The 35th annual Fair Saint Louis will be held Thursday through Saturday, July 2-4, in Forest Park. The event has again been relocated from its usual site this year due to ongoing construction in the area around the Gateway Arch.
In the spirit of community partnership, and given the proximity of the park to campus, Washington University in St. Louis has agreed to sponsor Fair Saint Louis by providing access to several campus parking areas during the fair.
Beginning at 3:30 p.m. July 2 until the fair ends July 4, the university will allow Fair Saint Louis to manage parking for fair visitors at a number of campus lots.
Vehicles that are parked in these lots prior to this time will be allowed to remain, but they will not be able to re-enter without paying applicable fair parking fees.
Large crowds are expected, and anyone who does not need to drive to campus during the holiday weekend is advised not to. The fair opens at 5 p.m. July 2 and at noon July 3 and 4, and it runs until 10:30 p.m. each day.
To minimize disruption and provide access to those who may need to drive to campus for university business during the fair, parking will be reserved for university employees and students in the following areas:
- Danforth University Center (DUC) parking garage
- South 40 parking lots and garages
- West Campus upper lot
- West side of North Campus parking lot
- All parking facilities serving the Washington University School of Medicine (except Lot L)
University parking personnel will be stationed at the entrances to these locations, and anyone wishing to park will be required to show a valid Washington University parking permit, a university ID or other documentation to verify their purpose for parking on campus.
Other on-campus parking areas will be managed by Fair Saint Louis, which may charge a fee, with all proceeds benefiting Fair Saint Louis. The university will not profit from the revenue.
Visit the Fair Saint Louis transportation website for a comprehensive transportation and parking plan.
To accommodate those who are on the Danforth Campus July 2-4, food service will be available at the Danforth University Center during these hours:
- July 2, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
- July 3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
- July 4, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
“We are pleased to support Fair Saint Louis and are thankful to the Washington University community for accommodating our participation in this important local tradition,” said Mark Bagby, WashU’s director of emergency management and its Fair St. Louis liaison.
“We are working closely with fair organizers to ensure that the use of our parking areas will be as convenient as possible for fairgoers and neighborhood residents, as well as our employees and students.”
For a full schedule of Fair Saint Louis events, visit fairsaintlouis.org.