Whitaker Music Festival

There is so much to do in St. Louis this summer that you’d better start planning early. Right at the top of my calendar is the Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Wednesday evenings in the summer you can sit on the lawn of the Botanical Gardens and enjoy music from some great artists. For more info about the bands featured at the Whitaker Music Festival, check out this great breakdown on all of this year’s artists over at MarsBands. Make sure to click on the blue buttons to find out artist backgrounds, read a review, and hear the artists’ works.

Photo credit: LeeAnn Gomes, Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden

Schedule

May 30: Marquise Knox - Blues guitar prodigy, a returning artist from last year’s festival

June 6: Vince Martin - Vocalist, guitarist and entertainer

June 13: Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers - Hot jazz, swing and rhythm and blues

June 20: The Rockhouse Ramblers - Honky-tonk and classic swing

June 27: Hamiet Bluiett - Jazz legend and baritone saxophonist

July 4: Air National Guard Band of the Central States - Military tradition, jazz and big band

July 11: Ryan Spearman Band - Folk artist and multi-instrumentalist

July 18: Teresa Jenee - Soulful, introspective pianist and vocalist

July 25: Aaron Kamm and the One Drops - A blend of roots reggae and blues

The shows are held every Wednesday from May 30 through July 25, 2012. There is free admission to the gardens after 5 PM, the music begins at 7:30 PM and the last entry is at 9 PM. As a special treat, the Children’s Garden is also open for free from 5 PM to 7 PM.

Guests can bring in lawn chairs, coolers and picnic food. Picnic fare is also available for purchase on site, including brisket sandwiches, hot dogs, cheese and grape plates, sno-cones, chips, cookies, beer, wine and soda. It can be quite a walk from the parking lots so get there early and pack your gear in a rolling cooler or in a backpack.

Experience More at MOBOT

Don’t forget that the Missouri Botanical Garden will be holding their Lantern Festival this summer. The opening weekend will be held May 26—28, 2012. From May 31 through July 29 you can view the lanterns on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. From August 1 through August 19 you can view the lanterns daily. You won’t be able to see the lanterns during the Whitaker Music Festival so you’ll have to make a separate trip.

Don’t worry, the gardens are worth it! See how much I loved the garden last summer. I already have tickets bought for the festival so I’ll be showing off pictures soon enough. I’m planning on seeing at least two shows for the Whitaker concerts, which ones do you think I should see?