The Nomad lets you know what is going on in July.

Maybe it isn't wise to call an event the "Pole-Vaulting Explosion." Sounds like something that winds up on "Real TV" or "Web Junk 20." Let's hope the exhibition of vaulters attempting track & field's most dangerous event goes smoothly and bloodlessly at the annual St. Charles Riverfest in Frontier Park. Watch the soaring athletes, eat a hot dog, ooh at the fireworks, and feel the vicarious pain of the X-treme Strongman competitors, too, at the Independence Day extravaganza (July 2-4, www.stcharlescity.com/fourth of_july).

Speaking of blood, the annual mock-beheading of Marie Antoinette at Bastille Days makes the peasants feel rather pleasant. Watch the procession to the guillotine, participate in various events at dozens of bars, enjoy live music, and drink, drink, drink in the village of booze called Soulard (July 7-9, 314-865-1994).

Behold, the artist! Subsisting on a diet of mac 'n' cheese and big dreams, she toils away in her studio, beseeching the muse, pulling out her hair in anguish, reaching, stretching, striving, and yes, yes, that's it, finally: crafting something from nothing. Enter the crucible of making at the first self-guided Citywide Artists' Open Studio tour. Pick up a map at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, which sponsors the peek at these gritty spaces, spattered with the detritus of the divine (July 8, www.contemporarystl.org).

Organized religion is for schmucks. True spirituality comes from staring up at the giant Brooks Catsup Bottle and joining other celebrants at the annual Summerfest in Collinsville. With root beer floats; a car, truck, and bike show; craft booths; ice-carving demos; kids' activities; live music; a catsup taste-test; Attack of the Killer Tomatoes karaoke; and a stopover by the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, the festival rewards acolytes of the towering roadside attraction (July 9, www.catsupbottle.com). The power of condiments compels you.

No one's saying much about Zombozo, an "original circus zombie play" by Jason Lauderdale scheduled to bow at the Tin Ceiling this month. Maybe that's because it's being billed as a "silent tale of romance, murder, zombie clowns, and bloody death." I can't keep silent about this Whitman's sampler of the perverse, though. I just love it when a clown gets what's comin' to him (July 14-30, www.tinceiling.org).

Dr. Robert Froehner isn't content just playing the theremin. Oh no! The theremin, an electronic device played by waving your hands around it, is about as sci-fi as a musical instrument can get. But Froehner wanted more. So he took up the musical saw, as well. Now, this dread schizoid musical Frankenstein, half Max Rebo and half Buck Owens, joins up with the yuksters of the Compton Heights Concert Band for two nights of performance designed to blanch and destroy the life forms in Francis Park (July 30) and Tower Grove Park (July 31, www.stlouis.missouri.org/chband). Bring a lawn chair.

Thru July 28: Works in Progress by Terrell Carter at Baseline Gallery (314-621-9188)

Summer: Maplewood Farmers' Market from 4-7 p.m. Wed. at Schlafly Bottleworks parking lot (www.schlafly.com)

Thru July '07: BJC Sportsworks interactive sports fun at St. Louis Science Ctr.; plus Omnimax films NASCAR: The Imax Experience, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon, Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk & Ride Around the World (www.slsc.org)

Fri: Free Fri. Night Jungle Boogie Concerts at St. Louis Zoo (www.stlzoo.org)

Thur. thru Aug.: Chihuly Nights with dramatically lit views of Glass in the Garden exhibition, glass-blowing demos, music, cash bar, & appetizers at Mo. Botanical Garden (www.mobot.org)

July 1-4: Fair St. Louis with fireworks, parade, Eats Bridge dining on the Eads Bridge, exhibits, kids' fun, and performances by B5, Jason Mraz, & Hootie and the Blowfish on Riverfront (www.fairstl.org)

July 2-3: Compton Heights Concert Band season begins with performance of 1812 Overture featuring cannons at Francis Park (Sun.) & Tower Grove Park (Mon.) (www.stlouis.missouri.org/chband)

July 4: Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in NYC, on ESPN (www.nathansfamous.com)

July 5: Getting to Know Greyhounds with dogs at St. Louis Co. Library, Oak Bend Branch (314-822-0051, www.slcl.org)

July 5: Strange Brew: Cult Films at Schlafly Bottleworks features campy '60s film Batman: The Movie, sponsored by Webster Films (314-968-7487, www.webster.edu/filmseries.html)

July 6: Select Nights with music, $2 drinks, & appetizers at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (www.contemporarystl.org)

