'Q in the Lou' BBQ Festival Cancelled Due to Safety Concerns

ST. LOUIS – The Q in the Lou barbecue festival, an event that was supposed to bring barbecue masters from across the country to downtown St. Louis, has been canceled less than two weeks before it was scheduled to take place.

The event, which was scheduled to be held on the grounds of the Arch from September 6-8, is a disappointment to many barbecue fans and has been a popular attraction in St. Louis for about a decade.

Event organizers cited a lack of VIP ticket sales and corporate sponsorship as the main reasons for the cancellation, an issue they say stems from security concerns surrounding recent high-profile shootings downtown over the Fourth of July weekend.

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Sean Hadley, one of the event organizers, confirmed the news to our partners at the St. Louis Post Dispatch and expressed his disappointment, saying, “We’re seeing a lack of support. There is none.”

Organizers worked to address sponsors’ concerns, including about downtown security, but failed to secure the funding needed to move forward with the festival.

The cancellation comes as a surprise, given that just a month ago, organizers promoted the festival at a news conference with Mayor Tishaura Jones and Greater St. Louis Inc. CEO Jason Hall as part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the city.

While City Hall expressed disappointment with the cancellation, a spokesperson pointed to several other successful events downtown, including the City Social Block Party on Washington Avenue in May and Downtown Summer Nights on Kiener Plaza.

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Additionally, the recent Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park was a success, further highlighting St. Louis’ ability to host major events.

For now, fans of the “Q in the Lou” will have to wait until organizers can reevaluate the event for the future. The barbecue festival, which is a St. Louis tradition, remains canceled for this year.

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