NextStop Blog

Thousands of visitors from across the bi-state area will head to downtown St. Louis on Thursday, July 4, for Celebrate St. Louis to enjoy the parade, airshow, music, food, fireworks and more! Metro Transit is one of the best ways to get to all of the festivities – without dealing with road construction, street closures, traffic and parking issues.

Metro Transit Guide to Celebrate St. Louis 

America’s Birthday Parade | 10 a.m.
Celebrate St. Louis festivities start with America’s Birthday Parade at 10 a.m. The parade travels west on Market Street from Broadway to 17th Street.
Transit Options: MetroLink – Union Station, Civic Center or Stadium MetroLink Stations (just south of parade route); MetroBus – Civic Center Transit Center (just south of parade route)

July 4^th Celebration on Riverfront | Noon
Vendor booths officially open up on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. along the riverfront and Gateway Arch grounds.
Transit Options: MetroLink – Laclede’s Landing and Convention Center MetroLink Stations

Eads Bridge 150^th Celebration | 1:35 p.m.
Special ceremony with music on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. to commemorate the opening of historic Eads Bridge in 1874. The bridge, designed and built by James Buchanan Eads, is the oldest bridge standing on the Mississippi River. It is used daily by pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and MetroLink trains to travel across the Mississippi.
Transit Options: MetroLink – Laclede’s Landing MetroLink Station

Airshow | 2 p.m.
The 4th of July airshow returns to downtown St. Louis, with the best viewing available along the riverfront and Gateway Arch grounds.
Transit Options: MetroLink – Laclede’s Landing and Convention Center MetroLink Stations

Musical Performances | 4 p.m. – 9:40 p.m.
The Gateway Arch grounds will also host a number of musical performances on July 4, including FEEL, Lupe Fiasco, LOCASH and The Urge.
Transit Options: MetroLink – Laclede’s Landing and Convention Center MetroLink Stations

Fireworks at the Arch | 9:40 p.m.
Enjoy the 43^rd year of mesmerizing fireworks over the Mississippi River, framed by the iconic Gateway Arch.
Transit Options: MetroLink – Laclede’s Landing and Convention Center MetroLink Stations

Metro Transit Information for July 4

MetroLink will operate on a weekend schedule on July 4, with trains arriving and departing downtown St. Louis every 10 minutes. There are 21 free Park-Ride lots with more than 10,000 free parking spaces available where you can park your vehicles, and ride MetroLink to any downtown station. Please note that the 8^th & Pine MetroLink Station will be closed on July 4 due to ongoing construction work.

Customers should note that the last MetroLink trains leave downtown on July 4 around midnight, and they are encouraged to check the weekend schedule in advance for departure times. Metro Transit will have extra public safety and security personnel, law enforcement officers, transit personnel and volunteer employee ambassadors on the transit system on July 4 to assist fairgoers. Metro Public Safety is available by calling 314.289.6873 or by texting 314.300.0188.

MetroBus is another great option to enjoy Celebrate St. Louis festivities, with more than a dozen bus routes serving the Civic Center Transit Center, located just south of Enterprise Center at 14th & Spruce Streets in downtown St. Louis. A one-ride MetroBus ticket is just $1.

Use the Transit app to conveniently plan your 4th of July Metro Transit trips and avoid lines at the Ticket Vending Machines by purchasing a $5 Day Pass mobile fare to enjoy unlimited rides on MetroLink and MetroBus for an entire day. You can also contact Metro Transit Information for assistance at 314.231.2345 (phone) or 314.207.9786 (text), available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Metro Transit Information is closed on July 4.

No eating, drinking, smoking or vaping (including e-cigarettes) is permitted on Metro vehicles or property. Only personal sized coolers are allowed to be brought on trains, buses and Metro Call-A-Ride vans. Alcohol and firearms (both open carry and concealed carry) are prohibited on Metro Transit vehicles and Metro property. Child strollers and wagons must be able to be broken down and stowed while on the train.