Worth the drive 7/3/08

Less than two hours

Soldier's Memorial Plaza, St. Louis

Fair St. Louis/Celebrate St. Louis and Live Off the Levee begin Friday. This year the events have moved away from their usual riverfront location because of flooding. Instead, the Soldier's Memorial Plaza will host the music and fairgrounds. The Veiled Prophet Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, and the fairgrounds will open at 11. This year, the fair features the K-Town Kids Zone where children can meet the Muny Kids, the St. Louis Rams cheerleaders and the Show Me Drum Line. Drake Bell and Joss Stone will take the stage at and 8 p.m., respectively. The city's legendary fireworks, set to explode to the sounds of patriotic music, will start about 9:15 p.m. Friday. For more information go to, celebratestlouis.org/site.

Less than three hours

Beale Street, Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis will host its second annual Red, White and Blues Star Spangled Celebration from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday. The event will be in Tom Lee Park, along the Mississippi River and is free to the public. The event will feature live pop, rock and blues music from 10 Years, Cnote, Soul Shockers, Nina Makris Band, Wild Willy and Tom, Dick & Harry. Activities also include a Family Zone, giving children a space to play. The festival food is standard hot dog, funnel cakes and lemonade cuisine aside from the barbecue you'll find on Beale Street. And, with at least an 20,000 fair-goers and a 17-minute fireworks display, it's bound to be one hot night.