One of our favorite musicals shares the excitement about the upcoming 1904 World’s Fair and encourages everyone to “Meet Me In St. Louis”.  What could a better time to meet us than at our national conference. The 2025 AASL National Conference will be held right here in St. Louis  from October 16-18 at America’s Center-St. Louis Convention Center. 

Not only is the AASL National Conference the only national conference dedicated exclusively to school librarians, its location in St. Louis this year has so much to offer.  

Many opportunities await conference attendees including cultural events, fabulous dining locations, and engaging city activities. Whether it’s an afternoon at the Gateway Arch, an Italian dinner on The Hill, a play at The Fabulous Fox Theatre, or an STL CITY soccer game – there’s something for everyone. Attendees will want to plan to arrive early or add days to their stay to enjoy all St. Louis has to offer.   

The 1904 World’s Fair was held in Forest Park.  Today Forest Park has so many great places to visit and things to do including the Missouri History Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Science Center.  

Taking a tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch is a must for any new visitor to St. Louis.  In addition to the Arch, you may want to explore the Museum Under the Gateway Arch or even take a riverboat cruise.  

The lights are always shining at Saint Louis Union Station.  From the Saint Louis Aquarium to the Carousel and Wheel, Union Station has so many attractions for all interests. It is a great place to visit while enjoying our city.  

For theatre and sports, there is no place you would rather be than St. Louis. Visit the Ballpark Village near Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals or the home of St. Louis CITY SC, Energizer Park. One theater venue is the Fabulous Fox Theatre. During the conference, Life of Pi will be showing.  

Other explorations for our attendees include the Anheuser Busch Tour, the City Museum,  and the Museum of Illusions.  

More Information about Other Opportunities in STL

AASL National Conference is held at the America’s Center Convention Complex.  The complex is located right in the heart of St. Louis.  This location makes it a great place for conference attendees to meet up and venture out to explore the city after conference events are done for the day.  

Created by St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission,  Explore St. Louis is a website that can assist with planning your stay. The  Explore St. Louis 2025 Official Visitors Guide gives further details for 2025 events.  

As we get closer to the conference, the AASL Local Arrangements Committee will be creating a web page with local attractions, ways to get around, and more ways to have fun. We’ll also share discount codes for events and restaurants!

There is so much to offer, right here in St. Louis.  Who knows? You might want to make a separate trip!

*This blog post was inspired by the song “Meet Me in St. Louis” with lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling.