Forest Park is turning 150, and the whole St. Louis community is invited to the party: celebrate the Park’s birthday on June 24 and experience 150 ways to enjoy this community treasure throughout the next year.

St. Louis’ largest park, which was again voted the best city park in the United States earlier this year, was dedicated on June 24, 1876. On Wednesday, June 24, visitors can celebrate the birthday by stopping by select Forest Park locations morning, noon and evening:

6:30 a.m.: Join GO! St. Louis for a free community run/walk. Meet at the Visitor Center to start an easy 3-mile route. Along the way, stop at a few key Forest Park locations to hear from our friends from the Missouri History Museum, who will share fascinating stories, people, and moments that helped shape Forest Park over the last 150 years.

7-9 a.m.: Breakfast in front of the History Museum. Join us in front of the north entrance to the Missouri History Museum, which will provide free coffee, a breakfast bite, and an introduction to the Park Passport.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Sculpture and ice cream at the Art Museum. Saint Louis Art Museum volunteer educators will be stationed in the Museum’s Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden, ready to engage in conversation about the sculptures, including their histories and the processes for installing and caring for artworks in the great outdoors. Free frozen custard from Ted Drewes — another iconic St. Louis destination — will be available while supplies last, starting at noon.

2 – 3 p.m.: Boating on Post-Dispatch Lake. Rent a paddleboat, kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard — or a bike! — from Big Muddy Adventures at the Boathouse and create memories on the water in the middle of one of America’s great urban parks.

4 – 7 p.m.: Music, food, skating and more by the Boathouse. Join us for a birthday party for the best city park in the country! We’ll have live music, a photo booth, free birthday treats, drinks, tennis, and pickleball at Dwight Davis (4-6 p.m.) and community roller skating with Skate Culture! Also joining us will be several authors and artists who are releasing work about Forest Park. Park in the Visitor Center lots and make your way to the Boathouse Beer and Wine Garden.

On June 24, and throughout the next year, visitors can also pick up the new Forest Park Passport, a special booklet with 150 different activities to do in the Park.

“Everyone has their favorite, go-to places and activities in Forest Park,” said Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley Hoffarth. “The Passport is an invitation to learn more about those places and explore new areas and activities you never knew existed in this 1,300-acre community treasure.”

As participants complete activities in the Passport, they can earn prizes and enter a drawing for grand prizes to be awarded in summer 2027.

Passport Info

How to Get Your Passport

Share Your Passport Progress

  • As you complete activities, use hashtag #forestparkpassport on social media
  • Tag @forestparkforever and partner institutions

Price

  • The passport is free.
  • Almost all of the activities (98%) are free.

Information on 150th anniversary activities, as well as merchandise, and other items commemorating the anniversary, can be found here: www.forestparkforever.org/150