Fair St. Louis and LIVE on the Levee moved due to flooding

Press release from Fair St. Louis and Live on the Levee:

Fair Saint Louis and LIVE on the Levee will be Live OFF the Levee in 2008

Downtown St. Louis – Due to the flooding of the Mississippi River , Fair Saint Louis…LIVE on the Levee announced today that it will relocate the event to the Soldier’s Memorial area in downtown St. Louis . Fair Saint Louis and LIVE on the Levee are usually held on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. along the river levee. The street is currently underwater. While the river is expected to crest this weekend, it is not expected to ebb until mid-July.

“As residents of a river city we are this year reminded that we celebrate on her banks at her convenience – and this summer it is not to be. After extended conversation with the Corps of Engineers, city safety officials, our board and our sponsors, Fair Saint Louis…LIVE on the Levee will this summer become Live OFF the Levee,” announced Fair Saint Louis Foundation Chairman John Stupp.

The festival considered several alternative locations and ultimately selected the area around Soldier’s Memorial for the five-weekend festival. The area is bounded by Tucker Blvd. on the east, Market Street on the south, Olive Street on the north and 15th Street on the west.

“The purpose of Fair Saint Louis …LIVE on the Levee is to host a free festival complete with terrific live music, fun family activities and fabulous fireworks,” said Fair Saint Louis…LIVE on the Levee General Chairman Steve Schankman. “It is our mission to bring locals and visitors alike to downtown St. Louis to enjoy our incredible city and its $4 billion make-over in recent years. We believe this new location will allow us to do just that.”

“Due to the prolonged flooding of the downtown St. Louis riverfront, we have decided that we are unable to safely hold the annual Fair Saint Louis and Live on the Levee summer concert series in that location this year. Operational constraints both by Fair Saint Louis/Celebrate St. Louis and the National Park Service preclude us from moving these events up onto the Gateway Arch grounds. Therefore, for this summer only, we will be moving to a new location, the Soldiers Memorial, so that everyone can safely attend and enjoy all the activities just as they have in past years. We certainly look forward to returning to the riverfront in 2009!” said Frank Mares, deputy superintendent, National Park Service.

Fair Saint Louis and Live OFF the Levee will still host the full range of entertainment, including all of the name musicians, the fireworks, the food and beverage vendors, K-Town Kids Zone and The Sauce Café. The full lineup of musical acts were announced May 15 and include Drake Bell and Joss Stone on July 4th and Anthony Hamilton on July 5th. The complete lineup can be found on our website at www.CelebrateStLouis.org.