ST. LOUIS — Fireworks will light up the St. Louis skyline once again during the Fourth of July.
Fair Saint Louis announced the annual July 4th Fireworks Spectacular will return against the backdrop of the Gateway Arch.
After the success of the 2022 Fair, the committee said it recognized unique opportunities to build upon the brand. Last year's events spanned the whole weekend with concerts and vendors.
This year, events including the Fireworks Spectacular will be pared down to a single day as the organization works to develop a reimagined, city-wide celebration for summer 2024.
“Enlisting the talents of a wide-ranging and inclusive group of organizers from throughout the St. Louis area, we envision an exciting and memorable 2024 event to celebrate our city,” said Tim Meers, General Chairman of Fair Saint Louis.
“While we are still early in the planning and development stage, we will usher in a new era for St. Louis entertainment next year, and we see a bright future for the Fair’s revamped offerings that include our area's civic, business, government and charitable organizations coming together to be a part of something new and exciting for our City," Meers said.
When asked if Fair Saint Louis would consider a move out of downtown, Fair Saint Louis Foundation Chairman David Estes told 5 On Your Side, "We have no plans to ever leave downtown and the arch grounds we love St. Louis. We love showcasing St. Louis and we love being downtown."
The shortened fair might actually help small business owners like Roxanne Bowers. She owns St. Francois County-based food truck, Roxy's Hot Grill.
"It gives us a chance to not only us but also our team members because we can't do it without team, to be able to go...less travel, bigger impact," Bowers tells 5 On Your Side.
In the past, Roxanne and Roxy's Hot Grill weren't able to attend a multiple-day event in the city. But with the fair going down to one day, attending is a more obtainable goal.
The Gateway Legends esports Tournament will take place over Memorial Day weekend. The tournament was held during the Fair for the past two years but will now be a separate and unique annual event.
Additional information and lineups will be released at a later date. Find more information about Fair Saint Louis here.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
