September Bucket List: Local Adventures, Harvest & Healing in St. Louis, MO (2025)

As summer’s heat begins to fade and the air turns crisper, September in St. Louis offers a perfect balance of vibrant festival life, harvest flavors, and quiet moments for healing. This month brings opportunities to reconnect with community, with the land, and with yourself. Here’s a curated list of experiences to savor before October rolls in.

1. Celebrate Local Festivals & Events

St. Louis bursts into color and sound in September. These festivals are great for community, food, music, and local culture.

• Evolution Music Festival (Sep 27–28, Forest Park)One of the big ones: national, regional, and local music acts, food vendors, art booths, community vibe. (Visit Missouri)

• Saint Louis Art Fair (Sep 5–7, Clayton)A great place to browse art, enjoy outdoor ambiance, support artists, and perhaps find something inspiring for your space. (Explore St. Louis)

• Kirkwood Greentree Festival (Sep 12–14, Kirkwood Park)A family-friendly festival with a hometown feel: parade, food vendors, live music, and kid-friendly events. (STLParent.com)

• South Grand Fall Fest (Sep 20, Ritz Park)Vendors, crafts, local food, live entertainment, and a vibrant spirit of community. Great for strolling, people-watching, discovering local artisans. (St. Louis Mom)

• AppleFest at Eckert Farms (all weekends in September)For those in the mood for harvest fun: apple picking, wagon rides, festival treats, and that autumn charm. (Sauce Magazine)

• Great Forest Park Balloon Race Weekend (around Sep 19-20)A beloved tradition: hot air balloons, balloon glow, fireworks, food trucks, and stunning skies above Forest Park. (Forest Park Forever)

• Fall Farm Festival at The Magic House (Sep 13)Perfect for families or anyone who loves farm animals, tractors, and hands-on fun in a cozy environment. (STLParent.com)

2. Harvest Flavors & Agritourism

One of the best parts of early fall is enjoying seasonal produce and getting back to the earth.

• Visit Eckert’s AppleFests to pick apples, try fresh cider, donuts, caramel apples, enjoy live music. (Sauce Magazine)

• Check out farmers markets: local markets like Soulard Farmers Market are usually still going strong this time of year with fresh produce, herbs, pumpkins, and seasonal goods.  

• Orchard or farm visits: lookup nearby farms for U-pick experiences (apples, maybe pears), pumpkin patches; sometimes they have fall decor, photo ops, hayrides.

  
  

3. Nature Walks, Outdoor Calm & Healing Activities

Let nature be part of your wellness routine this month. The gentle transition of seasons invites reflection and restoration.

• Forest Park Events

  • Fall Storytime in Forest Park – a peaceful morning among trees and fresh air. (Forest Park Forever)

  • Nature walk & happy hour events & bird-walking in Forest Park, especially early morning or dusk. (Forest Park Forever)

• Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum ToursScenic walking tours are offered in September. You get history, beautiful foliage, meditation in motion. (Explore St. Louis)

• Sunset hikes or walksTry places like Tower Grove Park, Laumeier Sculpture Park, or smaller neighborhood parks to soak in autumn colors, cooler evenings, and restorative walks.

  
  

4. Wellness & Self-Care

As the rhythms slow, it’s an ideal time to lean into healing and reset routines.

• Begin a nightly ritual: herbal tea + journaling, maybe using seasonal herbs (chamomile, lavender).

• Try local spa offers or wellness events (sound baths, yoga outdoors if possible). Check community centers or studios for September specials.

• Embrace shorter days: turn off electronics earlier, dim lights, get extra rest, adapt your sleep schedule.

  
  

5. Creative & Cultural Nourishment

Feed your mind and spirit.

• Visit museums: Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Science Center. Many of these will have special exhibits in September. (Forest Park Forever)

• Check local theater, music venues for concerts or small shows. For example, anything new in the Grand Center Arts District around this time. (Explore St. Louis)

• Try your hand at fall crafts: pumpkin carving, autumn wreath-making, pressing leaves. Join a workshop or craft fair to gather supplies.

  
  

6. Community & Giving Back

Healing isn’t just individual; being part of community helps.

• Volunteer with local gardens (like Gateway Greening) to help with harvest, cleanups, or planting bulbs for next spring. (Wikipedia)

• Support local businesses at festivals and markets; buy from artisans, farmers.

• Attend community gatherings—festivals, fall fairs, markets—not just for fun but to engage, reconnect, share stories.

  
  

7. Sample September Bucket List Itinerary

To help you weave these ideas into your schedule, here’s a sample bucket-list you might follow:

Weekend	Adventure	Harvest Experience	Healing / Wellness
First weekend (Sep 5-7)	Saint Louis Art Fair (Clayton)	Visit Soulard Farmers Market for seasonal produce	Evening nature walk, herbal tea ritual
Second weekend (Sep 12-14)	Kirkwood Greentree Festival	AppleFest at Eckert’s	Tour Bellefontaine Cemetery, reflect & journal
Third weekend (Sep 19-21)	Great Forest Park Balloon Race & Glow	Orchard or pumpkin patch	Restorative yoga or forest walk at sunset
Fourth weekend (Sep 27-28-)	Evolution Music Festival	Brew cider or bake with seasonal fruit	Attend museum exhibit or craft workshop

8. Reflective Quotes & Moments

“September in St. Louis: when air feels like a soft invitation to slow down.”

“Harvest isn’t just picking apples—it’s also gathering moments of peace.”

“Festivals fill your calendar, nature fills your soul.”

Why This Month Matters

September is the hinge between the energy of summer and the introspection of autumn. It’s a month of transition—both external and internal. As leaves begin to turn, we too can shift: release what no longer serves us, savor what remains, plant seeds (literal or metaphorical) for the coming months.

By leaning into local adventures, harvest experiences, and healing practices, we don’t just pass the time—we luxuriate in it. We make memories, nourish our bodies, feed our creativity, and ground our hearts.