NextStop Blog

Photo Credit: Fair Saint Louis

Tens of thousands of people will celebrate Independence Day at the America’s Birthday Parade in downtown St. Louis on Saturday, July 1, and at Fair Saint Louis in Forest Park on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (July 2-4). Metro makes it easy to enjoy all of the fun and festivities without having to deal with blocked streets, traffic jams or parking.

America’s Birthday Parade – July 1

MetroLink is a great option to get to the America’s Birthday Parade downtown. Park your vehicle at any one of 21 free Metro Park-Ride lots in Missouri and Illinois and ride to the Union Station, Civic Center, and Stadium Stations, which are all just a few blocks south of the parade route on Market Street.

MetroLink will be operating on a weekend schedule on Saturday, July 1, and both eastbound and westbound trains will be arriving in and leaving downtown every 10 minutes. Metro will also have extra security and personnel to assist passengers.

MetroBus is another great option. Ride on any of 13 MetroBus routes to 18^th & Clark Street near Union Station, and walk a few blocks north to the parade route. With Market Street being closed for the parade, some MetroBus routes will detoured, but even with the detours, you’ll still be able to get within a few blocks of the parade route.

Fair Saint Louis – July 2, 3 & 4

MetroLink is the most convenient transportation option to Forest Park and enjoy the fun, food, music and fireworks of Fair Saint Louis. Each day of the fair, Metro will add extra MetroLink trains into service each evening to accommodate the tens of thousands of fairgoers expected to attend the celebration in Forest Park.

To minimize crowds and long lines, we encourage you to use one of two designated stations to access Fair Saint Louis:

• Blue Line passengers are encouraged to use the Skinker MetroLink Station.
• Red Line passengers are encouraged to go to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station.

Both stations are about a half-mile from fairground entrances.

MetroBus is another option. Most MetroBus routes connect with MetroLink, and the #2 Red, #16 City Limits and #90 Hampton MetroBus routes have stops near Forest Park. The #3 Forest Park Trolley will not be in service for the duration of the fair, July 2-4.

Metro employees and public safety officers will be working with local law enforcement to safely and efficiently transport fairgoers taking MetroLink to and from the fair.

Trains will be crowded, especially after the firework shows each night, so riders are asked to be patient and respectful of others. No eating, drinking or smoking (including e-cigarettes) is allowed on Metro vehicles or on Metro property. For those bringing strollers on the MetroLink, please be prepared to fold them up before boarding the train. Alcohol and firearms are prohibited on Metro vehicles and Metro property, and no alcohol or coolers are allowed at the fair. Pets are not permitted on Metro vehicles, except for service animals.

Free Park-Ride Lots

Feel free to park at any one of 20 free Park-Ride lots at MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois. A total of more than 10,000 free parking spaces are available. Large numbers of free parking spaces include:

• North Hanley MetroLink Station: 1,731 spaces
• Brentwood I-64 MetroLink Station: 914 spaces
• Fairview Heights MetroLink Station: 853 spaces
• Emerson Park MetroLink Station: 815 spaces
• Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 MetroLink Station: 800 spaces

Please note that the Park-Ride lot at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station will be closed during Fair Saint Louis.

Transit Schedules

MetroLink will operate on a weekend schedule on Sunday, July 2, on a regular weekday schedule on Monday, July 3, and on a weekend schedule on Tuesday, July 4. Extra trains will be put into service each evening on those dates to accommodate Fair Saint Louis attendees.

MetroBus will operate on a Sunday schedule on Sunday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 4, and on a regular weekday schedule on Monday, July 3.

Purchasing Tickets

Metro employees and ticket agents will be at select MetroLink stations along the system to assist fairgoers all three days. For only $5 – the cost of two one-ride tickets – you can enjoy a round-trip ride to Fair Saint Louis on MetroLink.

Passengers are encouraged to purchase two one-ride tickets while on their way to Fair Saint Louis to avoid delays and waiting in line to purchase tickets when they leave the fair.

Plan Your Trip

To plan your trip on Metro to the America’s Birthday Parade or Fair Saint Louis, download the Metro On The Go App to your mobile device, use the Trip Planner on metrostlouis.org or contact Metro Transit Information at 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Metro Transit Information phone lines will be closed on July 4.