The St. Louis Weekend Events Guide for Thursday, January 7th through Sunday, January 10th, 2016. Happy New year!

Downtown/Soulard

*Twelfth Night: The official start of St. Louis Mardi Gras! The festivities start at 5pm with the petitioning of the Mardi Gras, Inc. Board of Directors. Dignitaries, parade krewes, community organizations, and anyone else of good will and cheer is encouraged to make a creative appeal to the Board to host the annual pre-lenten celebration. At 6:45, after a lengthy, tense, and somewhat raucous debate the Board emerges on the front steps of Johnny’s to announce it’s decision. A decision of this magnitude must be properly fete’d and what better way to do so than with a parade through the streets of Soulard stopping along the way to toast at several of Soulard’s venerable establishments. It all culminates at Soulard Market in Rudy Commons with the coronation of the 2016 Rex.

Date: Wednesday, January 6
Time: 5pm
Place: Johnny’s in Soulard

Prohibition Thursdays: Thaxton Speakeasy presents it’s weekly prohibition event with roaring 20’s & 30’s fashion, hot jazz & blues, bathtub gin, moonshine, classic cocktails and live music from The Gaslight Squares. Don’t forget to call ahead to get the password. Door cover is $7 or $5 with the password.

Date: Thursday, January 7
Time: 9pm
Place: Thaxton Speakeasy- 1009 Olive St

Hot Country Nights with Dan + Shay: Get ready to get your country on with Dan + Shay performing live on the FOX Sports Midwest Live! stage as Ballpark Village continues their 92.3 WIL HOT COUNTRY NIGHTS Presented by FORD series. Look for Parmalee, Chris Janson, Joe Nichols, and Billy Currington to come in future weeks. Tickets are $11 in advance and $15 the day of.

Date: Friday, January 8
Time: 6pm
Place: Ballpark Village- 601 Clark Ave

Marvel Universe Live: Marvel fans, assemble! Marvel Universe LIVE! is taking the live entertainment experience to a whole new level, with a mind-blowing show unlike anything you’ve seen before. Watch your favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man, The Avengers – Iron Man, Hulk, and more, and threatening villains come to life in an action-packed arena extravaganza with cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles and more. It’s being hailed as the most technically advanced live show ever. Tickets start at $25.

Date: January 8-10
Time: Fri: 7pm, Sat: 11am, 3pm, 7pm, Sun: 12 & 4pm
Place: Scottrade Center

Mardi Gras Family Winter Carnival: Bring the family down to Soulard this Saturday, January 9 for some family-friendly Mardi Gras fun under the big white tent. There will be fun things for the kids, like inflatables and bounce houses, as well as plenty of face-painting and craft-making. Fire trucks and police vehicles will also be on hand to explore.

Date: Saturday, January 9
Time: 12-4Pm
Place: Soulard Market Park

2nd Annual STL Motorcycle Show: This year’s show includes 100,000 square feet of exhibit space with over 40 exhibitors. Enjoy Stunt Performances both days by ILL Conduct & XPOGO, A Custom Bike Show, Live Music, A Free Photo Boot, A Vintage Bike Exhibition, and appearances by Radio Personalities Jeff Burton & Lux from 105.7 The Point, John Ulett & Favazz from KSHE 95, and Dave Glover & Mark Klose from FM NewsTalk 97.1. Adults tickets are $10 and children 15 & Under are free. Check the link for a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon.

Date: January 9 & 10
Time: Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun: 10am-4pm
Place: America’s Center – 701 Convention Plaza

The Wedding Show: The largest wedding planning event in the Midwest. The Wedding Show takes the stress out of your wedding planning. In just one afternoon you will see more wedding businesses than you could visit in a month on your own. We bring you a face-to-face sampling of virtually everything you’ll need to make your wedding day perfect with over 200 wedding exhibits, a New York style runway show, live entertainment, transportation displays, and great discount and prizes. Registration is $8 per person. This year Ballpark Village & The Wedding Show have partnered to offer a Free Wedding Show Shuttle and fun “After Party” at Ballpark Village with drink and food specials when showing your Wedding Show ticket stub.

Date: January 9 & 10
Time: 11am-4pm
Place: America’s Center – 701 Convention Plaza

St. Charles

Motorcycles on Ice: Xtreme International Ice Racing is a Professional Racing tour…On Ice! Man and machine going from 0-60mph in under 3 seconds! Speedway bikes and quads are modified and compete on an indoor ice arena. There are over 2000 metal studs added to the tires and there are no brakes! There will be 20-25 races. Heats consist of four riders racing handlebar-to-handlebar for four laps. The Main Event consists of six riders for six laps. Tickets are $5-$25.

Date: Saturday, January 9
Time: 7:30pm
Place: St. Charles Family Arena

Illinois

Let’s Go Fishing Show: The show for fishermen. Over 100 exhibitors showcasing a wide variety of fishing tackle, rods, reels, trolling motors, depth finders and much more at discount pricing, Boat dealers with the hottest fishing boats with dealer incentives, Q & A sessions with Elite Series Champions Todd Faircloth and Brent Chapman, Free seminars full of helpful tips on fishing for bass, crappie, trout, catfish, muskie and other species, Reel in a fish at the Cabela’s Free Fishing Pond, Fishing Simulator from Illinois Department of Natural Recourses, Live Animal Exhibit from Treehouse Wildlife Center, National Lure Collectors Club Antique Lure Display & Free Appraisals, Educational Displays and Live Demos, and a sports lounge with Fishing Buddy Beer & Wing Specials. Win prizes including rod & reel combos courtesy I’ll Be Jigged, a 6 Hour Guided Crappie or Catfish trip with Rend Lake Fishing Guides, and an All Inclusive 4 Night Fishing Trip in Canada courtesy of Zup’s Fishing Resort & Canoe Outfitters. All activities are included with admission. Tickets will be available at the door with regular prices $7 for adults, $3.50 for ages 6-15; children 5 and under are free.

Date: January 8-10
Time: Fri: 11am-8pm, Sat: 9am-7pm, Sun: 10am-4pm
Place: Gateway Center – Collinsville, IL

Brought to you by Mills Apartments