Good Morning!

This week is one of those weeks where the calendar clearly looked at August and said, "No, I am not easing in quietly."

The August Wentzville Rod Run is back downtown with more than 4,000 people interested on Facebook, Wentzville's America 250 Concert Series brings Real Rock Revival to Rotary Park, Hotshots has a mini golf fundraiser, Lake St. Louis has free music at The Meadows, Wright City has a full metaphysical gathering, Cottleville has two solid live music nights, and St. Charles has a book fair big enough to make your "I am just browsing" plan completely unserious.

There is also a historic home and reconstructed frontier fort hiding inside Fort Zumwalt Park, which is the kind of local-history field trip that feels much more interesting once you realize it is sitting right there in O'Fallon.

Here's what's happening this week. 👇

I have really loved getting to write this each week, but I just do not have the time to keep maintaining it the way it deserves.

So first, thank you.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for sharing it with friends.

Thank you for sending in events, tips, kind notes, business updates, hidden gem ideas, and little pieces of Wentzville that I probably would have missed on my own.

This newsletter only worked because people around here cared enough to open it, forward it, mention it, and help make it better.

That has meant a lot.

I am not totally sure yet what happens next.

There are about 2,000 readers here now, and I would love to see What's Up Wentzville keep going if the right person wants to take it over.

It could be a really fun side project for someone who likes local events, writing, small businesses, and community stuff.

There is also a real opportunity to turn it into a small side hustle by working with local businesses that want to advertise to Wentzville-area readers.

The good news is, this is more approachable than it would have been a few years ago.

With the right process, AI tools can help with research, drafting, formatting, and staying organized. I’m happy to share my exact steps on how I do it.

It still takes local judgment, consistency, and a little time each week, but someone who enjoys this kind of thing would not be starting from scratch.

I have not decided yet whether I would give it away, sell it, or figure out some other handoff structure.

But if you are seriously interested in carrying it forward, reach out to me at [email protected].

I would be happy to have that conversation.

Summerfest 2026: FREE Outdoor Concerts at The Meadows
📍 The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis, 20 Meadows Circle Dr., Lake Saint Louis
⏰ 6:30-8:30 PM

The Meadows is keeping its Thursday night summer concert series going at Clocktower Plaza with free live music under the stars. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, come early to shop or grab dinner, and maybe let this be the rare Thursday plan that already did half the work for you.

August Wentzville Rod Run
📍 909 E. Pearce Blvd., Wentzville
⏰ 6-9:30 PM

Harris Automotive's August Rod Run is bringing cruising back to downtown Wentzville, and Facebook interest was over 4,000, so this is very much the main local event of the week. All vehicles are welcome, cruise passes are a $10 cash donation, pre-bought passes include a commemorative sticker, and proceeds benefit the Wentzville Police Department's S.T.A.R.T. program in local schools.

Heartland Metaphysical Gathering 2026
📍 Lions Club International-WC, 678 Westwoods Road, Wright City
⏰ Starts Friday at 2 PM

This inaugural indoor/outdoor gathering brings vendors, tarot and intuitive readings, energy healing, crystals, handmade goods, workshops, guided meditation, sound baths, drum circles, live music, food, and gathering spaces to Wright City. Day passes were listed at $12 and weekend passes at $30, which means Wright City is getting one of the more unusual weekend calendars in the area.

Hotshots Mini Golf Classic - Wentzville
📍 Hotshots Sports Bar and Grill, Wentzville
⏰ 4 PM

Hotshots Wentzville is hosting a Corona-sponsored mini golf challenge with $20 team entry fees benefiting Wonderland Camp. Teams play 18 holes, the top three move on to the finals at Lindbergh, and the prize setup includes Corona prizes plus a grand prize tied to the Hotshots Golf Tournament, which is a lot of competitive energy for mini golf in the best way.

America 250 Concert Series - Real Rock Revival
📍 Rotary Park, Wentzville
⏰ 6:30 PM

Wentzville Parks and Recreation is continuing its free America 250 Concert Series with Real Rock Revival, a St. Louis cover band playing classic rock from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The city says the series includes live music, kids entertainment, and food trucks, so this is a bring-blankets-and-lawn-chairs kind of Saturday night.

Trixie Delight at FMG
📍 Frankie Martin's Garden, 5372 St. Charles St., Cottleville
⏰ 7-10 PM

Trixie Delight is bringing party-cover-band energy back to Frankie Martin's Garden for a free, all-ages show. More than 300 people were interested on Facebook, so if your Saturday night plan needs live music, food trucks nearby, and Cottleville doing Cottleville things, this one is pretty clean.

Yoga + Mimosas
📍 Friendship Brewing Company Fli-Hi
⏰ 10:30 AM

Ashes ll Alchemy and Friendship Brewing Company are hosting a slower, more intentional yoga-and-mimosas morning with an all-levels gentle flow followed by drinks and conversation. The event description is very clear that this is not a fast-paced workout class, which is useful information for anyone whose Sunday morning body already has opinions.

A Summer Evening of Rest: Floating Sound Bath
📍 Private residence in Lake St. Louis
⏰ 6-8 PM

hOMe Yoga is hosting a floating sound bath on the water using crystal bowls, gongs, chimes, and other instruments designed for deep relaxation. Space is limited, the exact location is shared before the event, and the whole thing feels like the opposite of answering emails, which is a strong Sunday-night brand.

Russo and Co Band at the CWS Rotary Amphitheatre
📍 Legacy Park, 5490 5th St., Cottleville
⏰ 6-8:30 PM

Cottleville is hosting Russo and Co at the Cottleville Weldon Spring Rotary Amphitheater in Legacy Park, with Kona Ice and the Duchess Royal food truck expected on site. Bring blankets or chairs, grab dinner nearby, and please note the city's parking reminders, because apparently even a free concert needs a little logistical adulthood.

