Each year, graffiti artists from around the world descend on St. Louis to participate in the massive public art project known as Paint Louis.
With the blessing of the city, these artists lay fresh art on the concrete floodwall downtown along the Mississippi River. This public canvas is called the Mural Mile and it’s located between Victor and Chouteau Avenues just south of the Arch.
The range of colorful graffiti down there is ever-changing, with favorite murals being replaced with crappy art and then repainted to become something beautiful again. The ephemeral nature of graffiti often means that fans must make frequent visits to see newer art before it disappears under a newer layer, which means that the Mural Mile attracts repeat visitors all year.
The area along the riverfront is going to be poppin’ more than usual this weekend, because Paint Louis will be in full swing. The free event is sponsored by Red Bull and also includes a DJ lineup and other festival amenities like merch, water, shade and, of course, plenty of Red Bull to keep you going.
SEE ALSO: 24 Eye-Catching Street Art Murals in St. Louis
This is a family-friendly event and it often includes activities for kids, but don’t be surprised if you smell a skunk or two off in the distance down there, if you know what we’re saying.
Paint Louis is scheduled to happen all three days of this weekend, but with rain promised tomorrow, it’s best to keep an eye on the Paint Louis Facebook page for the latest updates.
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