What to know for the 2025 St. Louis 'Evolution Festival'
ST. LOUIS - The "Evolution Festival" returns to Forest Park this weekend for its third consecutive year, featuring two days of live music, local foods and packed crowds.
The festival returns on Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28. Dozens of musicians and bands are expected to perform both days.
More than 25,000 people attended the Evolution Festival last year, and tens of thousands are expected once again. If you plan to attend this weekend, make sure to plan ahead.
Who Is Performing?
There will be 30 performers across three stages and lounges between both festival days. Performances begin as soon as 1:15 p.m. and end around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Sublime and Lenny Kravitz headline the performances for Saturday and Sunday respectively. Sam Fender, Public Enemy and The Hives are all expected on Saturday. Father John Misty, TLC and Pokey Lafarge are all expected on Sunday.
For the complete lineup and list of set times, click here.
Are Tickets Still Available?
Tickets are still available for both days of the Evolution Festival. Single-day general admission tickets start as low as $111 and two-day weekend passes start at $154. There are also VIP packages available for larger costs.
To check out remaining available ticket options, click here.
Getting Around
Festival gates will open as early as 11 a.m. each day, and festivities are scheduled until midnight on both nights.
Though anyone can visit Forest Park throughout the weekend, only those with a festival ticket are allowed inside a gated area with food vendors and music stages. Organizers shared the following map of the festival grounds:
If you’re attending the event, much of it will take place in the area known as Langenberg Field. It’s just south of the Dwight Davis Tennis Center, and north of the World’s Fair Pavilion. Organizers encourage people to enter at 5595 Grand Drive. Once you enter the festival, re-entry is not allowed.
Parking could be a bit sparse around Forest Park this weekend, particularly for festival goers who don’t have a VIP parking pass to park next to the tennis center. Drivers should expect some potential backups and delays navigating around the park this weekend. Organizers shared the following map for driving and parking considerations:
Rideshare services are also an option. There will also be shuttles available from Ballpark Village at the top of every hour.
What Can Festival Goers Bring?
Some bags are allowed into the festival, but it’s mostly limited to small and clear bags. Some fanny packs and purses will be allowed. Most large bags and coolers will not be allowed. Click here for the official bag policy.
Festival goers are allowed to bring sunscreen, hats and sunglasses. One factory-sealed bottle of water less than 36 ounces and an empty plastic refillable water bottle is also allowed. There will be water stations throughout the grounds. No other food and drinks are allowed, unless deemed medically necessary.
Some factory-sealed packs of cigarettes and cigars, e-cigarettes and vape pens will be allowed. So will cell phones and portable chargers. Most other items are not.
Visitors are also encouraged to bring a lawn chair, towel or blanket to sit on throughout the day. Due to capacity limitations, festival goers must purchase a Chair Pass in advance in order to bring in a personal lawn chair. There will also be lawn chairs at the festival up for reservation. For more information, click here.
What Else To Know
The festival is completely cashless, so only credit and debit cards are needed for payments.
There will be more than 30 vendors with food and drinks available, including a variety of barbecue and alcohol selections.
There will also be cocktail and a midway beverage garden, local vendor marketplace and art gallery and culinary demonstrations throughout the festival.
The festival will also raise funds for the United Way Storm Relief Fund, supporting the victims of the May 16 tornado that swept through Forest Park and North St. Louis. The Festival has pledged a donation of at least $100,000 or more to help storm victims.
