"The last two years were extremely rough. If it rained outside, we had to close for the night." Ryan Kelley, events manager at 9 Mile Garden, told Ladue News this after the Gravois Road food truck garden reopened for the season with something it never had before. That something is a roof. It's a big one, and it changes how an Affton October fits together.
Two 2026 projects matter here. The first is that indoor venue. The second is three rebuilt bridges on Grant's Trail. Put them together and a fall weekend along the Gravois corridor depends less on the forecast, and it can cost less if you'd rather pedal than park.
A Roof Over the Garden
9 Mile Garden opened in July 2020 as Missouri's first food truck garden. Its name comes from sitting about nine miles from the Old Courthouse downtown. For its first six seasons it was mostly an outdoor place. Up to 10 trucks parked at a time, drawn from a rotating roster of about 40, serving tacos, ice cream, burgers and fries.
In late May the garden opened an 18,000-square-foot indoor facility that holds about 1,000 guests. It has a stage with an LED wall plus professional concert lighting and sound. Next door, a smaller building holds the redone Canteen @ 9 Mile Garden bar. It has craft beer on draft, communal tables, free board games and two big roll-up garage doors that let in daylight. TRi Architects designed the buildout, and BEX Construction Services built it. Kelley's own summary is that the indoor space lets the garden host events "without concern of the weather."
October is the first fall to test that. You can see it in the calendar. On some nights the garden books one act outside and another inside, so a chilly or wet evening still has somewhere to go.
The Trail Detour Is Over
The second change is on the Gravois Greenway, better known as Grant's Trail. In January, the Call reported that Great Rivers Greenway would replace two bridges and repair a third between I-55 and Officer Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park. The closure was set to start Jan. 5 and last about 90 days. It ran a little long. Spectrum News reported on May 11, 2026 that the section between Tesshire and Union was back open, with all three bridges rebuilt or refurbished. Great Rivers Greenway joked that anyone who had been riding, walking or running the hilly detour should be "feeling stronger."
That reopening matters in October because of what's at the trail's edge. Grant's Farm sits right on the greenway, and Great Rivers Greenway says there are bike racks on the south side of the Grant's Farm parking lot, directly off the trail. In the agency's words, arriving on foot or by bike means you'll "avoid the traffic and won't have to pay to park."
Why Parking Is the Real Price of Fall Fest
Grant's Farm Fall Fest runs every Saturday and Sunday from Oct. 3 through Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A shorter Nov. 1–8 stretch runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is free and includes Fall Fest. The one required cost is a parking ticket for anyone who arrives by car.
That makes the trail the cheapest way in. Inside, the season adds a Fall Fest Kids Zone and a Fall Fest Marketplace at the Clydesdale Pastures, plus seasonal treats and themed photo spots. Those sit alongside the farm's regular attractions: the tram through the Deer Park, the goat feeding and carousel at the Tiergarten, and the Clydesdale Barn. Guests 21 and older can try up to two complimentary Anheuser-Busch products at the Hospitality Bar. If you bike in, keep that last one in mind.
The Gravois Greenway's paved trail runs 11.47 miles. Great Rivers Greenway describes it as mostly flat and sunny, with shady stretches near Orlando Gardens and through Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park. The official trail guide lists these named trailheads:
- Officer Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park, 9801 Green Park Rd.
- Green Park Road, 4475 Green Park Rd.
- Tiffany Village, 10451 Tiffany Village Ct.
- Tesshire, 10499 Tesson Ferry Rd.
- Mysun Charitable Foundation, 4300 Hoffmeister Ave., which Great Rivers Greenway places at Orlando's near I-55 and Union Road
The Rest of October, Indoors and Out
The bridges get you to Grant's Farm, and the roof gives 9 Mile Garden an indoor stage. Here's what's on the calendar from now through Halloween week. These listings come from 9 Mile Garden's live events page and the St. Louis County Parks registration catalog, so check them again before you go.
| Date | Where | What | Inside or out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., Oct. 11, noon–5 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Fall Fest Day Market with Wooden Nickel Band, plus a Pop-Up Market of local St. Louis vendors | Not specified |
| Wed., Oct. 14, 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Affton Community Center, 9801 Mackenzie Rd. | Free, all-ages Trunk or Treat | Not specified |
| Thu., Oct. 15, check-in 6 p.m., game 7 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Name That Movie trivia on the jumbo LED screen, $5 per player | Screen-based |
| Fri., Oct. 16, 6–10 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Witches Night Out Pop-Up Market, with Sonic Scarlet from 5 p.m. indoors and Punky Booster from 7 p.m. | Both |
| Sat., Oct. 17, 6:30–9:30 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Danger Party Halloween Party | Outdoors |
| Sun., Oct. 18, show at 2 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Elvis meets The Beatles & The King of Pop tribute show, ticketed | Indoors, Canteen venue |
| Fri., Oct. 23, 6:30–10 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Black Dirt Junction in the garden, Hairmetal Halloween with Top GunZ on the indoor stage | Both |
| Sat., Oct. 24, 7–10 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | That 80's Band Halloween Bash | Not specified |
| Sun., Oct. 25, 1–4 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | TJ's Story Music Bingo, kid-friendly and Halloween-themed | Not specified |
| Thu., Oct. 29, 6–7 p.m. | 9 Mile Garden | Trunk or Treat with the Affton-Lemay Chamber of Commerce | Not specified |
Two of these dates show the rain-proofing at work. On Oct. 16, Sonic Scarlet plays indoors while Punky Booster plays as well. On Oct. 23, Black Dirt Junction plays outside while Top GunZ plays the indoor stage. Before this year, a cold front on either night could have shut down everything.
The County Parks Trunk or Treat on Oct. 14 is free for families. Businesses can sign up for a table for $15. If you live in Affton and run a small shop, that's an inexpensive way to meet neighbors during Halloween week.
One Sunday, Start to Finish
Sunday, Oct. 11 is the day when both changes line up. Grant's Farm and 9 Mile Garden are both running fall-themed events, and their hours overlap.
- Morning on the trail. Start from the Officer Blake C. Snyder Memorial Park trailhead at 9801 Green Park Rd. Its shady stretch is one Great Rivers Greenway mentions by name.
- Fall Fest by 9 a.m. Lock up at the south-side racks and walk into Grant's Farm without a parking ticket. Ride the Deer Park tram early, then spend time at the Kids Zone and Marketplace at the Clydesdale Pastures.
- Afternoon on Gravois. 9 Mile Garden, at 9375 Gravois Road, runs its Fall Fest Day Market with Wooden Nickel Band from noon to 5 p.m. It also runs $6 Bloody Marys and Mimosas every Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Leashed dogs are welcome.
- Late-day option. Music Bingo with Susie runs at the garden every Sunday. The theme changes each week and gets posted on the garden's social channels.
On Oct. 11, the garden's market listing says "Sunday" in its heading and "Saturday" in its description. Oct. 11, 2026 is a Sunday, and the noon-to-5 window matches the heading.
After October
Fall Fest keeps going after Halloween, with Nov. 1, 7 and 8 left on the schedule and the farm closing an hour earlier at 4 p.m. At 9 Mile Garden, Kelley says the venue plans to bring touring national acts indoors within the next year. It's also booking corporate events, private parties and weddings. Out in the garden, the team plans to replace the 325-inch LED wall that hosts watch parties and movie nights, and to upgrade the outdoor sound system.
If you know a trailhead, a Gravois stop or a fall tradition this calendar left out, send it to The Drew Group. Drew is based just up the road in Webster Groves and is always glad to hear about another good Saturday along Grant's Trail. Let's Connect.
