Saint Louis

Where I've Been Spotlight: Best Fourth of July Destinations 2009

Fireworks under the Arch and free concerts highlight some of the country’s most underrated Fourth festivities.

An annual uptick of entertainment offerings has in turn caused in uptick in attendance at Fair St. Louis, the events surrounding the city’s Fourth celebrations. Fitting for their roots in Middle-America, Counting Crows will inaugurate the festivities on Friday, July 3 for the first installment of the Live on the Levee concert series. Their concert will be the appetizer for the 132^nd annual Veiled Prophet Parade the following morning, a St. Louis mainstay, which will snake around town and return to festival grounds alongside the Mississippi River and just under the Gateway Arch.

Saturday’s events will also feature the Purina Incredible Dog Team, which “exemplifies the pinnacle of precision dog training.” Since you’re likely used to a few shades below the pinnacle of precision dog training, it’s clearly not something to be missed. All day long Saturday, two stages will feature a mixture of musicians that will conclude with pop hitmakers Train. If you can squeeze your way through the crowds for some blanket space, the view of the fireworks around the Arch is one of the more picturesque the country has to offer.