Your weekend events in St. Louis for Thursday, February 20th through Sunday, February 23rd. Just 2 weeks until the Mardi Gras Grand Parade!

Highlighted Event:

Taste of Soulard: Also the highlight of my year. It’s like Mardi Gras, but with delicious food and less people. Experience the bars and restaurants of Soulard while indulging in samples of some great food. $25 gets you a booklet with coupons for six food samples and 1 sample of Southern Comfort. It’s a chance to explore places in Soulard you’ve never checked out before. Create your own crawl, complete with shuttles running around the neighborhood. Each participating bar will offer a signature dish or drink for your ticket.

Date: Sat, Feb 22nd & Sun, Feb 23rd
Time: 11am-5pm
Place: Soulard

Thursday

St. Louis Centennial Beer Festival: It kicks off with the Brewmaster’s Dinner ft Four Hands Brewery on Thursday from 6-9pm. Then on Friday & Saturday take advantage of over 200 different beers from more than 20 local brewing companies including Alpha, 2nd Shift, Schlafly, Six Row, Civil Life, Cathedral Square, Urban Chestnut and so many more. It’s probably a good idea to purchase your tickets as soon as possible because it’s a pretty popular event. Both the Brewmaster Dinner and VIP Tasting sold out quickly last year. Tickets for Friday are $31.50 in advance, Saturday $26.50 in advance. Go VIP for an extra $20 and experience special tastings, a pairing menu, and a commemorative tasting glass.

Date: Thursday, Feb 20th – Saturday, Feb 22nd
Time: Fri: 6-9pm, Sat: 2-5pm & 6-9pm
Place: Moulin Events – 2017 Chouteau Ave

Out in the City: Join ALIVE Magazine and Dr. Brandon Hentze for an evening of mingling, and check out the 250 in 250 exhibition at the Missouri History Museum. A $5 suggested donation will go to PROMO, Missouri’s statewide organization for advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality through legislative action, electoral politics, grassroots organizing, and community education. Enjoy a complimentary beer from Bud Light and appetizers from 6-7pm. Celebrate the 250th anniversary of St. Louis with Pinnacle Vodka Birthday Cake cocktail samples and special pricing on Pinnacle Vodka and Anheuser-Busch products.

Date: Thursday, Feb 20th
Time: 6-9pm
Place: Bixby’s – MO History Museum

Whiskey Ring Happy Hour: Come out for a Happy Hour and Grand Opening Party for Cherokee Street’s newly opened bar, The Whiskey Ring. Plus, take a tour of Native Sound Studio. CAM’s Audible Interruptions curator, Kevin Harris, will be joining the fun and answering your questions about sound art.

Date: Thursday, Feb 20th
Time: 6-8pm
Place: The Whiskey Ring – 2651 Cherokee St

Friday

Naughti Gras 7: Naughti Gras has become a well attended event over the past few years and has expanded to 2 buildings. The Victor building will be encased in art, feature talented stage performances, musical entertainment, an erotic market, food options, a full bar, as well as some new exciting additions. The 2500 Ohio location will be turned into a glorious erotic playground where your desires can come out to play. Walk through themed rooms and enjoy interactive characters, ambient performances, live art, and detailed spaces that will arouse your imagination. Naughti Gras 7 will be a sultry delight for the senses. Enjoy fantastic entertainment and performances. Take in an array of hand picked erotic art in all mediums and styles created by talented local artists. GA tickets are $15 in advance. Or Go VIP for $75 and get entry into the Private Artists Reception on February 20th with complimentary drinks and all of the additional viewings of the art show after the event has ended.

Date: Fri, Feb 21st & Sat, Feb 22nd
Time: 7pm-1am
Place: Koken Art Factory – 2500 Ohio and 2655 Victor

Third Friday Free Twofer Fun: Valentine’s Day + Mardi Gras = Sweetheart Mardi Gras Mashup Third Friday. Glass blowing demos starting at 6pm. Make your own glass art creation such as fused jewelry, beads, winter tiles and magnets, and more ($25-$35). Or create a Token of Affection heart tile with your sweetie for $10. Enjoy free photos at the Fun Photo Events photo booth. They supply the masks, wigs, props. Show your love with free henna tattoos by Allyson. Vincent Van Doughnut Food Truck tempts with Valentine and Mardi Gras beignets. $2 and up. Enjoy Chef Heidi N’Orleans menu and the drink of the month: Raspberry Chocolate Martini while listening to The Kevin Mitchell 4 and watching the Fire Techs fire spinning performance.

Date: Friday, February 21st
Time: 6-9pm
Place: Third Degree Glass Factory – 5200 Delmar

Saturday & Sunday

Working Women’s Survival Show: The show, now in it’s 27th year, is the Ultimate Girls Day Out. With over 370 exhibits, 25 professional seminars, and 3 stages, you’ll experience free manicures, waxes, and pedicures, yoga classes, cooking demonstrations, fitness tips from special guest and celebrity personal trainer, Bob Harper from NBC’s The Biggest Loser. Other special guests include Barry Williams, television’s iconic star “Greg” from the Brady Bunch, the stars of Thrift Shop Divas, and Michael O’Rourke, renowned Los Angeles hair stylist and creator of “Rock Your Hair” products. Sign up for the Ultimate Grand Prize, which includes a backstage meeting with Bob Harper, a spa day package, a restaurant gift card for four, an outfit from one of our Main Stage fashionistas and a new pair of Nike running shoes.

Date: Fri, Feb 21st – Sun, Feb 23rd
Time: Fri: 11am-8pm, Sat: 10am-8pm, Sun: 11am-5pm
Place: St.Charles Convention Center

Run For Your Beads 5K: Held the morning of the first day of Taste of Soulard, this 5k features beer and hurricane stations in addition to water stations along the route. Prizes for first place in your division and also for best costumes. Everyone who enters gets the limited edition Run For Your Beads t-shirt and complimentary beer and hurricanes (if you are 21 or older). Registration is $25 in advance or $30 day of. Stay for Taste of Soulard, beginning at 11am.

Date: Saturday, Feb 22nd
Time: 9am
Place: Soulard Market Park

Great Area Restaurant Chili Cook Off: Enjoy a taste as area restaurants compete for the best chili recipe using Ferguson Brewing Company beers. All proceeds go to Stray Rescue of Saint Louis. $30 gets you chili, beer, soda and wine or you can donate a can of dog food and pay only $25. Support your local restaurants, brewery, and Stray Rescue while enjoying hot chili and a cold beer.

Date: Sunday, Feb 23rd
Time: 3-7pm
Place: Ferguson Brewing Co – 418 S. Florissant Rd

Mardi Gras Beggin’ Pet Parade: There’s almost too much going on to explain. The Pet Parade is the highlight of the season for many St. Louisans. It’s free to watch or you can join with a $10 donation to Open Door Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter. All pets are welcome (including llamas says the website). This year, the event’s 21st, will feature Andy Cohen as the Grand Marshal. There will also be a pet look-alike contest, PetSmart Wiener Dog Derby, and a free post-parade concert by the Barenaked Ladies.

Date: Sunday, Feb 23rd
Time: Party starts at 10am, parade at 1pm
Place: Soulard (Parade starts at Allen & Menard)

Want more info on Mardi Gras 2014 events? Check here. Want all the inside info on Grand Parade Day (BYOB, parking, live music, and more)? Check out iLoveSoulard.com.

Brought to you by Mills Properties