NextStop Blog

We’re headed into the Labor Day weekend and that means lots of races, parades and festivals. Metro is a great option for getting out and about to enjoy the fun while avoiding road construction, parking and holiday traffic.

Big Muddy Blues Festival

The three-day blues festival will bring music fans down to the riverfront at Laclede’s Landing on September 1 through September 3 to listen to the sounds of local and nationally known artists.

To get to the Big Muddy Blues Festival, ride MetroLink to the Laclede’s Landing Station and use the west entrance on Second Street to reach the festival.

Several bus routes serve the east side of downtown St. Louis near the Laclede’s Landing area. Check Trip Planner for a bus schedule that works best for you, and if you plan on enjoying the festivities into the night, be sure to check schedules in advance for the last departing trains and buses from downtown.

St. Louis Greek Festival

The 100th annual four-day St. Louis Greek Festival kicks off Friday, September 1, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the Central West End. Guests can enjoy Greek cuisine, listen to live music, experience Greek folk dancing and more.

To get there, ride MetroLink to the Central West End MetroLink Station, and walk a short distance north to reach the festival, which takes place at 4967 Forest Park Ave. You can also ride the #10 Gravois-Lindell or the #95 Kingshighway MetroBus routes, which both serve stops near the festival. Keep in mind, those two MetroBus routes will be on reroute starting from the beginning of service Friday until the end of service Monday.

Annual St. Louis Labor Day Parade

The annual Labor Day Parade in downtown St. Louis takes place on Monday, September 4. The parade begins at 9 a.m. on Olive and 13th Street, and then heads east to Tucker. It’ll then make its way south on Tucker and west on Market Street to 15th Street. The Union Station and Civic Center MetroLink Stations will get you the closest to the parade, both located just a couple blocks south of Market Street. Parade-goers can also travel downtown by bus to the Civic Center Transit Center. Please note that during the parade, the #4 Natural Bridge, #11 Chippewa, #19 St. Louis Ave, #40 N. Broadway, #74 Florissant, #94 Page, #97 Delmar and #99 Downtown Trolley, #96 Market Street Shuttle will be rerouted, as well as the #10 Gravois-Lindell, #32 ML King and the #41 Lee.

Japanese Festival

Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. The festival is September 2 through September 4, starting at 10 a.m. each day. Take the #14 Botanical Garden, #80 Park-Shaw or #8 Bates-Morganford.

The Staenberg Group Gateway Cup

Cyclists will participate in a four-day race in four St. Louis neighborhoods over the Labor Day weekend, competing for cash, prizes and medals. Some MetroBus routes will be rerouted during the Gateway Cup. The first part of the race will take place on Friday, September 1, in the Lafayette Square neighborhood and will impact the #80 Park-Shaw MetroBus route. The second leg of the race will occur Saturday in the Francis Park neighborhood. The third phase of the race will take place Sunday on The Hill and will impact the #14 Botanical Garden route. The last leg of the race will will take place Monday in Benton Park and impact the #80 Park-Shaw.

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To plan your Labor Day adventure on public transit, use the Metro On The Go app or Trip Planner, or call Metro Transit Information at 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!