Innovation Village

St. Louis isn't standing still. Inside Innovation Village, you'll walk through STL Innovates: The Systems Shaping the Future — a hands-on experience, presented by WashU, that brings the region's biggest ideas to life. From feeding the world to healing it, this is the future being built right here, right now, by the institutions and innovators who call St. Louis home. Open both days. Free for everyone.

What it is

Innovation Village is a walk-through journey through the breakthroughs happening across our region — the kind of work that usually lives inside labs, universities, and headquarters, now opened up for everyone to see, touch, and explore.

You'll move through five "Frontiers," each one a different way St. Louis is shaping the future, powered by the universities, companies, and institutions driving it. Big screens. Hands-on moments. Stories that connect the dots between the talent, ideas, and industry feeding one another. It's built for the curious 10-year-old and the civic leader alike — and it just might change how you see this city.

When: Fri, July 3 (Noon - 6:00 pm) & Sat., July 4 (10:00 am - 6:00 pm)

Where: Live! by Loews in Ballpark Village, downtown St. Louis

Cost: Free — no ticket required

Presented by: WashU

Good for: All ages — families, kids, and the lifelong curious

The Five Frontiers

Five Frontiers. One region building the future.

Each Frontier tells the story of how St. Louis is solving real-world challenges at scale — and names the people doing it.

Frontier 1

Seeing the World: Space, Aviation & Geospatial

St. Louis sees what others can't. Through aerospace systems, satellites, and geospatial intelligence, the region is revealing the patterns, risks, and opportunities that would otherwise stay invisible — and helping the world fly smarter and know more.

Featuring: Boeing · GEOSTL & the GEOINT community · UMSL · WashU

Don't miss: Take flight in a Boeing virtual-reality experience.

Frontier 2

Feeding the World: Plant Science & Agriculture

The way the world grows its food is being reinvented here. Through plant science and precision agriculture, St. Louis is transforming how food is grown, moved, and sustained — for our region and far beyond it.

Featuring: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center · Bayer · 39 North · WashU · Mizzou

Don't miss: A hands-on plant-science activity from Bayer.

Frontier 3

Healing the World: Medicine & Health

Discovery becomes care in St. Louis. Through breakthroughs in medicine, research, and treatment, the region is turning scientific discovery into real-world health outcomes — and improving lives in the process.

Featuring: WashU Medicine · Cortex · Mizzou · UMSL

Frontier 4

Sustaining the Planet: Conservation

St. Louis is protecting what matters. Through science and stewardship, the region is taking on climate challenges and safeguarding the ecosystems we all depend on — including the work of the Living Earth Collaborative, a partnership between the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Zoo, and WashU.

Featuring: Saint Louis Zoo & WildCare Park · Missouri Botanical Garden · WashU · UMSL · Mizzou

What you'll experience

Come ready to explore.

  • Walk through the arch. A glowing entry arch welcomes you in — and makes for a great photo before you start the journey.

  • Get hands-on. Interactive and immersive moments at every Frontier, from Boeing virtual reality to Schnucks' AI-powered robotics. This is a touch-everything kind of place.

  • Grab a bracelet. Pick up a free STL Innovates bracelet on your way through — a little something to take the future home with you. [7,500 available while supplies last.]

  • Tell us what you think. Share your take at the exit and see how the region responds in real time.

Frontier 5

Powering the World Manufacturing, Logistics & Production

This is where ideas reach people. From digital infrastructure and mobility to manufacturing, food, and retail innovation, St. Louis delivers products and systems at global scale — connecting the world efficiently and reliably.

Featuring: Ameren · Schnucks · World Wide Technology · Cortex · Energizer · WashU · Mizzou Don't miss: Meet Schnucks' AI-powered Tally robot and build a smart grocery list.