By: Ellie Salrin

As festival culture continues to blossom and new events popping up every year, a real gem of an inaugural fest is preparing to blast off in the Midwest this weekend. Astral Observatory Music & Arts Festival will take place 45 minutes south of St. Louis, Missouri in the little hamlet of French Village, MO from September 1st-4th. Featuring Nahko and Medicine for the People, Beats Antique, EOTO, Papadosio, BoomBox, Eliot Lipp, Pleasure, and more, the weekend will be filled with a spectrum of groovy tunes.

The masterminds behind this spectacle have also put together a lot of other activities including three geodomes which will house DJ sets, an observatory with telescopes, and a planetarium. Areas to learn and grow will be provided, such as workshops for spiritual, personal, and community nourishment and Sacred Circus where teachings of aerial skills, yoga, and sound healing will take place. Twelve hand-picked live painters will be flowing down turning blank canvases into masterpieces throughout the weekend.

Interactive art installations will delight the mind and theatrical performances from world renowned artists will entertain. The Lotus Lounge will offer reiki, massage, and other forms of healing. Bonfire sessions are planned with various members of groups for late night encounters,as well as an EOTO sunrise set planned (in addition to a regular set). Plenty of food and craft vendors will be onsite providing quality eats and necessities.

There are a few camping options including a family friendly camp, backstage camp, and a Tribe camp for members of Medicine Tribe, STL Moontribe, or Up to Us. There are themes to each day beginning with Interstellar Far-Out Friday (outer space, robots, funky, futuristic, aliens). Then comes Under The Sea Saturday (magical mermaids, sea serpents, pirates), and Cirque De Sunday (circus, steampunk, vaudeville).

Astral Observatory is being put on by the dream team behind 2720 Cherokee, Loyal Family, and Connector in St. Louis. Eric Noble, Cassie Pope, and a team of talented and experienced music and art industry creators have put together a unique event that exemplifies the ethos of love and community. Like their TEMPLE series, it is a true gift the Midwest and a sign of changing times.

Tickets will be available at the gate. Prices are $140 for a 4 day or 3 day pass, $100 for a Saturday and Sunday pass, and $75 for a Sunday only pass.

Taking place in Astral Valley which houses spacious fields as well a treeline for camping, caves, trails, and a small creek, the venue is ready for an interstellar journey through music, art, and space.

Visit astralobservatory.com to get all the info!