Fair Saint Louis

Established in 1878 and reconstituted in 1981, the Veiled Profit Fair, nominally the Fair Saint Louis starting in in 1992, is an annual festival held during the July 4 holiday in downtown St. Louis, Missouri at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Some call it "America's largest birthday party". The event showcases a variety of attractions, educational activities, a barbecue competition, stages featuring popular entertainers, and an enormous fireworks display held nightly.

Background

Known as the "Veiled Prophet Fair" (or sometimes just "VP Fair") to the public, and officially prior to 1992, Fair Saint Louis was organized by the Veiled Prophet Organization, a secret society of prominent St. Louisans who also put on the "Veiled Prophet Ball", a debutante ball held annually in December, as well as the Veiled Prophet Parade, which usually kicks off Fair Saint Louis. [1]

2011 Schedule

The announced schedule of musical acts for 2011 are as follows:

Fair Saint Louis

July 2 - Steve Miller Band

July 3 - Maroon 5

July 4 - Montgomery Gentry

Celebrate Summer Concerts Series

July 15 - Bell Biv Devoe

July 16 - Gavin DeGraw

July 22 - Keb' Mo'

July 23 - Barenaked Ladies

Fair St. Louis Music Video Contest Winners

July 2 - Doorway

July 3 - Option// Control

July 4 - Last Nights Vice

References

• Spencer, Thomas M. The St. Louis Veiled Prophet Celebration: Power on Parade, 1877-1995 (University of Missouri Press: 2000). [2]

External links

• Veiled Prophet Grand March music by 19th century St. Louis composer J. W. Postlewaite
• Veiled Prophet Photographs from the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the University of Missouri–St. Louis