also be available to purchase at multiple locations. Of course, it would not be a birthday party without cake: Be sure to head over to one of three birthday cake stations at 1 p.m. for free cake giveaways, following a celebratory singing of “Happy Birthday” at the main stage.

“A lot of the festivals that Tower Grove Park is known for are not actually put on by the park, but this is truly a celebration from the park,” Casagrand said. For its 150th, the park hopes to bring together many of the organizations they have worked with through interactive booths from over 20 different Tower Grove Park partners. Booths include Forest ReLeaf of Missouri  with a scavenger hunt and the Humane Society of Missouri with dogs for adoption, as well as both Tower Grove Farmers’ Market and Wellbeing Brewing Co. offering samples. Other activities include Touch a Truck! presenting some of the Tower Grove Park operations vehicles, an arts and crafts area with Artscope at the Old Carriage Pavilion, and free airbrush tattoos.

Entertainment at the birthday bash can be enjoyed at either the main stage or children’s performance area. Live music acts at the main stage include local women’s folk rock tribute KG Lang and blues and soul artist Dylan Triplett. Stop by the children’s performance area for local artist Celia’s kid-friendly singalong dance party, or to learn the famous zombie dance from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” with Dance Lab Missouri. 

Throughout the event, keep an eye out for multiple roving entertainers from Circus Kaput including a fire breather, and don’t miss appearances by the St. Louis Cardinals mascot Fredbird and St. Louis Blues mascot Louie. 

The event is sponsored by The Whitaker Foundation with added support from Schlafly Beer.