Celebrate Labor Day With Parades, Music and Festivals

Patch Picks highlights editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more. 

You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girls' nights out, kids' party places, parks and more. 

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the last days of summer than by finding some fun in the St. Louis metro area.

• Go for a Swim: The Florissant pools may not be open Labor Day weekend, but the Wabash Aquatic Facility in Ferguson (501 N. Florissant Rd.) is open to nonresidents on Labor Day if you feel like taking a dip. The fee is $6.50 for swimmers 4 and older; kids 3 and younger are free. The pool is open to nonresidents from 1:15-6 p.m. Monday.
• Get Ready for Some Football: Florissant has two big football games this Saturday with playing at home against Pattonville as well as an inner district battle. battles on the Stars' home turf. If the live games don't interest you, check out Florissant Patch for the play by play after the game.
• Take Part in a Tribute to Our Troops: The Veterans Festival in Forest Park, hosted by the Missouri Veterans Foundation, will take place Saturday through Monday. Events include a parade on Saturday morning, a golf tournament Saturday afternoon and live music all three days. A complete schedule of events can be found on the festival's website.
• Celebrate Red, White and Blues: Head down to Laclede's Landing for the Big Muddy Blues Festival on Saturday and Sunday, which features three stages of bands from 1-11 p.m. each day. Tickets bought by 5 p.m. on Friday are $8 for one day or $15 for both. You can still buy general admission tickets on the day of the show for $10 (cash only) at the main stage ticket booth (700 N. First St.).
• Get Some Culture: If you want to participate in some non-American activities this weekend, head to the Missouri Botanical Garden for its annual  Saturday through Monday. The festival runs from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday. Events include children's activities, cooking demos, karaoke, musical performances and walking tours. Admission to the garden is $15 (ages 13-64), $10 (ages 65 and up) and $5 (ages 3-12).