Johnny Rock-Itt - Jammin' Concert Series
📍 Civic Park, O'Fallon
⏰ 6:30-9 PM

O'Fallon closes out its Jammin' Concert Series season with classic rock from Johnny Rock-Itt. Admission and parking are free, food trucks are expected, outside food and drinks are allowed as long as there is no glass, and leashed pets are welcome, which is a pretty friendly checklist for a Tuesday night.

80s Party at The Wine Garden
📍 The Wine Garden, 1219 S. Main St., St. Charles
⏰ Friday, August 7, 7-11 PM

The Wine Garden is going full neon with an 80s party featuring a DJ, dancing, specialty cocktails, an indoor/outdoor setup, and a best 80s costume contest. More than 1,200 people were interested on Facebook, so if you still have access to big hair, leg warmers, or the confidence of a movie montage, St. Charles has plans for you.

2026 Friends of the St. Charles City-County Library Book Fair
📍 Family Arena, St. Charles
⏰ Friday, August 7-Sunday, August 9

The Friends of the Library Book Fair is back at Family Arena with more than 250,000 items listed, including hardbacks, paperbacks, children's books, cake pans, sets, and AV materials. Admission is free, except for Friends members-only shopping on Friday morning, and the pricing is dangerously good if your shelves are already pretending they have room.

Lyfe Jennings - 2 Shows at City Winery STL
📍 City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis
⏰ Sunday, August 9, 5 PM and 8:30 PM

This one is farther out, but more than 3,600 people were interested on Facebook, so it earns a worth-the-drive mention. Lyfe Jennings brings his R&B and soul catalog to City Winery for two Sunday shows, which means St. Louis gets the emotional live-music slot this week.

Beale Street Concert Series | Mclovin
📍 Streets of St. Charles, 1520 S. 5th St., St. Charles
⏰ Wednesday, August 12, 6 PM

Streets of St. Charles is hosting another free Beale Street Concert with food and drinks available from the nearby restaurants. Bring a lawn chair, leave the coolers and outside food at home, and let Wednesday act like it has weekend permission.

O'Fallon/St. Paul Ducks Unlimited Dinner Banquet
📍 Knights of Columbus, 1223 Church Road, St. Paul
⏰ Saturday, August 15

This one popped up while checking the Rod Run event page and already had local interest attached to it. If you are the kind of household that plans around raffles, dinner banquets, conservation groups, or "we should probably get tickets before someone texts us about it," keep an eye on next weekend.

2026 Show & Shine at The Iron Turbine
📍 The Pavilion at Iron Turbine, Moscow Mills
⏰ Saturday, September 5

Another car-related regional event is already showing interest for early September. After Rod Run weekend, this feels like the calendar politely reminding everyone that local car season is not finished with us yet.

Some hidden gems are tucked down gravel roads.

Some are hiding behind a small sign.

And some are sitting inside a park a lot of people already know, quietly waiting for everyone to realize there is more going on there than a lake, a playground, and a nice place to take a walk.

I am talking about Fort Zumwalt Park in O'Fallon.

More specifically, I am talking about the historic Heald Home and Zumwalt's Fort.

Which sounds like the kind of thing you might have learned about on a fourth-grade field trip and then immediately filed away in the back of your brain next to "Missouri state bird" and "how to make a diorama."

But this is actually pretty cool.

Fort Zumwalt Park is at 1000 Jessup Lane, and the city lists Lake Whetsel, walking paths, disc golf, the St. Charles Model Railroad Club display, the Heald Home, and Zumwalt's Fort among the park's points of interest.

The part that makes it feel like a hidden gem is that you can be standing in a regular suburban park and then suddenly be dealing with early Missouri frontier history.

Not "there used to be something here" history.

More like:

There is a historic home.

There is a reconstructed fort.

There are guided tours.

There are docents.

And there is a very real chance your kids ask one question and accidentally turn the afternoon into a full local-history spiral.

Which is honestly one of the better kinds of spirals.

The City of O'Fallon says Zumwalt's Fort and the historic Heald Home are open for tours during Homestead Days on select dates, including Sunday, August 9, then again September 13 and October 11.

Admission is listed at $6 for ages 13-54 and $5 for kids ages 3-12 and seniors 55+.

During Homestead Days, visitors can step back into early Missouri with guided tours of the Heald Home and Jacob Zumwalt's Fort, plus hands-on demonstrations and activities that bring the 1800s to life.

And that is the sweet spot.

Close enough that you do not need to make A Big Plan.

Interesting enough that it does not feel like you just went to another park because everyone needed to leave the house.

Different enough that the drive home might include someone saying, "Wait, that was actually here?"

That is a good hidden gem category.

You get a lake.

You get trails.

You get a little frontier history.

You get the option to turn a normal Sunday into a very small educational ambush.

And because the park itself is open dawn to dusk, you can still wander, walk, or fish around Lake Whetsel even when you are not there for a tour.

📍 1000 Jessup Lane, O'Fallon
📞 O'Fallon Parks & Recreation: 636-474-2REC
🔗 More info: Fort Zumwalt Park and Historic Tours

If you go for Homestead Days, check the city's current tour details before you leave.

Because there is nothing more character-building than getting everyone excited about frontier history and then discovering you personally needed frontier-level planning.

That's what I've got for you this week.

And for now, that's what I've got for What's Up Wentzville.

Thank you again for reading, sharing, replying, sending ideas, and helping make this little local newsletter feel like something worth opening every Thursday morning.

I have appreciated it more than you know.

If the right person decides to carry it forward, maybe this is not goodbye forever.

But either way, thank you for being here.

With gratitude,
Skyler