ST. LOUIS — The Taste of St. Louis food festival is moving from downtown St. Louis to Clayton this year. 

The festival moved downtown from Chesterfield in 2019, but will return to St. Louis County. Clayton’s central location makes it a better choice for the event, organizers say. 

“Previous organizers had only left the city due to a non-compete clause that barred similar events from operating…This exclusivity raised questions about the city’s commitment to supporting a diverse range of events and the potential impact on local festivals which had traditionally been part of the city’s cultural fabric,” festival officials said in a statement Tuesday. “Unfortunately, the environment downtown has made it increasingly difficult for large-scale events to thrive, which is evident in the number of long-running festivals that have shut down in recent years.”

Organizers say they asked Forest Park to host the event, but were told the festival was too large. The Arch grounds were too costly to rent from. But officials say Taste of St. Louis will continue serving food and connecting the community in Clayton. 

“St. Louis isn’t just a city or a county—it’s a region made up of hundreds of communities across multiple counties and even two states,” the statement reads. “More importantly, St. Louis is a shared identity. No matter where you live, we all root for the same teams, fly the city’s flag, and, of course, take pride in our incredible food scene.”

Taste of St. Louis is Aug. 15-17. Tickets aren't required. Organizers will provide updates through STL Foodie Club.