July 6-16: The Wizard of Oz at the Muny (314-361-1900, www.muny.org)

July 7: Exposure 9 group show opens at Gallery 210 (www.umsl.edu/~gallery)

July 7: Gazebo Series with free vocal jazz concert by Erin Bode and screening of Sixteen Candles at Gazebo Park in Webster Groves (www.webstergroves.org)

July 7: First Friday Gallery Walk downtown (www.downtownstlouis.org)

July 7-23: Act Inc. presents Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at Fontbonne Univ. Theatre

July 7-29: Art of Sarah Giannobile & Rebecca Eilering at Mad Art (http://www.madart.com, 314-771-8230)

July 8: Midwest Fight Fest no-holds-barred fighting at Stratford Inn in Fenton (www.stratfordbar.com)

July 8: Cory Spinks vs. Roman Karmazin IBF Jr. Middleweight Championship Boxing at Savvis Center (www.ticketmaster.com)

July 8-9: Contemporary Indian Art Show & Sale at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (www.cahokiamounds.com)

July 8-9: Animal Planet Expo with animal shows, live-insect enclosures, mini-cinema, face painting, disc dogs, & booths in Forest Park (www.animal.discovery.com)

July 9: Lost episodes of Chappelle Show air on Comedy Central (www.comedycentral.com)

July 9-10: Maplewood Comm. Fair with kids' activities, concessions, art fair, & kickball tournament in Deer Creek Park (www.ci.maplewood.mo.us)

July 9-10: Compton Heights Concert Band featuring Sukay - Music of the Andes, Cuban Band, & Bolivian Dancers at Francis Park (Sun.) & Tower Grove Park (Mon.) (www.stlouis.missouri.org/chband)

July 9, 16, 23, & 30: Gateway Festival Orchestra performs classical fare at Washington Univ. Quadrangle on Sun. (July 30 in Graham Chapel, 314-569-0371, www.gatewayfestivalorchestra.org)

July 13: Editor of The Nation Victor Navasky reads from & signs book A Matter of Opinion at the Ethical Society (www.left-bank.org)

July 13-30: Stray Dog Theatre presents John Guare's House of Blue Leaves at Little Theatre at Clayton HS (314-531-5923, www.straydogtheatre.org)

July 14: Everything, Now! & Kid Primitive free in-store performances at Vintage Vinyl (www.vintagevinyl.com)

July 14: Competitive double-Dutch jump-rope team Steppin' Higher performs at St. Louis Science Ctr.'s Lunch & Learn Series (www.slsc.org)

July 14: Shiko Munakata woodcut exhibition opens at St. Louis Art Museum (www.slam.org)

July 14: Let Them Eat Art! progressive art walk thru Maplewood restaurants & galleries (314-646-3607, www.ci.maplewood.mo.us)

July 14-30: Act Inc. presents Lennox Robinson's Drama at Inish at Fontbonne Univ. Theatre

July 14-Aug. 12: Live on the Levee with fireworks, Eats Bridge, family fun, local bands and live music by Sister Hazel, Better Than Ezra, India.Arie, Big Head Todd, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Cheap Trick, Grand Funk Railroad, Edwin McCain, Lyle Lovett, & Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Fri. & Sat. on the Riverfront (www.fairstl.org)

July 15: Dangerous Kitchen performs at Parties on the Plaza at Kirkwood Station (www.kirkwoodjunction.com)

July 15: In-store performance by Super Black Market at Vintage Vinyl (www.vintagevinyl.com)

July 15-16: International Funfest at Mo. History Museum (314-746-4599, www.mohistory.org)

July 15-23: Henry Shaw Cactus Society show & sale at Mo. Botanical Garden (www.hscactus.org)

July 15-30: Louis Malle retrospective at Webster Films (314-968-7487, www.webster.edu/filmseries.html)

July 17: St. Louis Aces pro team tennis featuring Anna Kournikova at Dwight Davis Center in Forest Park (www.stlouisaces.com)

July 17: River Styx presents Hungry Young Poets readers Scott Samson, Ingrid Moody, Nick Zengerling, Tracy Conerton, Jennifer Denrow, & Dave Lucas with music by bluegrass band Counterfeit Caboose at Duff's (314-533-4541, www.riverstyx.org)

July 17-23: Gypsy at the Muny (314-361-1900, www.muny.org)

July 18 & 22: Former major-league umpire Dave Phillips discusses and signs Center Field On Fire: An Umpire's Life with Pine Tar Bats, Spitballs and Corked Personalities at St. Louis Science Ctr.'s Lunch & Learn Series (www.slsc.org)

