Fair Saint Louis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Established in 1878 and reconstituted in 1981, Fair Saint Louis 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, including air shows (often including the Blue Angels), educational activities, a barbecue competition, stages featuring popular entertainers, and an enormous fireworks display held nightly.

[edit] Background

Known as the "Veiled Prophet Fair" (or sometimes just "VP Fair") prior to 1992, Fair Saint Louis is 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]

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

• Official Site of Fair Saint Louis
• Veiled Prophet Photographs in the Western Historical Manuscript Collection at the University of Missouri-St. Louis