The St. Louis holiday 314 Day has had celebratory events since Saturday, March 9, and they continue through Thursday afternoon with a kickoff prep rally for Literacy for the Lou’s Passport Reading Challenge at Jefferson Elementary School. And will end Thursday evening with a stellar event at the Nine PBS Studios and Media Commons.
314 Day is a day of celebrating all things St. Louis
Nine PBS will host a second annual 314 Day Celebration in partnership with Greater St. Louis, Inc., STLMade, and the 314 Day Foundation. It will feature a live viewing of the Living St. Louis episode, music from DJ Darian Wigfall, and discussions with local leaders including 314 Day Founders, Tatum Polk and Terrell “Young Dip” Evans.
While the Literacy for the Lou event is just for students, teachers and administrators, SLPS Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett says its impact will be felt throughout the region.
“We want to get the new Literacy for the Lou Reading Passport into the hands of every student in SLPS and all city students who want to participate,” she said in a release.
“We are partnering with the St. Louis Public Library, and the passports will be used to log reading and give students access to rewards and prizes as they reach their goals.
A monumental day at the Arch
Ohun Ashe, founder of ForTheCultureSTL , local activist and photographer showed her love for her city through her 314 Day community photo shoot at the St. Louis Arch.
“We wanted to commemorate 314 Day 2024 in a special way, one that would last forever,” said Ashe. When asked how to keep that 314 Day spirit throughout the year she said, “We keep it going by continuing to support and uplift each other.” Ashe believes that the local holiday brings St. Louisans together, “We choose pride, we choose joy, we choose love, and we choose ourselves.”
All are welcome at the grand photo shoot and the only accessory the photographer is expecting is ‘Big St. Louis Energy’, that ‘Big St. Louis Energy’ included adding some St. Louis staples to the photo shoot. You can’t celebrate 314 Day without 314.
Literally there were life-size 314 props, a part of the photo shoot—created by local artist Akia Kemp, owner of Signature Design. And of course,Vess soda cans and bottles were lined up side by side with boxes of fried rice next to Imos pizza, and Dad’s Original Scotch Oatmeal Cookies adorned the props.
Everyone was draped out in STL gear, from Cardinals t-shirts and jackets to Blues hockey team jerseys and the newest St. Louis fashion trend the popular St. Louis -VS- Errbody shirts and hoodies. To keep the energy up the crowd danced to local greats like Huey’s ‘Pop Lock Drop It’ and STL Classic KOKO C’vere’s ‘Mobb Out’.
Terrell “Young Dip” Evans and Tatum Polk created 314 Day in 2006 with the vision of bringing St. Louis together to celebrate the positive things happening in the city. Since that time, it has evolved to become an official region-wide holiday shared by all local neighborhoods, as well as organizations and businesses large and small throughout the unique communities and neighborhoods that make up the St. Louis metro region.
“Everything about me is St. Louis, my pride and my spirit,” said Evans.
“We are 314, we are St. Louis,” he added. According to Evans, 314 Day is going national—St. Louisans who have moved to other cities celebrate 314 Day with other St. Louisans who live in that same city. Evans said Atlanta, Dallas, and Kansas City are just a few areas that have their own 314 Day for the St. Louisans who moved.
Polk added they have been shipping Imos Pizza and Red Hot Riplets outside of St. Louis so that those who can’t make it home can celebrate by having the things that remind them of their home. “People are waiting. People can’t wait for 314 Day. People wake up early like it’s the New Year”, he said.
Marilyn Aleem believes 314 Day should also be a day where more residents support local businesses of color. Donovann Sanders followed Aleem’s sentiments adding “You get to show off your pride for St. Louis on 314 Day.” He says the St. Louis holiday brings more people together in a positive way. The local photographer said he is so St. Louis because no one is going to support him or other St. Louisans like we do. “I just have this love for my city,” Sanders said.
Skateboarder and Penrose neighborhood native Ray Mobely known in the skating world as KRW was showing off his skills during the photo shoot covered in Cardinals apparel. “ My attitude makes me so St. Louis, we work hard for what we want. You can’t spell hustle without STL,” he said. “ St. Louis is the city that impacts the culture, we are in the middle, we influence the east coast, west coast, up north and down south,” he added.
“It’s home ain’t nothing like it, it’s our roots. No matter where I go I’m taking St. Louis with me”
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