July 19: Free screening of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride at St. Louis Co. Library, Indian Trails Branch (314-428-5424, www.slcl.org)

July 20: Ciné 16 16-mm academic films screened at Mad Art (www.afana.org/cine16stlouis.htm)

July 21: ArtLoop Gallery Hop with a dozen galleries in U. City Loop area, 5-10 p.m. (www.stlrac.org)

July 21: Gazebo Series with free world-music concert by Farshid Etniko and screening of Pee Wee's Big Adventure at Gazebo Park in Webster Groves (www.webstergroves.org)

July 21-22: Fusion Street Festival with live outdoor concerts, art displays, kids' talent show, & activities in Belleville (www.Bellevillemainstreet.net)

July 21-30: St. Louis Shakespeare presents Mary Zimmerman's water-stunt-drama Metamorphoses at the Grandel Theatre (314-361-5664, www.stlshakespeare.org)

July 21-Aug. 20: Stages presents musical Grease (314-821-2407, www.stagesstlouis.org)

July 22: MoonStock commemorates moon landing & Woodstock with music, activities, demos, & concessions at St. Louis Science Ctr. Planetarium; plus Herpetological Society talk & meet-the-lizards earlier in day (www.slsc.org)

July 22: Washington Ave. Music Festival with live music, DJs, activities, concessions, dog adoptions, vendors, & art market near Washington & Tucker (www.washavemusicfest.com)

July 22: Steve Davis as Elvis at Chuck-a-Burger of St. Charles (www.chuckaburger.com)

July 22-23: Festival of Nations featuring Parade of Nations, live music & dance, intl. food & market, kids' fun, craft demos, & sports participation in Tower Grove Park (314-773-9090, www.iistl.org)

July 23: St. Louis Aces pro team tennis w/Pete Sampras at Dwight Davis Center in Forest Park (www.stlouisaces.com)

July 23: Ivory Perry Park Summer Concert Series w/blues guitarist Bennie Smith (www.union-avenue.org/ipp.html)

July 23-26: St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase at Tivoli Theatre (314-454-0042, www.cinemastlouis.org)

July 24: Petal Pedal 5-mi. family bicycle ride through Tower Grove Park with special activities for riders at Mo. Botanical Garden plus bike-safety tips (314-416-9930, www.trailnet.org)

July 24: In-store performance by Mar at Vintage Vinyl (www.vintagevinyl.com)

July 26: Jammin' at the Zoo evening benefit with live music, cash bar, & happy-hour food ($5, 314-781-0900, www.stlzoo.org)

July 26: Hill Day featuring Italian food & drink sales, bocce ball, games, etc. in The Hill neighborhood (314-773-3560)

July 27: Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson sign children's book Peter and the Shadow Thieves at St. Louis County Library HQ (314-994-3300, www.slcl.org)

July 27: Screenings of Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?, documentary about Jeff Smith's campaign for Gephardt's House seat, with talk by director Frank Popper, at Tivoli Theatre (thru Aug. 3, www.landmarktheatres.com)

July 27-30: Broadway Center of the Arts presents Seussical: The Musical in Belleville (618-233-0431, www.BroadwayCenterofArts.com)

July 28-29: Gateway Garage Sale at Gateway Ctr. in Collinsville (www.gatewaycenter.com)

July 28-29: NASCAR Shop & Save 150 and Gateway Busch 250 featuring post-race fireworks & country concert by Travis Tritt at Gateway Intl. Raceway (866-35-SPEED, www.gatewayraceway.com)

July 28-29: Immediacy Theatre Project presents night of 35 two-min. plays Drawn & Quartered 3 at Broadway Ctr. of the Arts in Belleville (www.immediacytheatre.org)

July 29: The Art of Food Slow Food benefit with gourmet foods, food-related art & activities, auction,s& raffles at Mad Art ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it )

July 29: All That Tap tap-dancing festival at Touhill Center, UMSL (www.allthattap.com)

July 29: St. Louis Writers Guild presents St. Louis Under the Stars outdoor readings at Kirkwood Park (821-3823)

July 29: Car Cruise with oldies music at Spanish Lake Park (636-391-0922)

July 29: World Washers Championship at Queeny Park (www.worldwashers.com)

July 30: Holocaust Museum & Learning Ctr. Film Series presents Michael Caine's The Statement (www.hmlc.org)

July 31-Aug. 6: Oliver! at the Muny (314-361-1900, www.muny.org)